New Feminist Christianity: Many Voices, Many Views »

Feminism has brought many changes to Christian religious practice. From inclusive language and imagery about the Divine to an increase in the number of women ministers, Christian worship will never be the same. Yet, even now, there is a lack of substantive structural change in many churches and complacency within denominations.

The contributors to this book are the thought leaders who are shaping, and being shaped by, the emerging directions of feminist Christianity. They speak from across the denominational spectrum, and from the many diverse groups that make up the Christian community as it finds its place in a religiously pluralistic world. Taken together, their voices offer a starting point for building new models of religious life and worship.

Topics covered include feminist:

Theological Visions

Scriptural Insights

Ethical Agendas

Liturgical and Artistic Frontiers

Ministerial Challenges

Publishers Weekly

Hunt and Neu,co-founders and co-directors of the Womn''s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual, invited the 25 contributors to "describe what the future of feminist Christianity looks like from their various starting points." Many began by looking backward, noting the progress that has been made toward greater equality in Christian teaching and practice, as well as the disappointments and challenges that women seeking a voice and part in Christian leadership still face. Because the essays are necessarily brief, they are strongest when the contributor's particular experience filtech historical reflection. Most mix the personal and predictive, and most arrive at predictable conclusions. The volume concentrates its attention on the United States, which seems myopic since Christianity burgeons in the global south. The book'sAmerican focus and the absence of any male voicesincompletely addressChristian feminism's future. Its rehearsal of familiar complaints and the repeated call by its contributors for creative integration of women's experience and leadership underscores their observation that work remains to be done. (July)

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I Feminist Theological Visions 1

A Postcolonial Feminist Vision for Christianity Kwok Pui-Lan Pui-Lan, Kwok 3

Feminist Theology in Theological Education Rosemary Radford Ruether Ruether, Rosemary Radford 11

Latina Feminist Theology: Charting Future Discourse Nancy Pineda-Madrid Pineda-Madrid, Nancy 21

Crossing Borders: Feminist Christianity in Latin America Wanda Deifelt Deifelt, Wanda 30

Analysis, Interconnectedness, and Peacebuilding for a Just World Maria Pilar Aquino Aquino, Maria Pilar 41

Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality: Integrating the Diverse Politics of Identity into Our Theology W. Anne Joh Joh, W. Anne 52

Why We Need Evangelical Feminists Letha Dawson Scanzoni Scanzoni, Letha Dawson 64

Part II Feminist Scriptural Insights 77

Where Are You Really From? An Asian American Feminist Biblical Scholar Reflects on Her Guild Gale A. Yee Yee, Gale A. 79

Critical Feminist Biblical Studies: Remembering the Struggles, Envisioning the Future Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schussler 86

Inclusivity and Distinctions: The Future of Dalit Feminist Biblical Studies Surekha Nelavala Nelavala, Surekha 100

The Future of Feminist Scripture Studies Shelly Matthews Matthews, Shelly 107

Part III Feminist Ethical Agendas 115

What Does Antiracist Feminist Christian Social Ethics Look Like? Traci C. West West, Traci C. 117

Trans-forming Feminist Christianity Virginia Ramey Mollenkott Mollenkott, Virginia Ramey 127

Seeking Justice and Healing: Violence against Women as an Agenda for Feminist Christianity Marie M. Fortune Fortune, Marie M. 138

Feminist Theo-ethics in Remix Culture Rachel A. R. Bundang Bundang, Rachel A. R. 149

Searching for an Ethic: Sexuality, Children, and Moral Agency Kate M. Ott Ott, Kate M. 158

Part IV Feminist Liturgical and Artistic Frontiers 167

The Feminist Face of God: Art and Liturgy Jeanette Stokes Stokes, Jeanette 169

More Than Words Deborah Sokolove Sokolove, Deborah 182

Feminist Eucharists at Wisdom's Many Tables Diann L. Neu Neu, Diann L. 190

The Road Is Made by Walking Janet Walton Walton, Janet 206

This Is My Body Victoria Rue Rue, Victoria 214

"The Ones WhoVe Gone Before Us": The Future of Feminist Artistic and Liturgical Life Marjorie Procter-Smith Procter-Smith, Marjorie 222

Part V Feminist Ministerial Challenges 233

Women in Ministry in a Postfeminist Era Barbara Brown Zikmund Zikmund, Barbara Brown 235

Asian American Women and Renewal of Preaching Eunjoo Mary Kim Kim, Eunjoo Mary 245

Balancing Power and Humility: Feminist Values in Mennonite Ministry Cynthia Lapp Lapp, Cynthia 254

Our Voices: Loud and Clear Eleanor Moody-Shepherd Moody-Shepherd, Eleanor 261

New Feminist Catholics: Community and Ministry Mary E. Hunt Hunt, Mary E. 269

Signs of Hope, Signs of Dismay Meg A. Riley Riley, Meg A. 285

Conclusion: Strengthening Our Resolve, Moving Ever Forward 294

Notes 296

Suggestions for Further Reading 329

Index of Contributors 350