Meet the ministers and laypeople driving foundational Christian theological change and restoring awareness of the sacred value of women and girls.
‘The Bible teaches that we are made in the image and likeness of God; therefore, I must believe that there is a male and female expression of God…. Claim your divinity and walk in it every day, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.’
—Rev. Dr. Susan Newman, “Claiming Our Divinity”
In a world filled with injustice and violence, we long for a new sacred symbolism to inspire transformation. Our yearning includes a widespread hunger for visions of the Female Divine in church life and worship to restore gender balance and finally achieve just, equal and inclusive faith communities.
This collection of engrossing narratives of women and men trying to change the institutional church—and society—illuminates how reclaiming multicultural female images of God extends beyond the sanctuary and into the community. Whether you’re searching for your own place in the church or you want to explore this growing movement, these fascinating pioneers invite you to join the adventure of creating rituals that include Her, affirming the sacred value of all people and all creation.
Inhoudsopgave
Index of Inclusive-Language Hymns viii
Introduction ix
Part 1: Wisdom’s Works of Gender Equality 1
Rev. Lori Eickmann: Teaching Female Divine Images in Scripture 3
Intentional Interim Pastor, Sierra Pacific Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Sheila Sholes-Ross: Preaching Transformation of Church and Society 9
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Cochair, Equity for Women in the Church Community
Dr. Kendra Weddle Irons: Embracing Our Mother 15
Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Texas Wesleyan University
Mark Mattison: Reclaiming Biblical Female Divine Images 21
Author; Lay Theologian; Coeditor, Divine Feminine Version of the New Testament
Rev. Dr. Angela M. Yarber: Embodying the Divine Feminine 27
Scholar; Dancer; Artist; Minister
Part 2: Wisdom’s Works of Racial Equality 33
Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim: Healing Racism, Sexism, and Classism Through Sophia Christology 35
Associate Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Moravian Theological Seminary
Rev. Christine A. Smith: Creating Multicultural Churches 40
Senior Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church, Wickliffe, Ohio
Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon: The Virgen de Guadalupe at the Forefront of Justice 46
Episcopal Priest; Founder and Executive Director, Tengo Voz
Dr. Melanie Springer Mock: Gathering Everyone under Her Wings 52
Professor of English, George Fox University
Patrick Michaels: Celebrating Her Dark Gracefulness 58
Composer; Minister of Music, St. James’s Episcopal Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Part 3: Wisdom’s Works of Marriage Equality 65
Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty: Challenging Unjust Marriage Laws 67
Pastor, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
Rev. Dr. Susan Newman: Claiming Our Divinity 73
Associate Minister of Congregational Life and Social Justice, All Souls Church, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Paul Smith: Releasing the Divine from the Male Prison 79
Author; Teacher; Minister
Dr. Caryn D. Riswold: Connecting Feminism and Christianity 84
Professor of Religion; Chair, Gender and Women’s Studies Program, Illinois College
Rev. Stacy Boorn: Changing the World by Changing the Church 90
Pastor, Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco, California
Part 4: Wisdom’s Works of Economic Justice 97
Rev. Dr. Isabel Docampo: Sophia Wisdom Making All Things New 99
Professor of Supervised Ministry, Perkins School of Theology
Dr. Mary E. Hunt: Seeing Everyone in the Divine Image 105
Cofounder and Codirector, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual
Rev. Dr. Gail Anderson Ricciuti: Bearing Her Life in the World 111
Associate Professor of Homiletics, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley: Changing Our Default Settings 117
Global Religions Director, Arcus Foundation
Part 5: Wisdom’s Works of Caring for Creation 123
Rev. Dr. Genny Rowley: Neighbors in the Whole Community of Creation 125
Pastoral Theologian; Religious Environmentalist
Rev. Dr. Rebecca L. Kiser: God as Gender-full 131
Intentional Interim Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Daniel Charles Damon: The Amazing Diversity of Creation 137
Composer; Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Richmond, California
Rev. Connie L. Tuttle: Justice for Earth and All Creation 142
Pastor, Circle of Grace Community Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Part 6: Wisdom’s Works of Nonviolence 147
Rev. Judith Liro: Weaving Our Lives Together with Sophia-Spirit 149
Priest, St. Hildegard’s Community, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas
Marg Herder: Knowing Her, Loving All People 155
Writer; Musician; Director of Public Information, Evangelical &Ecumenical Women’s Caucus–Christian Feminism Today
Rev. Dr. Monica A. Coleman: Knowing a Savior by What She Does 161
Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions, Claremont School of Theology
Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott: Radicalized by the Bible 167
Author; English Professor Emeritus, William Paterson University
Rev. Marcia C. Fleischman: Holy Mama’s Peaceful Vision 173
Pastor, Broadway Church, Kansas City, Missouri
Part 7: Wisdom’s Works of Expanding Spiritual Experience 179
Deborah Hall: Mother God Nurturing My Soul 181
Lay Theologian; Founder of Sophia Sisters, Chandler, Arizona
Rev. Larry E. Schultz: Singing the Gospel of the Divine Feminine 186
Composer; Minister of Music, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
Rev. Beverly Jane Phillips: Learning a New Language for the Divine 192
Presbyterian Minister; Author
Rev. Alice D. Martin: Divinity Within and Around All 198
Healer, San Francisco, California
Part 8: Wisdom’s Works of Interfaith Collaboration 203
Dr. Chung Hyun Kyung: The Great Mother of All People 205
Lay Theologian of the Presbyterian Church of Korea; Associate Professor of Ecumenical Studies, Union Theological Seminary
Lana Dalberg: Face-to-Face with the Mother 211
Writer; Activist; Lay Theologian
Jeanette Blonigen Clancy: Cherishing Christianity Without Its Exclusive Claims 217
Writer; Educator; Lay Theologian
Orion Pitts: All-Encompassing Love Uniting Us 223
Director of Music, Office Administrator, First United Lutheran Church, San Francisco, California
Part 9: Wisdom’s Works of Changing Hierarchies into Circles 229
Ann Landaas Smith: Cocreating a New Story 231
Writer; Cofounder and Director, Circle Connections
Dr. Mary Ann Beavis: Charting New Spiritual Paths 237
Professor of Religion and Culture, St. Thomas More College,
University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan: Leading, Not Leaving, the Church 243
Priest, Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, Sarasota, Florida; Bishop, Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Christina Cavener: Seeing God in Her Fullness 249
Founder and Leader of Feminine Divine Worship Services, Minister of Formation, Grace United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas
Part 10: Wisdom’s Works of Creative Worship 255
Christ-Sophia Loves Us, Restores Us, and Sets Us Free 257
Liturgy by Christina Cavener
Prayer for Christ-Sophia’s Peace 259
Beverly Jane Phillips
Litany for Peace 259
Deborah Hall
Seeking Sophia 260
Poem by Susan C. Hamilton
A Pentecost Prayer: Come, Sophia-Spirit 261
Diann L. Neu
Blowing Where She Wills 263
Excerpts from a Pentecost Sermon by Shawna R. B. Atteberry
Breathe on Me, Ruah, Fire 265
Hymn by Deborah Hall
In the Beginning 266
Poem by Shawna R. B. Atteberry
Sophia Is the Breath of Life 267
Responsive Meditation by Christina Cavener
Who Are You, God? 269
Poem by Bridget Mary Meehan
Part 11: Wisdom’s Works of Feminist Emancipatory Faith Communities 271
Epilogue 281
Notes 283
Additional Inclusive Worship Resources 297
Credits 300
Over de auteur
Rev. Jann Aldredge-Clanton, Ph D, an innovative feminist theologian and popular teacher, leads workshops and conferences throughout the United States on expanding images of the Divine and helping people deepen their spiritual experience and contribute to justice and peace. She is an award-winning author of nine books about religion and ministry, two hymn books, and a children’s musical. Ordained in the Alliance of Baptists, she ministers in ecumenical and interfaith settings. She cochairs the national ecumenical, multicultural Equity for Women in the Church Community.