Bill Hybels Names Male, Female Co-Pastor Team as His Successor
“We’re welcoming two tested, respected leaders who embrace our values to assume roles that fit their unique gifts and talents,” Hybels said.
….to the new pastoral couple’s exegesis of 1 Timothy and Titus, to put it mildly, though I guess in today’s contorted legal landscape, a woman could indeed sort of claim to be a “one woman man” these days. It’s worth noting that the higher position here is going to be held by the woman.
One nice thing about the situation is that I can point out that Hybels is at least mentoring the gentleman, and has for over a decade. That puts us “complementarians” to shame in many regards, and is a reasonable interpretation of Matthew 28, IMO. Except for the part about ignoring Paul’s prescriptions for church leadership, of course.
On a side note, I really don’t envy the “lucky couple”, since it’s likely that a large portion of Willow Creek’s success rests in the person of Bill Hybels—and that’s going to drip away with Hybels over the next few years. Not an easy job, even beyond the theological differences I have with them.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
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