Rev. Rebecca’s Note - Feminist Theology
Happy International Women’s Day! In the spirit of this day and Women’s History Month, let’s take a moment to consider the origins of feminist theology and provide a very basic overview of its foundational works. A key article in its origins is “The Human Situation: A Feminine View” by Valerie Saiving Goldstein in the April 1960 issue of The Journal of Religion. She noted that contemporary women “... believe in the values of self-differentiation, challenge, and adventure and are not strangers to that "divine discontent" which has always driven men. Yet these same women value their femininity also; they do not wish to discard their sexual identity but rather to gather it up into a higher unity. They want, in other words, to be both women and full human beings.” (107-8) Rosemary Radford Ruether’s Sexism and God-Talk was the watershed foundational text that expanded on these ideas from spiritual, theological, and historical viewpoints.
Feminist theology, however, like many feminist things, has not been sufficiently inclusive of the experiences and needs of women of color. As mentioned previously, Delores Williams wrote an article bringing up the need for womanist theology in 1987, following that up with her landmark book Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk. Renita Weems in 1988 published Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women’s Relationships in the Bible.
Asian feminist theology, including minjung theology, was formally organized in 1981 as such at the The Conference of Theologically Trained Women of Asia. The first Asian women's theological journal In God's Image was founded in 1982 and helped form the Asian Women's Resource Centre for Culture and Theology in 1988. Chung Hyun Kyung’s Struggle to Be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women's Theology (1990) and Kwok Pui-Lan’s Introducing Asian Feminist Theology are notable names and works in Asian feminist theology.
Mujerista theology, brought to us by Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz with her work Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the Twenty-First Century in 1996, in line with liberation theology, talks about God’s preferential option in particular for women, who have been marginalized. Through Her Eyes: Women’s Theology from Latin America (1989) by Elsa Tamez is another important mujerista theology work and voice.
This incredibly brief overview of theologies from women around the world undoubtedly oversimplifies so much of the brilliant work and the challenges encountered in bringing them to life. I encourage you to look at this brief note as a beginning for further exploration into the realm of what it means for women from all nationalities and ethnicities to be loved in all their fully human selves as God’s people, and for their experiences to truly matter as God’s people.
- Rev. Rebecca
The Board’s Note - The Four-Gospel Journey in Lent
Our Online Spiritual Group, The Four-Gospel Journey, will go on through Lent. You are welcome to join us anytime, for one or for all six. We will have a brief spiritual practice and a video of the author reflecting on an idea for us to discuss and reflect upon together.
| Join us on Sunday Nights at 6 pm For the Online Spiritual Group aboutThe Four-Gospel Journey Sign Up Here for the Link! |
In this series we consider these questions: how do we face change? How do we move through suffering? How do we receive joy? How do we mature in service? Spend some time with Alexander J Shaia as he uses the great map of the four Gospels, just as the Christians used, to guide us on the Christ journey - one of love, growth and transformation. See you online!
What’s Next
| March 8-14 | Daily Bible Reading Joshua 8 - 15 |
| Monday, March 9, 5pm | Center for Lived Faith and Organizing: Understanding Self-Interest Learn how identifying shared and individual self-interest strengthens organizing, leadership, and collective action |
| Tuesday, Mar 10, 5:30pm MCU Office | Ntosake StL Organizing and leadership workshop: brainstorming solutions together |
| Fri, March 13, 6:30pm Power Creative 3221 Oak Hill Ave, StL | Open Mic Night with Compton Heights CC All are welcome to enjoy and perform! Bring your family, friends, and a talent to share! |
| Sat, March 14, 12:30pm Think+Pray+Act 2725 S Jefferson Ave, StL, 63118 | T+P+A Gathering: Annual Meeting lunch, worship, and talking church vision and business for the rest of this year |
| Sun, Mar 15, 5-6:30pm Amen House 4111 Connecticut St, StL 63116 | South City Youth Group meeting: Stations of the Cross at St. Pius Middle schoolers and high schoolers are invited to experience Stations of the Cross at St. Pius |
| Thurs, March 19, 6-8pm Online - REGISTER | Ntosake Online: Who’s Showing Up? With Grace Cajauit Introduces Bobbie Harro’s Cycle of Socialization - intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional - to examine how we are formed. Name the people and experiences that shape your lenses, deepen self-awareness, and clarify how they guide engagement in community organizing. |
| Fri, Mar 20, noon-4pm Online and in-person at 475 E Lockwood Ave, StL 63119 - REGISTER | Center for Lived Faith and Organizing: Organizers Think Tank on ICE and Immigration Which organizing strategies most faithfully align with our commitment to justice, liberation, and collective flourishing? |
| Sat, Mar 21, 9:30am-5pmFirst United Presbyterian Church, 2160 Delmar Ave., Granite City, IL 62040 - REGISTER | MCU/UCM/FCCG Training: Building Power TogetherCome learn how to move from issues to action that will transform your community! Lunch will be provided. |
Think+Pray+Act Annual Meeting
Please, if you can, make it a priority to come to our Annual Meeting at our next gathering this coming Saturday, March 14 at 12:30pm. This is our opportunity to come together and make some big decisions for the year together as a community. Even if you can’t make it on Saturday, please fill out our survey on activities and times (https://forms.gle/JrLpi4wZvge3QcGF9) to help us set priorities and schedules for the rest of this year. Thanks!
South City Youth Group Meeting
Think+Pray+Act is part of the South City Youth Group for grades 6-12 with Compton Heights Christian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Oak Hill Presbyterian Church! The youth group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month - the next meeting is on March 1 from 5-6:30pm at Amen House at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, 4111 Connecticut Ave, StL!
Welcome to Think+Pray+Act! We are an open and affirming faith community that strives to maintain open and free theological learning as an act toward justice. We welcome all spirit seekers into full participation in the life and membership of the community. We actively and faithfully accept as they are people of every race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, relationship status, physical and mental ability, family type, and economic background.
We believe God calls us to do justice and love kindness, giving assistance and healing to others and the planet by following the teachings of Jesus. We promise to love our neighbors, respect differences, and build authentic relationships by learning who we are, taking just action, and breaking bread together. In our actions, God’s love moves and shines.
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