Grounded in the Body, in Time and Place, in Scripture: Papers by Australian Women Scholars in the Evangelical Tradition

by Jill Firth (editor), Denise Cooper-Clarke (Editor)

"In my bibliographies there are no women in the evangelical tradition, and no Australian women scholars." This unique volume addresses this gap, with eighteen biblically rich and academically rigorous chapters by established and emerging Australian women scholars in the evangelical tradition. The authors consider our relationship with the land and Indigenous peoples, neighborhood, embodiment, (dis)ability, abortion, leadership, work, architecture, the media, Song of Songs and domestic violence, and Jeremiah and weaponized rape, and demonstrate recent methodologies such as a social identity reading of Exodus, sensory readings of Psalms and John's Gospel, and discipleship readings of Mary and Martha and the woman at the well. A contemporary Kriol psalm and stories of pioneering Australian women theological students and teachers complete the volume. Valuable for students and teachers across Bible, theology, ministry, and practice subjects, this book is an essential inclusion in any theological library.

322 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2021

Reviews

[Ian Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to read this collection of essays. I'd like to think it will become a legendary publication. It's a collection of essays which are rich, diverse, challenging - and indeed, grounding. In space, time and scripture. We are treated to voices of migrant experience, indigenous connexions, scriptural expertise.

It was rewarding to read such a range of Australian Evangelical women scholars some of whom I already knew; all of whom who have taught me fresh, deep and varied things.

I'm an ordained Baptist pastor, now retired, who has completed studies at the Victorian theological colleges of Whitley and Ridley and enjoyed a term's Fellowship at Oxford studying the relationships of Science and Religion.

In short, I found this book a help, a challenge and a blessing and I hope, since you've read this review that you'll purchase this book and benefit from it too.

[Robyn Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to all the wise women who contributed to this excellent book.

[Sarah Bacaller]

With a range of styles and foci, this book has wide appeal for a theologically inclined readership. By offering eighteen women-authored, “biblically rich and academically rigorous chapters,” the editors address a gap in theological scholarship that often manifests as a lack of bibliographical representation of women on university bibliographies.

Four chapters I particularly enjoyed were: (1) Deborah Storie's racy engagement with the story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Wonderful insights from experiences of living in the Middle East that bring a rich, grounded and realist view to this story. (2) Co-editor Denise Cooper-Clarke’s nuanced and sensitive discussion of the ethics of abortion debates. (3) Elizabeth Culhane's exploration of space and architecture, in particular the relationship between form and function of physical spaces. Her point of focus is St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. (4) Jill Firth's historical sketch of women theologian's contributions in Australia.

Full review @ Journal of Contemporary Ministry.