Katia Adams - Equal: What the Bible Says about Women, Men, and Authority

What people are saying about

Its hard to imagine a theme more timely for the global church today, nor a message more necessary than Katia Adams cry for true equality between the sexes. I particularly appreciate the way she addresses the controversial Pauline texts, demonstrating that this is a matter of biblical integrity and prophetic authority as well as cultural pragmatism. Having returned to faith in Jesus under the apostolic ministry of Jackie Pullinger, I long to see women rise up to exercise spiritual authority alongside men, so that the church of Jesus Christ can bring a message of reconciliation and hope to every part of our broken world.

Pete Greig, 24-7 Prayer International and Emmaus Rd, Guildford

A hope-filled and inspiring vision for mutuality in ministry! What I love about this book is that it engages so well not only with the biblical material but also, and as importantly, with the heart of the One who inspired and gave us the Word.

Paul Harcourt, National Leader, New Wine England

Katia is a brilliant woman. She is intelligent, she is passionate, she is an incredible communicator and she loves Jesus. In this book you can see each of these things. You can feel her love for Jesus and her passion for the Bible. She jumps intelligently and compassionately into a debate which has over the years produced conflict and hurt; few issues have been more divisive in the church over the past generation than the role of women in the church and the home. I have many good and godly friends on both sides of this debate. Katia Adams offers a remarkably fresh take on many of the most controversial NT passages with a gentleness that is commendable. She introduces the reader to key areas of the debate, explaining exegetical arguments with a noteworthy level of simplicity and clarity, and a commendable fairness to differing points of view. Wherever one lands with regard to the topics covered in these pages, they are well worth reading, and Katias is an important voice in the conversation.

Debby Wright, Senior Pastor, Trent Vineyard; National Director, Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland

I have deep admiration and respect for people who delve into topics many people choose to avoid. In this book Equal, Katia does an incredible job of unpacking and laying out a compelling dialogue around the gender roles within the Christian framework. What you hold in your hands is thought-provoking and will make you take a look at your own perceptions of men and women and their roles. I encourage you to read this book with a desire to be challenged and to learn; it will undoubtedly have an impact on your life.

Eric Johnson, Bethel Church

Im grateful to Katia for providing a thoughtful approach to what the Bible has to say on this important topic. As I read this book I was reminded of the gospels liberating power for women and men and its call for us to relate together in honouring, respectful and empowering ways.

David Stroud, Senior Leader, Christ Church London; Cofounder, Everything Conference

Katia Adams book Equal will rock your world! Katia is a humble, Spirit-filled, accomplished intellectual who is extremely skilled in communicating her academic, revelatory, and biblical discoveries on this subject. She also lays out comparative interpretations from other scholars so you can personally assess the subject with objectivity. As you read this book, I predict that you will be both challenged and elated. This very topic is on the heart of God for this hourEqual has been inspired by the Spirit of God for such a time as this! I highly recommend this wonderful workit is brilliant!

Dr. Patricia King, Founder, Patricia King Ministries; Author, Television Producer and Host

Katia Adams is a phenomenal Bible teacher. Her passion for Jesus, commitment to the kingdom cause and deep love of the Scriptures beautifully position her to tackle one of the critical issues of our time. In reading Equal I was expecting a brilliant overview of the subject with some thoughts as to how we might build church cultures that celebrate equality and liberate women (and men). What I wasnt expecting was to also delve deep into some of trickiest passages of the New Testament, to wrestle with the text, to have my mind blown, to be both challenged and confronted in my thinking, and then invited to see familiar texts in a new light and through a new lens. Im unbelievably grateful that Katia has written something that brings together the best of current scholarship on this subject, and has then condensed and distilled it to make it accessible to a wider audience. The argument is so well structured, so persuasive, so compelling, and phenomenally inspiring. I absolutely loved it. For those that care about liberating both men and women to lead and make their full contribution to Christs body, I couldnt recommend this book more highly.

Pete Hughes, Leader, KXC London

Katia has captured profound insight and accessible application in a bold and compassionate way. This book is a brave engagement with some of the big issues of our cultural moment. These pages hold challenge and inspiration as they tackle complexity head on.

Rev Pete Wynter, HTB Leadership Pastor and Director of the HTB Leadership College London, Founder of Onelife

Katia Adams has written a helpful and important contribution to the women in ministry and leadership debatethe deeper issue being the liberation that Jesus and His kingdom enacted and inaugurated for women, from centuries of male dominance. This book shows how radical the gospel was in its historical context, and how equally relevant it is today in addressing the value and authority of men and women. Katia writes well, argues clearly, showing the various interpretations of the key texts under discussion, then proposes responsible, alternative ways of understanding them in their historical context, and applies the meaning to our current (church) context. However, its not just a biblical exercise: she writes from personal experienceoften deeply painfulin exercising her ministry and leadership with growing conviction and courage, as a woman. This is well worth reading; it will inform and challenge your thinking and living, your church leading and practice.

Alexander F. Venter, Author, Pastor, Teacher, Leadership Consultant

From Gods original intent for men and women, to Jesus radical shattering of the proverbial glass ceiling of first-century Middle Eastern culture, to Pauls letters and female heroes of the early church, Katia Adams offers compelling and brilliant research on what the Bible teaches about gender equality. Far from staying in the comfort of academia, Equal is a call to action for us, the church, to come back to the front of culture shaping and relevance, leading the conversation about the Gender Divide. It offers very practical suggestions to level the playing field not only in the secular world but in pastoral leadership too. On a personal level, it expanded my biblical understanding of the matter and will direct my work towards championing gender parity in our society. I could not imagine heaven being gender biased, now I am convinced of it, thanks to Katias work.

Sophie le Ray, CEO Naseba, Founder of WIL (Women In Leadership) Economic Forum

Katia Adams has written a well-informed and readable resource that will equip the church with a helpful theological vision for understanding the biblical basis for women in ministry. Indebted to many technical works, her book provides a bridge between the academic world and the church. Here is a passionate and faithful reading of the Scriptures that will serve the next generation well.