Half the Church

Starred review from March 14, 2011
Author (When Life and Beliefs Collide) and conference speaker James takes on the church's historical stance on women who enthusiastically embrace their God-given role as "ezer-warriors" (ezer is the Hebrew word for "helper"). James's previous works form the foundation for this important study, which could appropriately be thought of as the Christian companion to the groundbreaking Half the Sky, with its clarion call to activism. James challenges all women to step up and get busy doing the hard work of righting wrongs, influencing their communities, and laboring right alongside their male counterparts to effect powerful and positive change worldwide. James draws liberally from the Bible to underscore that God's plan is for men and women to work with each other as essential components of a "Blessed Alliance." The author's compelling message and passionate voice are amplified by the skill with which she presents this information in volatile, dangerous times.

March 1, 2011

James (founder, Synergy Women's Network; The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough To Break the Rules), a popular speaker in evangelical circles, tackles the thorny questions that surround women in evangelical Christianity and broadens her scope to include the fate and destiny of women around the world today. James sees men and women as potentially bound in a powerful partnership for good that does not oppress or belittle women--not easy positions for a woman to take in the heavily patriarchal world of conservative Protestantism. VERDICT James's potentially transformative work, a wake-up call for women in America's Protestant churches, is ideally suited for church groups and pastors.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2011
Where and how do women fit into Gods plan? Evangelical speaker James believes the Gospels speak communally to and about the women of the world, regardless of ethnic, social, cultural, or economic status. She challenges Christian women to undertake vigorous roles in social justice movements, insisting that the Gospels call women to be active participants in Christian ministries rather than passive vessels of Gods message. Recognizing that traditional Christian forums have not adequately addressed many thorny contemporary issues, especially those pertaining to the oppression of women, she urges women questioning their purpose in Gods global vision to join in, speak out, and band together. After all, with women constituting well more than half the church, their potential to make a significant collective impact is limitless. An insightful look at an age-old question.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)