The Called Life with Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry

Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry
  • 5.0 (9)
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Join Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry for her new podcast series, “PodClass: What’s the Fuss?” to hear scholars and ministry professionals from around the world talk about women in Christian ministry. Together we will explore what the Bible actually says on this topic and how we see the move of God’s Spirit in women throughout Christian history. Dr. Berry has designed this podcast series, or "PodClass," like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links and resources for this continuing education PodClass!

  1. 7h ago

    The Women in the Parables

    What if some of Jesus’ most powerful pictures of discipleship are found in the experiences and stories of women? In this episode of “What’s the Fuss? Women in Christian Ministry,” Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry and Dr. Lynn Cohick explore how women appear in Jesus’ teachings, parables, and the Gospels and why these stories are not simply lessons for women, but pictures of faithful discipleship for the whole church. Dr. Lynn Cohick is Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Houston Christian University. A New Testament scholar and prolific author, she has written numerous books and commentaries, including works on Ephesians and Philippians and Women in the World of the Earliest Christians: Illuminating Ancient Ways of Life. She also founded the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity and letHERlead and hosts The Alabaster Jar podcast. In this episode, Melisa and Lynn explore: Women in Jesus’ Parables: How Jesus uses women and their everyday experiences to communicate truths about God, faith, and discipleship - and why these stories speak to the whole church. Reading Women as Disciples: How women such as Mary and Martha, the persistent widow, and the woman suffering from chronic bleeding reveal dimensions of faith, persistence, courage, and discipleship. The Parable of the Ten Virgins: What this story reveals about preparedness and faithful discipleship rather than being a teaching intended primarily for women. Women in the Ancient World: How understanding the historical and cultural realities of women’s lives can help modern readers see details in the biblical text they might otherwise overlook. Seeing Women in Early Christianity: How art, archaeology, and material history—including the Dura-Europos fresco—can broaden our understanding of women and their place within the early Christian world. Reading Beyond Our Assumptions: Why paying attention to women’s experiences in Scripture can challenge familiar interpretations and deepen the way the entire church reads the Bible. This conversation is an invitation to notice the women and feminine imagery woven throughout Jesus’ teaching and to recognize that these stories are not side notes in the biblical narrative. They illuminate what faithful discipleship can look like for every follower of Jesus. Video Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Dr. Lynn Cohick and Her Biblical Journey 04:00 Unpacking Everyday Life Through Women in Jesus' Parables 06:20 Unveiling the Significance of the Woman and the Leaven 09:27 Reinterpreting Martha's Hospitality and Mary's Discipleship 15:46 Female Disciples as Models for the Whole Church 18:38 Jesus Uses Childbirth to Illustrate Discipleship's Pain and Joy 26:19 Preparedness and Faithful Discipleship in the Ten Virgins 30:39 Challenging Assumptions About Women's Roles in the Ancient World 36:25 A Concluding Blessing for All Disciples Guest Links: Lynn Cohick’s Website: https://www.lynncohick.com/ Leadership Without Apology Substack: Meet Dr. Lynn H. Cohick letHERlead: https://www.letherlead.com/ Dura-Europos, ca. 232 CE Fresco: Procession of Women Podcaster Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass! Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter: https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  2. 6d ago

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: Gifted to Serve

    What happens when God gives someone a gift for ministry, but the church tells her she cannot use it?  In this episode of “What’s the Fuss? Women in Christian Ministry,” Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry and Dawn Gentry explore the biblical and practical case for women in ministry and ask what it means for the church to recognize, develop, and make room for the gifts God gives his people. Dawn Gentry is a retired minister, author, teacher, and ministry leader with more than 30 years of experience serving in children’s ministry, college ministry, discipleship, hospitality, and church leadership. She has led staff teams, adult ministries, counseling ministries, residency programs, and leadership-development initiatives. Dawn is the author of Called to Serve, Gifted to Lead: A Biblical and Practical Case for Women in Ministry, a book shaped by her years of biblical study, ministry experience, and conversations about women’s leadership in the church. In this episode, Melisa and Dawn explore: Spiritual Gifts and Gender: What Scripture says about spiritual gifts and whether gender determines who can preach, teach, lead, and serve. Reading the Whole Story: Why churches should begin with the larger story of Scripture before interpreting difficult passages about women in ministry. Making Room for Women to Lead: How equal titles, pay, mentoring, and leadership opportunities communicate the value churches place on women and their gifts. Why Churches Resist Change: How fear, tradition, concerns about power, and long-held assumptions can keep churches from reconsidering their practices. Responding to Resistance: Dawn reflects on the backlash she experienced after preaching on 1 Corinthians 14 and offers encouragement to women who experience rejection or public criticism while using their God-given gifts. Leadership as Service: Why Christian leadership must always be rooted in humility, service, and building up the body of Christ. This conversation is an invitation, not simply to win an argument, but to open the Bible, ask better questions, and consider how the church can be built up when every believer is equipped to serve. Video Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to PodClass: Women in Ministry with Dawn Gentry 02:01 Dawn Gentry's Personal Journey: Writing 'Called to Serve, Gifted to Lead' 05:17 How Churches are Changing Views on Women in Ministry 07:18 Developing a Class on Women in Ministry: Biblical & Practical Case 09:42 God's Gifting, Not Rights: Challenging Unequal Arguments 13:53 Guidance for Gifted Women and Men Who Support Them 16:29 How to Cope with Passive Aggression and Criticism in Ministry 20:28 Advice for Young Women and Men Facing Ministry Blowback 23:48 Why Equal Pay, Titles, and Mentoring Matter for Women 28:06 Overcoming Fear and Power Struggles to Expand God's Kingdom 31:04 Challenging Assumptions with the God Who Sees: Hagar and Peter 33:48 Spiritual Gifts Have No Gender: Leadership as Humble Service 37:16 Exploring Biblical Passages on Spiritual Gifting Without Gender 19:34 Thank You and a Powerful Blessing for Listeners Guest Links: Dawn’s Book: Called to Serve, Gifted to Lead: A Biblical and Practical Case for Women in Ministry Podcaster Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter: https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  3. Sep 21

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: Rereading the Woman at the Well

    Was the Woman at the Well really an immoral social outcast? What if Christians have been misreading John 4 for centuries? Dr. Sandra Glahn, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, author of more than twenty books, and co-founder of the Visual Museum for Women in Christianity, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to revisit one of the Bible’s most familiar encounters: Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. Drawing from her work on women in Scripture and her newest book, A Woman’s Place Is in the Story, Sandra challenges assumptions that have often turned this woman’s story into a cautionary tale about sexual immorality and asks what changes when we read the passage in its literary, historical, and theological context. In this episode, Melisa and Sandra explore: The Woman’s Five Husbands: What we know—and don’t know—about her marital history and why John never calls her sexually immoral. Was She an Outcast?: Why common assumptions about her reputation may go beyond the text. Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman: How John’s contrast between night and noon may shape how we read their encounters with Jesus. Compassion or Condemnation?: Why Jesus’ words may communicate compassion rather than accusation. A Woman as Witness: How she becomes an early witness to Jesus and brings her community to him. The Power of Interpretation: How repeated interpretations can shape assumptions about biblical women even when the text itself is less certain. Video Chapters: 00:00 Missing Jesus's Message About the Woman at the Well 00:55 Women in Christian Ministry: Welcome to PodClass 01:28 Introducing Dr. Sandra Glahn and Vindicating the Vixens 03:00 Personal Journey: Re-examining Biblical Womanhood06:25 From Bible Study to PhD: A Theological Journey 07:16 Reinterpreting the Woman at the Well: Compassion, Not Sin 15:53 Tracing the Idea of the Woman's Immorality 17:27 Discover 'God Has Named You' and Sign Up 18:03 How Protestantism Shaped the Woman at the Well Story 18:34 Augustine, Aquinas, and Other Vilified Biblical Women 20:36 Making Room for Diverse Women in God's Plan 22:41 Stories of Eve, Hagar, Vashti, Mary Magdalene, and Junia 25:49 Where Misogyny and Misinterpretation Come From 28:00 Navigating Insecurity and Focusing on Jesus's Identity 29:29 The Church as a 'Single-Parent Family' Without Mothers 31:27 Mary: A Marginalized Disciple and Heroine for Protestants 32:31 Challenging Biased Interpretations of Women in Scripture 33:49 A Prayer for Healing and Courage in Interpretation Sandra Glahn’s Links: Follow Sandra Glahn Website: https://sandraglahn.com/ Twitter: @sandraglahn Sandra’s Newest Book: A Woman’s Place Is in the Story: Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative More About Sandra:https://www.ivpress.com/sandra-l-glahn Other Books by Sandra: Vindicating the Vixenshttps://sandraglahn.com/vindicating-the-vixens Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testamenthttps://sandraglahn.com/nobodys-mother Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a historian of Christianity, Bible teacher, author, speaker, and professor who loves bringing serious scholarship into conversations that matter to the church. She designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for study questions, links, and additional resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  4. Sep 14

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: Changing My Mind

    Can a sincere reading of Scripture actually lead someone to change their mind about women in church leadership? What happens when we stop relying on a handful of familiar verses and start examining the Greek, historical context, translation choices, and the rest of Scripture? Aaron Dilla, pastor and church leader at Northwood Christian Church, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to take a closer look at the biblical passages commonly used to exclude women from leadership. Aaron shares his own journey from noticing women already doing the work of ministry to digging more deeply into the Greek, the cultural world of the New Testament, and the selective literalism that can shape this debate. Together, Melisa and Aaron examine how translation choices can change what we think a verse means, why passages such as Ephesians 5 and 1 Timothy 2 require careful attention to context, and what happens when Christians are willing to reconsider interpretations they have inherited. In this episode, Melisa and Aaron explore: “Husband of One Wife”: Why this leadership qualification may mean more than marital status or gender. Women Leading in the New Testament: How Phoebe, Junia, Lydia, Chloe, and others challenge assumptions about leadership. Inconsistent Interpretation: Why texts about women are not always interpreted by the same standards. Ephesians 5 and 1 Timothy 2: How language, context, and culture complicate familiar interpretations. Translation Matters: How Greek translation choices shape what English readers understand. Culture and Church History: How Roman culture and Christian tradition have influenced interpretation. Reasoning Together: How to discuss difficult passages with honesty, humility, and respect. Melisa also shares her own seminary experience, including being told to be quiet after asking a sincere question about 2 John. That tension between honest inquiry and anxiety about where questions might lead becomes an important thread in the conversation as Melisa and Aaron consider how fear, tradition, and translation can influence biblical interpretation. Video Chapters: 00:00 Unpacking Selective Literalism and Women in Ministry 03:53 How Greek Exegesis Changed Aaron's View on Women 07:13 Understanding Translation Bias and Roman Cultural Context 16:17 Junia, Phoebe, and Women in Early Church History 18:30 How Translation Choices Obscure Women's Biblical Roles 22:31 Melisa's Seminary Story: Questioning the 'Lady Elder' 27:57 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Nuance in Interpretation 31:03 How to Discuss Women in Ministry with Context 34:10 The Power of Advocacy and a Concluding Blessing Aaron Dilla’s Links: Christians for Biblical Equality: “Time to Speak” Aaron Dilla is a pastor and church leader committed to thoughtful, context-aware biblical interpretation. He leads at Northwood Christian Church, where women serve as elders. Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  5. Sep 7

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: 1 Cor 14: Quiet & Quietude

    Did Paul really command women to be silent in church? If women are praying and prophesying in 1 Corinthians 11, what does Paul mean just three chapters later when he tells women to be “silent”? Ron Clark, professor, minister, and advocate working in domestic and sexual violence prevention, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to examine 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 through the lens of women in Christian ministry, Roman culture, and the meaning of words translated as “quiet” and “silent.” Drawing on his experience in biblical scholarship, ministry, domestic violence advocacy, courtroom witnessing, and clergy training, Ron considers what happens when passages intended to bring peace and order are instead used to silence women or protect harmful systems. In this episode, Melisa and Ron explore: Quiet or Silent?: Why “quiet” in 1 Timothy 2 may mean peaceful conduct, not silence. Women Speaking in 1 Corinthians: Why women praying and prophesying in chapter 11 matters for chapter 14. Reading Paul Consistently: Are Paul’s instructions about women and men interpreted by the same standards? Culture and Context: How Roman honor, shame, and social expectations illuminate Paul’s instructions. Scripture and Abuse: Why biblical interpretation should never protect abuse, control, or silence victims. Women’s Voices: How Lady Wisdom provides another authoritative female voice in Scripture. The conversation also moves beyond the question of whether women can preach or lead to consider what our interpretations actually do to people. Ron’s work with survivors of domestic and sexual violence brings particular urgency to the discussion as Melisa and Ron examine the relationship between theology, power, shame, and silence. As Ron emphasizes in the conversation, “God does not approve of abuse.” Churches need a theology that takes both Scripture and human harm seriously and recognizes that “it’s not shameful for a woman to speak or for any of us to speak out.” Video Chapters: 00:00 From Conservative Roots to Women's Ministry Advocacy 04:36 Exploring the Spectrum of Women's Participation in Ministry 10:45 Understanding 'Quiet' as Modesty, Not Literal Silence 19:55 Examining 'Silent' and Inconsistent Biblical Interpretations 24:48 How Fear and Misogyny Shape Biblical Understanding 30:05 The Church's Responsibility in Addressing Domestic Violence 37:00 From Prophesying to Lady Wisdom: Women's Voices 40:55 A Prayer for Healing and God's Unconditional Love Ron Clark’s Links: Agape Christian Ministries:www.agapecm.org/about-us Ron’s Books:www.agapecm.org/store Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  6. Aug 31

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: 1 Tim 2: It’s “Wives” not “Women”

    What if one translation choice has shaped how generations of Christians understand women in ministry? In 1 Timothy 2, the Greek word gynē can mean either “woman” or “wife.” So how do translators decide which one Paul means, and what happens if we have been reading the passage with the wrong one? Joe Hoover, a Bible translator, Literacy Consultant, and Global Worker, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to examine the language of 1 Timothy 2 and why seemingly small grammatical details can have significant theological consequences. Drawing from his experience helping translate the Bible into languages that have never had Scripture before, Joe explains how translators use grammar, context, and cultural knowledge to determine meaning and why the shift from plural women to the singular gynē may signal that Paul has shifted from discussing women generally to discussing a wife. In this episode, Melisa and Joe explore: Woman or Wife?: Why gynē can mean either and context determines the translation. Plural to Singular: Why this grammatical shift may point toward a husband-wife relationship. “I Do Not Permit a Wife”: How this translation changes the implications of 1 Timothy 2. Grammar and Context: Why syntax and the ancient social world matter for interpretation. Translation Is Interpretation: How translators’ choices shape what English readers understand. Theology and Translation: Why “woman” versus “wife” can lead to very different conclusions about women in ministry. The conversation provides a window into how Bible translation actually works. Rather than assuming that every Greek word has a single English equivalent, Melisa and Joe examine how translators weigh grammar, context, culture, and patterns within a passage to determine which meaning best fits. The result is a larger question for anyone studying difficult biblical passages: What might we discover when we slow down and pay attention to details in the text that English translations can sometimes obscure? Video Chapters: 00:00 Unpacking 1 Timothy 2 with Joe Hoover 02:01 How Joe Began Researching 1 Timothy 2 04:05 Examining the Text: Plural to Singular 06:30 Unpacking Ascendanton and Point of Departure 11:43Deciphering Gune: Woman or Wife? 13:46 The Impact of Translation and Social Scenarios18:51 Support The Called Life Podcast 19:38 Biblical Examples of 'In Quietness' 21:47 Debunking the Public Meeting Assumption 26:29 Woman vs. Wife: A Theological Choice 29:00 Cues for the 'Under Authority' Interpretation 32:49 1 Timothy 2 Not About Women in Ministry 34:43 Dr. Berry's Final Blessing and Outro Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

  7. Aug 24

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: Genesis

    Does Genesis really teach that women were created to be subordinate to men? What if the Hebrew words and the larger story of Genesis point instead to partnership, shared vocation, and a relationship distorted by the Fall? Richard “Rick” Hess, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Denver Theological Seminary and a member of the Committee on Bible Translation for the New International Version, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to examine Genesis 2 and 3 and some of the Hebrew words that have shaped Christian understandings of women. Drawing from his expertise in the Old Testament and Semitic languages, Rick explores what ezer means, how we should understand the woman’s “desire” in Genesis 3:16, and why the consequences of the Fall should not automatically be treated as God’s ideal for relationships between women and men. In this episode, Melisa and Rick explore: Ezer Is Not “Assistant”: Why this Hebrew word points to strong, side-by-side help rather than inferiority. Woman and Man in Genesis 2: What creation reveals about their relationship before the Fall. Desire and Control: How Genesis 3:16 may describe relational struggle rather than God’s design for women. The Curse Is Not the Ideal: Why post-Fall brokenness should not define marriage or ministry. Reading Genesis in Context: How Hebrew, literary context, and later biblical women challenge familiar assumptions. The way we understand Genesis 2 and 3 has consequences far beyond these opening chapters of the Bible. These passages have shaped Christian ideas about marriage, gender, leadership, and women’s roles for centuries. Melisa and Rick return to the Hebrew text to ask a foundational question: Are we describing God’s created intention for women and men, or are we sometimes treating the brokenness introduced by the Fall as though it were God’s ideal? Video Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Dr. Richard Hess and Today's Genesis Discussion 03:00 Dr. Hess' Personal and Academic Shift on Gender Roles 08:06 Unpacking the Meaning of 'Ezer' in Genesis 2:18 12:38 The Breakdown of Harmony and Equal Blame in Genesis 3 19:06 Interpreting 'Desire' and 'Rule' in Genesis 3:16 26:50 Reconciling Gender Roles: Genesis and 1 Timothy 2 31:33 How Genesis Names Deepened Dr. Hess' Biblical Understanding 37:16 Deborah, Ruth, and Other Powerful Women in the Old Testament 40:20 Final Thoughts, Resources, and a Listener Blessing Richard Hess’ Links: Follow Richard “Rick” Hess: Old Testament Questions Rick is the author of nine books and has edited more than sixty books. His works include: The Old Testament: A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction; Israelite Religions  Studies in the Personal Names of Genesis 1–11  Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch. He also has a commentary on 2 Kings forthcoming Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GND3TGRJ

  8. Aug 17

    What’s the Fuss: Women in Christian Ministry: Culture and Calling

    What happens when God’s call on your life does not fit the expectations of your culture, your church, or even the people closest to you? For women called to ministry, following that call can mean navigating not only questions about Scripture, but deeply rooted expectations about who women are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do. Lisa Pak, director of Partners in Asia for Finishing the Task, joins Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry to explore how culture, church tradition, representation, and personal calling shape the experiences of women in Christian ministry. Born and raised in Toronto and having lived and served across Korea, Singapore, and the Northeastern United States, Lisa brings a cross-cultural perspective to the conversation about what it means for women to recognize God’s call, navigate resistance, and continue faithfully when the path into leadership is not straightforward. In this episode, Melisa and Lisa explore: Culture and Calling: How cultural expectations shape women’s understanding of leadership and ministry. Church Culture and Tradition: How assumptions about women can shape opportunities to serve. Calling and Conformity: What happens when God’s call conflicts with expectations from church, family, or culture. Trusting God with the Doors: Lisa’s encouragement to remain faithful, trust God with opportunities, and keep following his call. Calling does not happen in a cultural vacuum. The expectations surrounding women can look different from one country, family, denomination, or congregation to another, but those expectations can profoundly influence how women understand their own gifts and opportunities. Video Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to PodClass: Women in Christian Ministry 00:40 Lisa Pak Shares Her Story and Cultural Context 01:39 Navigating Korean-Canadian Culture and Leadership Challenges 03:28 Never Seeing a Female Pastor in Leadership Roles 05:11 East Asian Cultural Structures and Gender Dynamics 07:26 A Senior Pastor's Challenge to Pursue Ordination 09:05 Encountering a Female Pastor for the First Time 10:07 Exploring Why Certain Ministry Roles Feel Uncomfortable 11:44 Melisa's Journey Through Theological Opposition to Women 12:50 From Secret Societies to Open Support for Women Leaders 15:04 Don't Get Hung Up on Ministry Titles 16:00 Faithfulness and Divine Support in Ministry Calling 19:10 The Gift of Envisioning New Possibilities in Ministry 20:15 Serving God's Call Regardless of Titles or Obstacles 20:48 Overcoming Bitterness and Unfairness in Ministry 22:07 Releasing Frustration and Hurt to the Lord 23:08 Personal Obedience vs. Fighting for Rights 25:50 Understanding Unresolved Issues Behind Opposition to Women 27:50 Cultural Expectations and Challenges for Women in Asia 30:29 Navigating Cultural Norms While Remaining Obedient 31:45 Learning from Past Generations and Shaping the Future 32:51 Answering God's Call Even When It's Unpopular 34:30 Encouragement for Women Leaders: God Will Lift Your Head 35:53 A Prayer for Courage and Favor in Ministry Lisa Pak’s Links: Follow Lisa Pak & learn more about her work: Finishing the Task Melisa’s Bio and Material: Melisa Ortiz Berry, PhD, is a Bible teacher, author, and advocate for women in ministry. Drawing from her extensive study of ancient languages and biblical history, she offers nuanced insights for believers seeking biblical clarity on gender roles in church leadership. Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry has designed this podcast series, or “PodClass,” like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links, and resources for this continuing education PodClass. Follow Melisa on social media: Instagram: @drmelisaortizberry Facebook: @drmelisaortizberry Website: https://crownoflifediscipleship.com Join Melisa’s ministry newsletter:https://drmelisaortizberry.substack.com/ Melisa’s New Book: God Has Named You: 25 Spiritual Identities to Reveal Who You Are

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Join Dr. Melisa Ortiz Berry for her new podcast series, “PodClass: What’s the Fuss?” to hear scholars and ministry professionals from around the world talk about women in Christian ministry. Together we will explore what the Bible actually says on this topic and how we see the move of God’s Spirit in women throughout Christian history. Dr. Berry has designed this podcast series, or "PodClass," like one of her own Bible classes. Go to www.melisaortizberry.com for more study questions, links and resources for this continuing education PodClass!

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