In my last post I introduced my dissertation topic, which apparently interests a bunch of you! Great comments and feedback, both here in Substack and on the socials. Today’s post is directed at those of you who discovered my writing online but don’t really know me personally. We’ll call it “Who is Kelley and why does she write about the Bible and women so much?” (If you are an old friend, feel free to bow out here 😉).
Quick background: I spent my first 22 years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enjoying youth sports, great seafood, LSU football mania, and an excellent Catholic education. I have a bunch of brothers, too. I spent the next 30 years in the Dallas, Texas, metroplex, where I studied at Dallas Theological Seminary, met and married my excellent husband, John, raised four children with him, and worked in freelance, church, and nonprofit ministries.
Freelance Ministry
During my DTS student days, I discovered that my high grades in high school English class boded well for all the essays I would write. A couple of creative writing classes in, I was hooked on the media arts track in my Master of Theology program. I prepared for a freelance writing career, and soon after graduation connected with Sue Edwards to co-write my first book (hers too). Sue eventually became a professor at DTS and has been writing for decades now, almost always partnering with someone. We wrote six books together, all of which relate to women in the church.
Still Kicking
40 Questions about Women in Ministry (2023, Kregel Academic) is one of over 25 titles in the “40 Questions” series from Kregel. Using the question-and-answer format common to all of them, we address the common yet sometimes confusing questions surrounding the volatile issue of women in leadership. Typical chapters will ask the question, give a summary of the debate, then show how scholars from both the hierarchical (complementarian) side argue and how scholars on the heterarchical (egalitarian/mutualist) side argue. The goal is to give readers tools to study for themselves, not necessarily offer the answer we think is best.
Given the controversial topic, this book garnered attention when it was released and even was nominated as a Ministry Resources finalist in the Christianity Today Book of the Year awards. It also earned the Editor’s Choice Award from the Christian Editors Association, a well-deserved honor primarily extended to our general editor, Dr. Ben Merkle.
Organic Ministry to Women: A Guide to Transformational Ministry with Next-Generation Women (2019, Kregel Publications) is the new and improved, vastly updated version of New Doors in Ministry to Women. We updated statistics and illustrations, changed our profiles of leading women, and added new material. If you lead ministry to women in your local congregation or wish to support the women who do, consider grabbing a copy of this one.
Leading Women Who Wound (2009, Moody Publications) speaks to anyone who leads a group of women. Churches remain predominantly led by men, but more women are joining church staffs, and a majority of church members are female. So knowing more about how females do conflict can only help, right? We walk through several different aspects of conflict resolution including self-examination, identification of potential sources of conflict, tools for conflict resolution, and insight on how to prevent and move beyond conflict to minister to those who have been sources of contention.
Sue and I continue to receive the occasional email from people who have been helped by this work. Just a month ago, I learned that it had been translated into Portuguese and was the current topic for a small group of women in Brazil. 🙌🏼
Mixed Ministry: Working Together as Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Society (2008, Kregel Publications) was a book ten years ahead of its cultural moment. We invited Henry Rogers, then serving Interstate Batteries as their corporate chaplain, to co-author with us. We affirm that the New Testament calls believers into relationship as sacred siblings. How do your life and ministry reflect godly, respectful, honorable relationships between the sexes? We emphasize the need for men and women to be persons of godly character, not putting up artificial walls or living in fear of the other. It’s still a good read, though it is pre-#metoo and would need a hefty update to fit current issues more closely.
The Classics (i.e., old and OOP)
The first two books are now out of print (OOP), though they may still be available in Kindle format or through third-party vendors:
New Doors in Ministry to Women (2002, Kregel Publications) introduced a model for establishing church ministries to women, centered on Bible study and community. It became a mainstay in Bible colleges and seminaries, even fifteen years after publication. So we worked with Kregel to allow it to go OOP but give it an update.
Women’s Retreats: A Creative Planning Guide (2004, Kregel Publications) expanded upon a chapter in New Doors and offered detailed guidelines, suggested themes, and organizational tips for women’s retreats. Very out of date now, and it has appropriately lapsed OOP.
Kelly, great to know more of your work. We moved to New Orleans a couple years ago, then settled in mandeville. Tho we both grew up in central and north Louisiana we hadn’t lived in Louisiana for more than 20 years and had no desire to move back but we are here because our of family needs.
I love reading your work on women in the church and your series on Mary. And your book recommendations. It’s great to know more about your personal journey.
How interesting: I too, within my immediate family, have an LSU (parents), DTS (siblings & father), and even Interstate Batteries (sister) connection! I’ll bet you’ve missed that good Louisiana food all these years since leaving baton rouge. Thanks for sharing your story and an overview of your books!