The Gender Paradox

Welcome to The Gender Paradox Site!

Christianity (and its Scriptures) seems to have conflicting messages toward women: the paradoxical capacity to encourage and discourage, empower and disempower, raise up and tear down women leaders. The Gender Paradox refers to these competing impulses that have led to both the liberation and limitation of women throughout Church history.


The Gender Paradox blog investigates this tension and uncertainty about the role of women through the lens of history, hermeneutics, theology, and praxis. Joseph, with guest contributors, highlights stories and examples of both the painful exclusion and empowering embrace of women in church leadership and discusses why this issue matters so much for the local and global church.


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650 Sources  // Peer Reviewed  // Historic Publisher  //  Award-Winning Series 

650 Sources  // Peer Reviewed  // Historic Publisher  //  Award-Winning Series

The Pentecostal Gender Paradox book cover
The Book

"a landmark for anyone studying gender issues"
Dr. Lisa Stephenson

Available NOW!

Paperback edition out May 2025!


Using the Pentecostal movement as his case study, Joseph’s new book examines the modern gender imbalance in Christian leadership and why women remain caught in the so-called “gender paradox.”

Regardless of one’s specific Christian tradition, this book will help churches, leaders, and lay people carefully examine this controversial issue historically, biblically, theologically, and practically, while raising awareness to the conflicting freedoms and limitations often experienced by women leaders in the church.

Order Now! ➝
BOOK REVIEWS

What People are Saying About the Book

Dr. Daniela Augustine
“An innovative, engaging, and insightful analysis of the relationship between gender and eschatology. Dutko’s skillful, thoughtfully developed, and well-articulated argument is marked by notable originality in both its methodology and theoretical proposals, while also being remarkably accessible. This book promises to make a significant contribution to the field of Pentecostal studies as well as make a broader theological impact in the academy and the church.”

Dr. Daniela Augustine, University of Birmingham

Author of Pneuma’s 2020 Book of the Year, The Spirit and the Common Good
Dr. Amos Yong
"Joseph Dutko both deepens and extends the eschatological hermeneutic that other Pentecostal theologians have called attention to and also applies it to resolving one of the most intractable issues facing Pentecostal churches today: the full support and promotion of women in ministry and elsewhere. While there remain surely socioeconomic-cultural and political-economic impediments to the full flourishing of women in Pentecostal communities, this book provides one of the most definitive scriptural and theological arguments for shattering the so-called “stained-glass ceiling” once and for all in churches and organizations that desire to be Spirit-led-and-inspired."

Dr. Amos Yong, Fuller Seminary

Author/Editor of over 50 books
Dr. Joy Qualls
“A compelling, well-researched, and refreshing piece of academic work. Dutko offers new and unique insights into the gender debate, providing an example of what Pentecostal theology is meant to be and do. There were many places I gave a loud ‘Amen!’ in affirmation of what I was reading. I am grateful that there are men like Dutko who recognize that it must be their voices that make the case for women to be seen and heard at all levels of church leadership.”

Dr. Joy Qualls, Biola University

Author of God Forgive Us For Being Women
Darcy Siggelkow
"I absolutely loved this book: so insightful and very well written! Two primary areas of reading for me the past couple of years have been eschatology and egalitarian theology. But in all the books I've read, I don't think any of them connected the two until this one. As I reflect on my Pentecostal upbringing and education, I wish I would have had a book like this as a tool to help me earlier in my formation. I found this work fascinating, but also very helpful and practical in my pastoral ministry. Joseph’s book represents a much-needed contribution to these issues in our churches, and I hope it finds its way into many pastors’ hands and hearts!"

Rev. Darcy Siggelkow

Lead Pastor, Generations Church (Nanaimo, BC)
Dr. Melissa Archer
"A bold call for Pentecostals to recover and privilege biblical eschatology as the means to bring resolution to the debate over women in ministry leadership. Dutko demonstrates how early Pentecostals viewed women in ministry as the fulfillment of biblically based eschatological promises until hermeneutical shifts moved eschatology from its central position, leading to restrictions on women. Rather than the Pauline “texts of terror” currently utilized as foundational texts for prohibiting women from ministry, Dutko gives hermeneutical priority to eschatological texts that both inspire the imagination and invite participation in the present. The final chapter on suggestions for what an eschatological-egalitarian praxis can look like in leadership, education, and worship makes this work eminently practical. As a Pentecostal woman in ministry, this book fills me with hope!"

Dr. Melissa L. Archer, Southeastern University

Author of "Women in Ministry: A Pentecostal Reading of New Testament Texts"
Dr. Peter Althouse
"Pentecostalism was birthed in the ferment of eschatological urgency that authorized an egalitarian impulse affording women prominent places in leadership and ministry. Unfortunately, this egalitarian impulse waned producing a paradox of female exclusion. Dutko offers creative and thoughtful proposals to call for the reconstruction of Pentecostal eschatology as an authorizing hermeneutic that looks to future possibilities as a basis for women’s full participation in the church."

Dr. Peter Althouse, Oral Roberts University

Author of Pentecostal Eschatology in Conversation with Jürgen Moltmann
Dr. Lisa Stephenson
"The Pentecostal Gender Paradox examines a well-known phenomenon from a new and fresh perspective, while remaining faithful to the heartbeat of Pentecostalism. Dutko’s eschatological approach breathes new life into a well-worn conversation, and he is not content merely with making epistemic claims but also offering prescriptions for various ways an eschatological-egalitarian praxis can be lived out. Both the depth and breadth of this work is noteworthy, as it includes chapters devoted to historical development and contextualization, as well as theological construction and implementation. This book promises to become a landmark for anyone studying gender issues within Pentecostalism and is a needed voice in the current conversation. You will not be disappointed!"

Dr. Lisa P. Stephenson, Lee University

Author of Dismantling the Dualisms for American Pentecostal Women in Ministry
Gender Paradox Blog

top posts on building a more egalitarian church

Joseph welcomes people to the book launch
By Joseph Dutko 11 Mar, 2024
Photos, video, comments, and more from the night!
Ephesians 5:21-22 split by heading in between
By Joseph Dutko 03 Nov, 2023
How male bias in Bible layout has impacted the teaching and interpretation of "submit" in Ephesians 5:22.
Michelle Lee-Barnewall Neither
By Joseph Dutko 15 Sep, 2023
What are some books you can recommend to curious complementarians looking for a biblical defense of egalitarianism?
View All Paradox Posts!
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