Brisbane's City South: Wisdom in many voices

(photo: Nathan Campbell and Caitlin Olsen in a Sunday service at City South).

City South Church’s thinking on how men and women serve together begins with their conviction that Genesis 1-2 paints a picture of men and women working as partners together to bring life to the world.

Senior minister Nathan Campbell notes that Adam and Eve serve as “priestly figures in a garden that foreshadows the temple of God.”

“This pattern of partnership is broken by the fall, and the consequence is God’s declaration that the man will rule over the wife,” Nathan says. “The partnership between men and women is restored through the ministry of Jesus, seen through accounts such as the woman at the well and the women at the tomb,” he says.

“It’s similar to how Paul, in his letters, breaks patriarchal structures and encourages mutual love and submission.”

City South is an inner-city congregation in the Brisbane suburb of Annerley, with a mix of ages and backgrounds. Many are highly educated, many have had difficult church experiences, but all have found a home with Nathan, his elders and their wives.

The family of God is a key idea for City South. The Session at City South believes that 1 Timothy demonstrates how the church is meant to work like a family. In 1 Timothy 3, husbands and wives with certain characteristics work together to lead the household of God. Others like widows are also provided for and given management responsibilities.

“These are not hierarchical, but dynamic relational structures,” Nathan says.

Practically, this looks like women serving and leading in a variety of spaces, where gifted women have their voices heard in the family of God.

“Not merely for representation,” Nathan says, “but because we want to hear the wisdom God has given them and the perspective they bring to all sorts of issues.”

This is seen in small groups and in session meetings, where the elders meet in open court with the wives of elders so they can lead the household of God as a family. It is also seen in worship services, as well as contributing to sermons by reflecting theologically on what Scripture says.

“Godly women bring wisdom on all things, not just specialist topics or issues,” Nathan says.

“We’ve got women in our church, with doctorates in Old Testament studies, writing commentaries that will shape church teaching. We have women who serve on Boards and Presbyterian committees and these things all flow out of the encouragement we give to women to use their gifts.

“In a church culture where women feel discouraged from leading, we have to get them to overcome their reluctance to step up. We also have egalitarian people who worship with us that would want to see women do more. So, holding that tension in balance is a challenge, but one that brings great benefit.”

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