The slippery slope of change: locating the boundaries around complementarian evangelical institutions and ideas

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This project reveals a case study in which boundaries are formed around a principle idea through structures, discourse, and theology. Complementarian leaders carefully constructed a community and detailed theology that continually reinforce and legitimize their gender roles. These boundaries unify people with common views about gender roles. Not only does it show how boundaries are formed and maintained but it also gives a clearer understanding of how complementarianism is thriving and prospering within evangelicalism. Gender roles, in past years, were often taken for granted within evangelicalism. After complementarians took over some denominations and seminaries, the idea of spelling out gender roles became important. The complementarian viewpoint has emerged in the last twenty years as a serious conversation for almost every congregation within evangelicalism. They have forced congregations all of over the United States to take a stand one way or the other about gender roles. Before, when gender roles were taken for granted, there were few established doctrines that explicitly defined gender roles. However, once complementarianism became more established, the church denominations, congregations, and seminaries had to decide if they were egalitarian or complementarian. One small group contributed to the changes of many evangelical churches.