Reflecting on her early experiences that prepared Taffi Dollar for leadership, she notes that initially it was her husband, Creflo, who first heard and answered the call to ministry. Having accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior in college was a powerful and life-changing event, yet the full extent of Taffi’s calling to ministry had yet to unfold. Taffi remembers her college bible study group that nurtured Christian fellowship with one another as a formative experience in her life. At that time, she was preparing for a career in counseling and mental health and had not yet received a call to Christian ministry. Yet as she helped with college Christian activities, she had a passion from the Lord to work with women and children. In the late 1980s, she helped Christian artists; she also worked with children’s ministry and with educational curriculum aided by her mom, who was a teacher and counselor. Her cousins were also teachers. As time progressed, Taffi’s focus turned to women involved in prostitution and the adult entertainment industry. As she became more aware of these issues, her interest grew. When asked: How would you define Christian leadership? At a basic level, she said, it means that a Christian leader is someone others follow. “If no one follows you, are you a leader?” A Christian leader is also noted by those who emulate your life and teachings. “You have an influence over them.” While leadership has changed in many ways over the years, Taffi approaches leadership as a believer, and in how I relate with people. “As you study more, you discover more.” Turning to the moment when she first realized or decided, “I am egalitarian,” we explored the context that prompted her decision and her feelings about it. According to Taffi, it is crucial to study the teachings of Scripture concerning women’s leadership. Her introduction to biblical equality for women happened at a CBE conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, sponsored by Rhema Bible Church. The convener, Xana McCauley, was a friend of Taffi’s, and throughout the conference Taffi, Xana, and Mimi Haddad had times of private discussion concerning Scripture and its support for women’s leadership in church, home, and the world. While this topic was not discussed in Taffi’s circles, speakers at CBE’s conference in Johannesburg explored biblical relationships concerning how to relate as husband and wife. Taffi did not realize her church in Atlanta was complementarian. But as the conference progressed, speakers described what Head/Kaphale meant in Scripture. By “shining a light on the topic,” it was revolutionary. Teachings like this are important for younger generations to hear the truth, which they might not hear otherwise. It is important to explore topics from different angles, given the misconceptions about the term “egalitarian,” which is different from feminism and/or same-sex ideology, which is based on secular ideology. It is not biblically based, whereas egalitarianism is. The biblical foundation of egalitarianism is rooted in the New Covenant and illustrated by Christ, who modeled the elevation of women. It challenges the superiority or domination of women and supports women and men serving side by side. Equality means that, in Christ, women and men stand on equal ground. Some people ask if equality is found in Scripture. Is equality biblical or just a theory? Are our Bible translations solid and helpful? These are great questions. In responding holistically, we see Christ’s shadow in the OT and recognize who completes the call of men and women standing side by side. As Paul said in Galatians 3:28, “in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, neither man nor woman.” This is racial, gender, and economic equality. Wow! This is how Christ wants us to see each other. Not men who are Jewish and rich. But women, gentile, and those who are not rich all receive equal blessings in Christ. We see now and recognize this is not secular heresy, but the fulfillment of Christ. My head was off. It was not Adam alone, but Eve was there too as a strong rescue, Genesis 1:18–24. Yet too often, “strong rescue” is translated as “help” in this text, suggesting that women are weak and should serve as an aide or in a domestic role. This is not how biblical women served. They were scholars, as noted in the example of Mary and Martha, who sat at Christ’s feet in Luke 10:38–42. Consider the woman at the well in John 4:4–42. Christ spent time with her, and her life was transformed. These are revolutionary texts given to those in a patriarchal world. There is also the story in Acts 2:1–18, as the Holy Spirit empowered men and women equally to create a new royal priesthood of believers. The Holy Spirit descended not just on men of certain ethnicities, but on all ethnic men, women, and children, who also received the HS. I share these texts all the time, as an ambassador of the message, calling the church to practically live them out by modeling them in ministry and marriage, in decision-making in our home. My three daughters see this lived out, as they aspire to grow and mature in their work lives. One daughter’s career is divided by gender. We had conversations about how to bring women alongside, and how she could make a difference. In considering the reactions from family and friends as she became egalitarian, Taffi notes these were overwhelmingly positive. Yet the question concerning the husband as head lingered. Head as described in Ephesians 5:21–33 is not dictatorial or domineering, but is sacrificial servanthood, not dominating over others, a message that received wonderful support all around. As we modeled biblical mutuality, others could see the benefits of an egalitarian lifestyle. Naman and Abigail are examples that women’s voices are needed to make better decisions, so everyone benefits. Paul’s writings and life transformed concepts of belonging and kinship, as with Philemon and his slave Onesimus in Philemon 1. Here Paul called Philemon’s slave Onesimus “my son,” and one who was useful to Paul, even Paul’s “very heart.” Onesimus is a dear brother in Christ and beneficial to spreading the Gospel. Love wins out, and Onesimus is freed. History suggests he became bishop of Ephesus. The story of Onesimus reminds me of Priscilla cited in Romans 16:3, Acts 18:2, 18–19, 26. Scripture teaches that Apollos needed her teaching. In answering the question: What aspect of your life made being egalitarian most challenging? Ministry, Marriage, Parenting, or beyond, Taffi responded by citing marriage and ministry, as she used her voice in both spheres. It took time to become comfortable using her voice, since her husband had made decisions and they lacked practice communicating, so Taffi did not yield to his voice but offered her own. Initially, it took time to discern her thoughts and reasons behind them, especially as it impacts her life, their children, or areas of ministry that Taffi oversees. She developed the practice of taking time to pray to discern how best to present her ideas. Recalling CBE’s teachings in South Africa, Taffi said it was a turning point in learning about women and biblical equality. It was also inspired by much prayer prior to returning home because she realized her life had changed. She could not go back to her former complementarian views and life. She asked God to soften her husband’s heart for the sake of our marriage and ministry. God answered her prayers, as Creflo too was impacted by what Taffi heard at CBE’s conference. Yet it took time to be fully impacted by the biblical teachings on women because so many women believe they need a priest to make decisions for them. Yet, Scripture liberates women to take decisions to Jesus in prayer. Hebrews 4:14–16 teaches that Jesus is our High Priest, not men, as some mistakenly assume is taught in 1 Timothy 2:11–15. Thus, from Genesis to Revelation, women were far from silent throughout the early church to the present day. Sadly, there is a lack of knowledge and ignorance about Scripture’s teachings concerning women speaking. We need to see women speaking in Scripture like Eunice and Lois, Priscilla and Aquila, and other women. Paul recognized women were needed in his ministry. This discussion ended by observing that while Adam’s body was the source of Eve, she came from his side and was his strong rescue, not his subservient. He could not complete his work in Eden without her. Throughout the biblical text, we learn that women hear from God and obey God, not men, as Lord. Men are not the only ones who hear from God. Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice John 10:27–28. Because Christian women are equally led by the Holy Spirit, women and men should submit to one another in reference to Christ Ephesians 5:21. Ending her interview, Taffi proclaims with confidence, and as a calling to all Christian women, that “God is the source of our being. We receive our maturity and become everything we are to become, all we need to be through. In Christ we become the fullness of who we are meant to be. These are so important for all Christians, not just men or one race, but as ambassadors, God needs everyone.” Amen, and thanks be to God.
