The CBE Scroll

Comment by D C Cramer

July 27, 2009 @ 10:46 am

Liz,

It was great meeting you and Trevor at the conference. I didn’t know what to expect, since this was my first CBE event, but I was thoroughly impressed by the experience. As great as the presentations were, I think my favorite part was meeting such a diverse community of like-minded individuals. I plan to offer a fuller reflection on my blog soon, but for now I can affirm that it was the best conference I’ve ever been to, and did indeed feel like a ‘slice of eden.’ It also definitively confirmed my suspicion that the criticisms of CBE are misguided.

Best,
David

Comment by D C Cramer

July 27, 2009 @ 11:21 am

P.S. My post is now up and can be found here:

http://cramercomments.blogspot.com/2009/07/cbe-conference-recap.html

P.P.S. Sorry for the shameless self-advertising on this blog. I promise I won’t make a habit of it!

Comment by jlp

July 27, 2009 @ 11:57 am

Welcome, David. And thanks for letting us know about your blog.

Comment by Mara

July 27, 2009 @ 12:04 pm

I agree with JLP.
Thanks for stopping by.

It’s the links that are selling solar-powered, nose-hair trimmers that don’t belong here.

Links from like minded people are okay. That’s how we get to know each other. Or in internet terms… how we network.

Comment by Liz

July 27, 2009 @ 10:39 pm

Hi David

Read your blog comments and couldn’t write anything as we haven’t our address book with us and can’t recall our google a/c password etc. We are in a lounge area at the LAX international airport, waiting for our flight to Melbourne which leaves at 11.30pm. Long haul- 15+hours and will arrive 8am on Wednesday!

Great to hear how the conference impacted you and to meet you both. All the best for October!

Comment by Megan

July 28, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

Thanks for your kind comments, David! I truly enjoyed listening to your paper presentation and hope that you will continue to write on this topic.

I think the conference was a huge success and was extremely encouraging to me personally. Thanks to Liz and Trevor who led communion on Sunday afternoon. They reminded us to focus on the community aspect of this familiar practice. I felt such a strong sense of community at the conference, and during communion felt especially overwhelmed with gratitude for the many men and women there who served so humbly and encouraged so freely.

Comment by Betty Jo

July 30, 2009 @ 12:51 pm

I thought the conference was great. It met all my hopes (which were high) and more. I agree with David – the people impacted me as much as the speakers, and many of the ones I heard were really, really good. I was impressed by the friendliness, wisdom, kindness, and humility of the authors, board members, seminary teachers, staff members, speakers… the “important” people, to everyone, even people like me with almost no influence, little money, and generally unknown except to God. I left singing hymns for much of the drive home.

Comment by Liz

July 30, 2009 @ 8:37 pm

Hi Betty Jo

Wish we had met you – we would have had so much in common! It could have been intimidating with so many ‘lettered’ people, but they are so down to earth and thoroughly wonderful people that we all felt like you did.

This whole gender issue will come down to ‘ordinary’ people eventually and we can never know just how much impact one life can have- so happy you had a great time in St Louis.

Comment by Betty Jo

July 31, 2009 @ 8:23 pm

Hi Liz,
I think we did meet. I think at breakfast one day, though I’m not sure it was you. And, I think I considered you and your husband among the important people, doing the blog and all. I’m not intimidated by “important” people, because I know God’s value system isn’t that of the world, though I know many people are. But, I do notice when the leaders and scholars are extraordinarily kind and humble. Which is so different from what I saw in academia when I was a college student so many years ago.

Comment by Liz

August 1, 2009 @ 4:57 am

Hi Betty Jo. I am really sorry I didn’t read your name tag at breakfast. We had a great time talking about houses, basements, weather etc. (I think I have the right person) Would agree that the CBE scholars are some of the nicest, most genuine people we have met.

Comment by Betty Jo

August 1, 2009 @ 7:18 pm

Yes, that was me. I wouldn’t have remembered your name either, but I did remember you did the blog and that you and your husband helped with communion.

Comment by Wayne P.

August 5, 2009 @ 9:51 pm

Here is what I provided in my Conference Evaluation:

There was a demonstration of a gift-based ministry that I found attractive and healthy. I felt that the expression of both men and women being strong and using their gifts for serving one another was honest and refreshing. The opportunity to meet & interact with a wide range of people was as valuable as the formal sessions.

I could’ve added that some of the greatest times were the “afterglow” discussions in the mezzanine outside Patti’s room in the late evening – getting to know 8-10 of the other attendees better. And getting to meet you two as well, Liz & Trevor.

Comment by Elizabeth

August 7, 2009 @ 7:44 am

Dear Friends,

I think the last comment is aptly put. The word I would use to describe for the conference–and for CBE as well–is healthy. The presentations and questions they each raised were all challenging to see how culture and biology have emphasized differences between the genders, while our first call is to be disciples who love God and work together for the kingdom.

It was also great to meet people who have shared common experiences with pain and inequity, but know that the love and grace of Christ transcends limiting interpretations of the Bible.

Praise God, it was great!

Comment by Donald Guffey

August 10, 2009 @ 7:02 pm

I would Like to say that the conference was life changing for me! I loved the atmosphere the people and the new friends that I’ve made. I feel so empowered to spread the message of Biblical equality. The conference has inspired me to start a local chapter and to really branch out and to minister to people from a sound Biblical and of course an egalitarian perspective.
I’ll never forget this experience and I hope to see everyone again sometime.

Comment by Frank

August 11, 2009 @ 12:00 pm

I am sorry I was unable to attend the CBE conference in St. Louis. But my present circumstances didn’t allow it. However, I did remember the conference in my prayers, and am very glad to hear the Holy Spirit was present and active, bringing renewed faith, hope and encouragement to so many. I’m also sorry I missed the chance to meet Liz and Trevor in person. But if the good Lord permits, and my health and finances are in better shape, perhaps next year in Melbourne, eh?

Comment by Carol

August 19, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

Frank, thank you so much for your prayers! God surely answered with abundant blessings. When I think of the CBE conference, one word that comes to my mind is “respectful.” Everyone shows genuine respect for everyone else, including respect for those who disagree whether they are there or not. In that respect, CBE members truly reflect what they believe; equality. And I am so very encouraged by the deep respect shown for scripture. I feel the security of being with people who strive for integrity before each other and before God. It’s a wonderful taste of God’s Kingdom!