What I’m currently reading:

“Women in the Church, by Everett Ferguson”.

I bought a couple of different doctrinal books from The Gospel Advocate. One of which is the book above.

I’m about half-way through it, as I usually am when I start writing my book reviews. Bad habit, I know, but I enjoy checking out new books on doctrinal subjects and sharing my thoughts on them.

Ferguson appears to have taken a very scholarly approach to writing this book - almost too scholarly. I’m afraid this book doesn’t speak to the casual reader or, for the matter, the average member of the church.

I am not a preacher by vocation, but I have had some formal training in the bible and theology. Ferguson goes deep into word studies in various scriptures dealing with women in the church. The first couple were okay, but after five or six I found my head starting to spin while I kept track of all the new information presented.

Ferguson appears to have done his homework on this book, and knows his subject well, it is just written in such a way to make it a hard read. I’m having a hard time wading through it, and I have a high level of interest in the subject. That is never a good sign.

So, I guess I would give Ferguson an A for knowledge of his subject and even an A for his rational explanations, but a D on style.

I hope the other book I picked out is an easier read.

If I change my mind by the end of this book, I’ll let you know.

-Clarke