Freedom, as understood by John Calvin, and as applied to the role of women in church and society, is the subject of this provocative book. Putting into perspective discussions about women in the church, particularly their ordination, Jane Dempsey Douglass looks not only at Calvin's Institutes but also at the work of humanists who were contemporaries of the Reformer, along with writings by and about women that could have influenced him.

Designed for clergy and lay people in congregations, this book makes an excellent resource for exploring the question of why and how the church can, should, and may confess its faith today, in a pluralistic world and in an ecumenical context. Also, it provides a basis for considering certain theological issues that have emerged as significant for a contemporary confession.

Despite progress in recent years, women and men continue to find it difficult to talk together about gender and religion. In this thorough and responsible discussion, the authors answer such questions as, does the Bible truly speak good news to women, or only the bad news of subjection to men? Why has the church insisted on referring to God with male pronouns and images? Can a spirituality developed by men out of their experience nourish the lives of women? How can men and women work in the church together? This book encourages conversation between women and men about these and other...