Does Christianity Teach Male Headship?

Review of Biblical Literature
"This book will become a benchmark in discussions of marriage and family structure. This is a must read for everyone serious about a Christian marriage structure in contemporary times."

J. Bradley Wigger
"These pages challenge conservative Christians to soften their emphasis on male headship in favor of mutuality in adult love; they also challenge liberal Christians to worry more about keeping men attached to their families and children. How wonderful that the gospel challenges us all to wrestle with how to better love one another."

David Popenoe
"This book casts brilliant new light on the long-troubling issue of male headship in the family. If the book doesn't fully resolve the issue, it certainly presents a first-class scholarly debate and provides everything a reader would want to know in order to have a reasoned opinion."

W. Bradford Wilcox
"Around the world — from Nairobi to New York, from Boston to Bangkok — men are spending ever-larger portions of their adult lives apart from their families, as evidenced by increases in divorce, out-of-wedlock births, and abandonment. This provocative volume takes the discussion about male headship in new and fruitful directions by asking if theologically grounded soft patriarchy is the price we must pay to reverse this rising tide of male misbehavior. While most of the contributors maintain that patriarchy is not the answer, all of them grapple in innovative ways with the fundamental theological and sociological issues Christians must face if they hope to encourage men to embrace the sacrifices associated with family life in the twenty-first century. "

William Edgar
"There appears to be an impasse in discussions about gender issues among Christians. This timely book is a significant step forward. Its thoughtful chapters take us beyond the usual caricatures made of different positions and into some real depth. An affirmation of 'equal-regard marriage' is followed by dissenting views. This strategy introduces readers to the complexities surrounding the issues and should encourage judgments that are well informed. Does Christianity Teach Male Headship? is required reading for anyone looking for clarity on this front-burner concern. "