The Workshops on Biblical Exposition are generally for men who are responsible for regularly preaching and teaching. We also welcome those in bi-vocational ministries as well as those training for ministry. We also have Workshops for women who are responsible for teaching women.
Given our understanding of Scripture, most of our Workshops on Biblical Exposition are for men who are responsible for regularly opening up God’s Word for God’s people. Specifically, they are for those men currently in pastoral ministry and, as such, are responsible for preaching and teaching God’s Word in congregational settings. Though vocational preaching pastors are our priority, the Workshops are open to those in general teaching ministry: including some lay-preachers, teaching Elders, seminary students or professors, teaching missionaries, and those serving in similar roles. Again, our priority is those who regularly preach or teach from God’s Word.
I noticed you just said “men.” What if I am a woman?
We are fully committed to training women for ministry through our Workshops on Biblical Exposition for women. But we also have theological commitments as to what that means. The Charles Simeon Trust adheres to a position on church leadership that is often identified as “complementarian.” While we do not support the ordination of women for pulpit ministry, we do believe that women are called to teaching ministry for women in biblically appropriate settings and should be trained for it as such. It is our conviction that the Church in North America has been particularly slow in this kind of training effort, and as such, we need to do a better job of training women. Women need to be equipped for this task. While the local church should and will do much of this work, we believe that we can support the church in further enabling women. As such, we have established Workshops on Biblical Exposition for women in ministry. We believe that women who are working in ministry in churches need encouragement in their ministry and hope that, by encouraging women to participate in the Workshop for women in ministry, we can also establish a base for fellowship and encouragement. Knowing this, women who wish to attend a Workshop on Biblical Exposition, regardless of where they identify themselves on an egalitarian-complementarian spectrum, are welcome to participate in a Workshop for women in ministry. It is designed for women who are currently in a teaching ministry with the responsibility to teach the Bible regularly. It is open to women who lead in regular teaching ministries including large group instructors, small group teachers, and women’s and children’s ministry leaders appointed by their churches. Women who are interested in this Workshop or have questions about our position or philosophy on this matter are encouraged to contact the Director of Women’s Workshops, Colleen McFadden (cmcfadden@simeontrust.org).
