Our History

Equal but Different had its genesis in the 1992 debates about the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Australia. But much has happened since then.

Now just over ten years on, the worldwide Anglican Communion is in turmoil following the blessing of same-sex unions in Canada and the appointment of a practising homosexual as a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the USA. Even here at home, the Uniting Church of Australia has recently voted to accept practising homosexual and lesbian clergy.

These changes should concern us all, as they represent an unambiguous rejection of Biblical authority and truth. Unfortunately these changes mark the logical end point of denying God’s intentions for relationships between men and women.

Equal but Different currently has members all around Australia and overseas, including men and women from many different Christian denominations.

Members receive the Equal but Different journal three times a year.

We also are available to run seminars for women in local churches.

You can contact Equal but Different by clicking here.

Click here to read some commendations for Equal but Different.

 

What we Believe

Equal But Different accepts and affirms:

1. the goodness and wisdom of God in creating people in His image as male and female;

2. the authority of the Bible in defining God’s purposes for men and women, and how they are to live and relate in His world;

3. the absolute equality of men and women in His purposes with respect to status, honour and dignity;

4. that both men and women are equally fallen before our Creator and Judge, and that both are equally loved and  able to be rescued from God’s deserved wrath through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ;

5. the generosity of God who, through His Spirit, gives gifts of ministry, including leadership, teaching and pastoring to both men and women;

6. that God calls everyone, female and male, to a life of whole-hearted service to Him, and of self-sacrificial ministry to His people and to the world in whatever context He places them;

7. that both men and women are to use their gifts and exercise ministry in a joyful and committed way;

8. that God’s purposes for humanity include complementary relationships between the genders;

9. that men are called to loving, self-denying, humble leadership, and women to intelligent, willing submission within marriage;

10. that within the church, this complementarity is expressed through suitably gifted and appointed men assuming responsibility for authoritative teaching and pastoral oversight; and

11. that we unconditionally reject the use of God’s purposes for marriage as an excuse for violence against women, whether physical, emotional or spiritual.

We thank God for His kindness to us and for the goodness of His life-giving Word in this as in all things.