Is Leadership Male?

With Margaret Thatcher leading the Conservatives to a general election win in 1979, the UK saw the beginning of a new era in the position of women in key leadership roles. The defender of the faith for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales is, of course, Queen Elizabeth II. In biblical history, the likes of Esther and Ruth have played major roles on the outcome of historic events. In the last century, the Anabaptists, the Quakers, the Methodists and the Salvation Army all appointed women leaders. Many have led missionary societies both in the UK and in some of the most inhospitable places in the world. But still the question of whether women should hold leadership positions within the Church is one that raises strong emotions. Joan Martin has interviewed some of prominent Christian leaders of the UK. David Alton, Dave Bilbourgh, Steve Chalke, Gerald Coates, Joel Edwards, Roger Forster, Tony Highton, R.T. Kendal, Phil Mohabir, John Noble, Dave Tomlinson and Charles Whitehead answer questions frankly concerning their attitudes towards women with reference to women in leadership positions in the Church. Joan Martin is the author of "The Ladies Aren't for Silence".