In this episode, hosts Layla and Rob talk with Rev. Liz Testa, coordinator for Women’s Transformation and Leadership with the Reformed Church of America (RCA), who shares her own experiences building mutual partnerships between women and men. She gives practical insight into the struggles churches currently face and offers biblical advice for how women and men in church leadership can move forward together towards unity. Listen as she casts an inspiring vision for churches welcoming everyone to the table and celebrating the diversity of gifts that God has placed in a community.
Bio
REV. ELIZABETH (LIZ) TESTA, M.DIV is a pastor, ministry executive, community builder and sister in Christ, who is passionate about biblical hospitality, multi-cultural worship arts and encouraging others to embrace their God-given gifts and callings. Since 2014, she has served the Reformed Church in America (RCA) as the visionary leader for Women’s Transformation and Leadership and Equity-Based Hospitality. Liz and her team encourage, equip, and empower women of all backgrounds and callings, and equip diverse faith communities to do the same and intentionally create healthy environments where mixed-gender ministry partnerships can flourish and thrive.
Prior to joining the RCA, Rev. Testa spent 12 years on staff at Marble Collegiate Church in NYC. Her first career was as a professional actress and spokesperson, and she delights at how God uses those experiences to enhance her calling in ministry. Rev. Testa holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University and an M.Div from Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ. She is on the Board of Trustees of New Brunswick Theological Seminary and the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. Raised bi-culturally in New York and Spain, Liz loves travel, international cuisines and culture, and is a natural bridge builder across diverse contexts. Her family includes her husband of 25 years, Nick, a NYC high school teacher and daughters Sofia, a psychology student at University of London, Goldsmith’s College and Juliette, a high school junior and softball player.
For more info, contact women@rca.org
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Building God’s Church Together Bible Study: https://learn.faithward.org/courses/building-gods-church-together-bible-study
She is Called: Women of the Bible Study Series: https://www.faithward.org/women-of-the-bible-study-series/
Lavish Hope Podcast: https://www.faithward.org/lavish-hope-podcast/
Other Reading:
As you’ll hear in the episode, Liz exhorts men to “do their work” on their gender brokenness and uncovering their unconscious biases. We’ll recommend these resources:
(Home, Church, and World) What is Headship Theology? Part 2 with Andrew Bartlett and Terran Williams
(Women and Words) Marriage in the Greco-Roman World in Translation with Dr. Roy Ciampa
(Home, Church, and World) What is Headship Theology? Part 1 with Andrew Bartlett and Terran Williams
(Women and Men Leading Together) What’s Next? Answering Your Questions with Layla and Rob
(Women and Words) Exploring Women’s Biblical Equality Through Bible Translation with Dr. Roy Ciampa
(Intersectionality) Telling Her Story through Allyship and Agency with Rev. Dwayne Jackson
(Women in Scripture and History) Esther, Mutuality, and the Gospel with Dr. Karen H. Jobes
(Women and Words) Translation Bias and How to Read the Bible Well with Dr. Roy Ciampa
(Intersectionality) Where Do We Begin? Finding Our Place in God’s Plan
(Women and Words) “We All Read the Bible Through a Cultural Lens” with Dr. Diphus Chemorion
(Women and Men Leading Together) Picking Up the Weight Together with Scott Sinner and Bekah Townsend
(Women and Words) Bible Translation as Communication with Dr. Diphus Chemorion
(Global Impact) Partnering with Courtship and Marriage Foundation in Zimbabwe, Africa with Rev. Herbert Mazonde
(Women and Words) Refined Gold: The Resilience of Strong Women in Scripture with Dr. Boaz Johnson
(Global Impact) Partnering with SheLearns in Uganda to Empower Girls with Fred Sebaggala
(Women and Words) Women Pioneers in Bible Translation with Dr. Boaz Johnson
(Women and Men Leading Together) “Call Her What She Is” with Maddie Cummings and Brooke Pland
(New Voices) A Visit to the CBE Bookstore with Elizabeth Beyer
(Women & Words) Translating the Old Testament Part Two with Dr. Havilah Dharamraj
(Intersectionality) The Narratives that Shaped Us with New Co-Host Rev. Liz Testa
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