Other Books at Freedom's Ring

Acknowledgments

A special thanks goes to my typist, Cecilia Stoll. She went through three drafts, and innumerable corrections and changes. Her patience and encouragement made the task easier.

Special thanks goes to Pendleton Woods, Penny Eubank, and others for their editorial assistance and numerous suggestions.

I thank Dr. James O. Baird, Dr. Hugo McCord, and Dr. Carl Spain for reading and critiquing my original draft. The fact that they critiqued my original manuscript in no way suggests their agreement or their endorsement. Each critique did enable me to more clearly focus on the real issues and arguments.

I cannot list the numerous Christian leaders and scholars who have listened to the arguments in this book. Some could not emotionally accept its conclusions, but most admitted my two theses were sustained by sound, logical and Biblical arguments.

Dedication

To Minnie Northcutt Houston, my maternal grandmother, who taught school, reared six children, and was the spiritual leader in her home. Most of her children, to the fifth generation, are and have been faithful Christians, and many are church leaders.

To Elizabeth Houston Rowland, my mother, who was the spiritual leader in my home. She also taught school, saw her six children become Christians, and never cowered in the presence of authorities when she felt a wrong was perpetrated, an injustice inflicted, or an error taught.

To my wife, Joye Cooper Rowland, whose loyalty, example and teaching have helped me over many of life's highest hurdles, whose wisdom and understanding often exceeded mine, and whose advice, had I listened to it more, would have left me spiritually richer. 

To my daughter, Cynthia Rowland McClure, whose voice and witness on radio, television, the printed page, and speaker's platforms across America have helped rescue tens of thousands from addictions and self-destructive behavior and, at the same time, have given hope to millions by pointing them to the God she serves.

To Danielle Rowland, my granddaughter who, at age eight, recognized the unfairness of how boys and girls are treated in church, and who will be the first woman in five generations of my family to contribute publicly her talents to the church of Jesus Christ, if she so chooses.

To the millions of Christian women who have had their talents arbitrarily buried, but who were still "teachers of what is good" to all men, women and children in spite of the constraints of tradition, status and empowerment.

To millions of Christian women now living, and those yet unborn, whose "God-given" talents, intelligence, and leadership abilities will be recognized and used by thoughtful church leaders to God's honor and glory.

To Christian men who want to know and do God's will, regardless of where that will take them or what they have to give up in order to honestly please Him, men whose honesty will lead them to acknowledge the inconsistencies in our teachings and our practices and who have the will, courage and wisdom to work for constructive Biblical changes in the church of our Lord.