Men and Women at Talbot School of Theology

Women and men are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and called to mutual submission (Eph. 5:21). This calling of two differently endowed equals to serve the other in oneness is the source of Scripture’s compelling and beautiful vision for human life. Talbot is committed to promoting this vision. 

Talbot sees flourishing human life as a divinely ordained means to reflect God in the world. Gender is intended to facilitate our flourishing, especially through our relationships with one another. It is a unique gift offered for the benefit of the other.

Talbot also affirms the unique ways each gender realizes its submission and deference for the sake of the other. In the New Covenant, both women and men are called to build up the body of Christ through the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. Talbot believes that Scripture teaches that God has called men to Christlike headship in the family and oversight as elders in the church. The sacrificial, God-oriented, and others-centered nature of this responsibility absolutely precludes domination, authoritarianism, and any other form of leadership that is contrary to the example of Christ. The family of God is called to mutual respect, interdependence, and love, reflecting a community in which all members are empowered by the Spirit to grow in Christlike character.

Talbot offers its quality theological education to both men and women and supports the full participation of men and women in all ranks of administration, faculty, admissions, degree programs, student recruitment, and other aspects of university life, including speaking in chapels and university public events. As an educational institution, Talbot does not have authority for the ordination of anyone seeking vocational Christian ministry but recognizes this as the appropriate function of church bodies. At Talbot, we joyfully train men and women students for the callings affirmed by their churches.

As a university, Biola welcomes a range of theological perspectives on the roles of men and women that are consistent with the University’s Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles. As such, this particular statement is unique to Talbot among the schools of the university.