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Introducing: CBMW

May 25, 2011 by Dr. Jeff Robinson

In these early days of my ministry here, many of you have heard me talk about an organization with which I have been affiliated as a writer and teacher for nearly a decade: The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood or simply, CBMW. I serve as a writer and editor for the ministry (particularly its weblog “Genderblog” at www.cbmw.org/blog) and I also occasionally teach seminars in local churches on biblical manhood and womanhood across the U.S. as I did two weeks ago in Seymour, Indiana.

 
What is CMBW and why do I consider it such a privilege to be a part of its ministry? The organization formed in 1987 when a group of conservative evangelical pastors and scholars assembled in address their concerns over the pervasive influence of feminism in the culture, but more critically, in the church. The group sought to address the widespread compromise of the biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood and its tragic effects in the home and church. These men formed CBMW.
 
What does CBMW believe? In December of 1987, the newly-formed council met in Danvers, Mass., to compose a confessional statement and the result was the 10 article Danvers Statement. The Danvers Statement sets forth 10 affirmations on the Bible’s teaching on gender in the home and church. For example, article 1 affirms, “Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18)” Article 2 affirms, “Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart. (Gen. 2:18; 21-24; 1 Cor. 11:7-9; 1 Tim. 2:12-14). The entire statement is available here: http://www.cbmw.org/Danvers
 
What is the mission and vision of CBMW? Our mission is to articulate Scripture’s teaching about the complementary differences between men and women, both created equally in the image of God. CBMW rightly believes that these teachings are crucial for obedience to God’s Word and for the health of families and local church bodies. The vision of CBMW is to see evangelical homes, churches, seminaries and Bible colleges and other ministries adopt the principles of the Danvers Statement as part of their personal convictions and doctrinal confessions and apply them in consistent, heart-felt practice.
 
What does the word “complementarian” mean? It alludes to the Bible’s teaching that God created men and women equal in value and essence (both genders being created in His image), yet in His infinite wisdom, God has designed men and women to play different but complementary roles in the home and church.
 
Who else is involved in CBMW? You will instantly recognize many of our leaders. J. Ligon Duncan III serves as chairman of our board, C.J. Mahaney and Wayne Grudem also serve on our governing board. Many of you will recognize these names as excellent authors, conference speakers and Reformed evangelical leaders. CBMW council members include John Piper, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Paige Patterson, Bruce Ware, Susan Hunt, Josh Harris, Mary Kassian and Daniel L. Akin among several others. I hope you see that we have some pretty good company there and are blessed with very wise, excellent leadership. My longtime friend and fellow baseball lover, Randy Stinson dean of the School of Church Ministries at Southern Seminary in Louisville, is CBMW president and provides a sterling example of biblical manhood for us all. I hope the PBC family will get to meet Randy and some of these other friends in person in coming years as we entertain guests here to speak to these critical issues.
 
Where may I learn more about CBMW? Our organization has an incredible website that contains literally thousands of articles, online books, audio lectures and sermons, as well as a daily blog (which I edit and oversee!) and other excellent resources that provide exhaustive teaching and biblical analysis on such issues as gender in the home and church, family worship, modesty, dating and relationships, marriage, and many more. The address is www.cbmw.org.
 
Where should I begin reading about these important issues? In addition to the CBMW website, a good place to begin is the landmark book edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Published in the early 90s by Crossway, this work is the gold standard for in-depth analysis of the biblical, cultural, historical and theological issues surrounding gender in the home and church. It sets forth a robust vision for biblical complementarity and includes such authors as Piper, Grudem, Tom Schreiner, Bruce Ware, Ray Ortlund, Jr., John Frame, Doug Moo, Elisabeth Elliott, Dorothy Patterson, Paige Patterson, Vern Poythress and numerous others. The full book is available for free download as a PDF from the CBMW website. This is a must-read for anyone interested in this issue. Other excellent foundational works include Women in the Church: An analysis and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 by Schreiner and Andreas Kostenberger, Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth by Grudem and The Feminist Mistake: The Radical Impact of Feminism on Church and Culture, by Mary Kassian and Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism? By Grudem. These books will provide an excellent foundation for the pivotal biblical, theological, historical, philosophical and cultural issues involved in the so-called gender debate. Please visit my friends online!