A Tribute to Alvera Mickelsen Mimi Haddad

A Tribute to Alvera Mickelsen Mimi Haddad On Tuesday, July 12, 2016, Alvera Mickelsen was welcomed into and Gould, preach on prominent evangelical platforms in the the loving arms of Jesus. Our beloved leader, mentor, mother, and Chicago area. Alvera finally burst out with laughter and said, friend died at the age of ninety-seven. A founder of Christians for “You, know, it wasn’t until 1950 that women preachers were Biblical Equality (CBE), she was CBE’s first board chair in 1987, considered liberal. Before that, no one thought twice about worked with grassroots CBE chapters, and served for years as a women preaching the Gospel.” CBE board member. She authored accessible books that remain As a result of the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, bestsellers not only in CBE’s community, but around the world. women’s preaching was considered liberal after the 1950s. These Alvera and her husband, Dr. Berkeley Mickelsen, a Bible three women, because of their age and life-long commitment scholar, were among the founders of CBE. They devoted much to evangelical ideals, were all too aware of today’s evangelical of their efforts to teaching, writing, and participating in public retrenchment on women’s leadership as preachers, evangelists, and debates on biblical gender equality. scholars. For this reason, Alvera frequently reminded us of the true A gifted teacher, writer, and editor, Alvera attributed her history of evangelicals as one that supported women’s leadership. skills to her own mother who taught Bible at their Swedish I refer to this as the “Alvera Hypothesis,” which I often use to Baptist church in Indiana. The daughter of Swedish immigrant explain the vast number of women leaders who were prominent farmers, Alvera was the first person in her family to earn a in early evangelical denominations and at the evangelical Bible college degree, and later, a master’s degree in journalism from institutes which grew to become Wheaton College, University Northwestern University. Alvera taught journalism at Wheaton of Northwestern, Biola University, Vanguard University, and College and Bethel University, and began publishing her work others. Sure enough, prior to 1950, these schools seemed proud of as early as the 1980s. their female preachers and gospel-workers—something we long Disturbed by the shallow reading of scripture used by many to see happen again. Christians to marginalize women’s gifts, Alvera frequently wrote As she aged ever so gracefully, she often expressed gratitude for and edited CBE publications, and spoke at CBE events and for each day God had given her. Alvera often said that we are all on those of her denomination—the Baptist General Conference. this earth to help others. She brought enormous encouragement, A key visionary within CBE and a tough debater, Alvera was love, joy, and laughter to many within CBE and beyond. Above intensely gracious to all she engaged. She was a sought-after all else, she aimed to please Christ. mentor for younger egalitarians, writers, scholars, and leaders. The last day I was able to speak with her was several weeks She was in constant contact with her students, and served as a ago. For much of my visit, she seemed unable to talk and unaware faithful guide to many aspiring movers and shakers. of my presence. Regardless, I sat next to her as I did every Sunday Early in the egalitarian movement, Alvera contributed I was in town, reading scripture and praying beside her. Though vital books like Women in Ministry: Four Views and the now- she seemed unresponsive through much of my prayer, she lifted classic, Woman, Authority & the Bible, published by IVP in 1986. her head slightly when I said “Amen,” and echoed, with some Women, Authority & the Bible remains in print today. She also power, “Amen!” contributed to Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity We love our Alvera more than words can express! We Without Hierarchy. She served as editor of the Lausanne remembered her life and service to Christ in a memorial Occasional Paper: Empowering Men and Women to Use their celebration on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Gracepoint Church in Gifts Together in Advancing the Gospel. New Brighton, Minnesota. Alvera identified two organizations Her practical wisdom, biblical knowledge, and experience as recipients of gifts in her honor: Christians for Biblical Equality with challenging people problems made her the ideal “Egalitarian and the Salvation Army. Bible Answer Lady,” as we often called her. CBE archived her responses to often-asked questions in a folder called, “Alvera Answers Difficult Questions.” On a regular basis, we receive questions about egalitarianism that she eloquently answered, MIMI HADDAD, PhD, is president of and we continue to reply with her thoughts. In this way, her Christians for Biblical Equality. She has wisdom lives on! contributed to nine books, has authored Years ago, Alvera and two other women—all in their more than one hundred articles and blog eighties—came to volunteer in CBE’s office. They soon posts, and speaks frequently on issues discovered that all three of them attended evangelical churches related to faith and gender. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Bethel University and in the greater Chicago area. All three were raised by evangelical an adjunct professor at North Park Theological Seminary and parents. All three went to Wheaton College, and all three could Fuller Theological Seminary remember hearing the female evangelistic team, Stockton Priscilla Papers ◆ Vol. 30, No. 4 ◆ Autumn 2016 • 3 .

Load more