Church Mother: The Writings of a Protestant Reformer in Sixteenth-Century Germany

The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe: The Chicago Series

by Katharina Schütz Zell, Katharina Schütz Zell

Imbued with character and independence, strength and articulateness, humor and conviction, abundant biblical knowledge and intense compassion, Katharina Schütz Zell (1498–1562) was an outspoken religious reformer in sixteenth-century Germany who campaigned for the right of clergy to marry and the responsibility of lay people—women as well as men—to proclaim the Gospel. As one of the first and most daring models of the pastor’s wife in the Protestant Reformation, Schütz Zell demonstrated that she could be an equal partner in marriage; she was for many years a respected, if unofficial, mother of the established church of Strasbourg in an age when ecclesiastical leadership was dominated by men.

Though a commoner, Schütz Zell participated actively in public life and wrote prolifically, including letters of consolation, devotional writings, biblical meditations, catechetical instructions, a sermon, and lengthy polemical exchanges with male theologians. The complete translations of her extant publications, except for her longest, are collected here in Church Mother, offering modern readers a rare opportunity to understand the important work of women in the formation of the early Protestant church.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction

267 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2006

Reviews

[Canceok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Zell e unul din cele mai exciting personaje din perioada reformei de care am aflat nu demult si de aceea am fost foarte interesat sa citesc ceva din scrierile ei. Si intr-adevar, admiratia pe care mi-a inspirat-o nu este nefondata. Scrierile ei dovedesc o minte inteleapta, foarte capabila sa articuleze subiecte teologice sofisticate, stiloul ei fiind la fel de ascutit precum cel al lui Luther. Intr-o perioada in care locul femeii era vazut aproape in totalitate ca fiind domestic, ea se considera ajutorul sotului ei nu doar in acest spatiu (desi nu l-a neglijat) ci si in slujire. Ea a militat pt drepturile (obligatia) femeilor de a-si exersa darurile primite de la Dzeu in fiecare domeniu inclusiv cel public. Desi ea credea in versetele care interzic unei femei de a nu predica, le interpreta ca fiind o interdictie de a avea acces in mod oficial la amvon (ordinare) si nu o interdictie generala pt femei de a vorbi in public, argumentand pt preotia universala a tuturor credinciosilor a refuzat sa ramana muta in fata nedreptatii si inegalitatii. Desi era intotdeauna dispusa la a fi invatata, ea nu accepta invatatura nimanui daca nu era convinsa de Scriptura, indiferent de autoritatea pe care o pretindeau cei care dadeau invatatura. A intrat in dezbateri cu teologi ai vremii, iar corespondenta ei cu Rabus si Schwenckfeld e absolut superba (merita citite ambele scrisori).

O femeie demna de renumele pe care l-a primit (mama reformatorilor)! Aceasta descriere minunata pe care am gasit-o despre ea demonstreaza din plin spiritul care a insufletit-o: "In life she had defended all who were maligned: Zwingli, Schwenckfeld, the Anabaptists, and especially her beloved husband, but that did not make her the disciple of any of them—even of Zell(her husband); she would learn from anyone but would follow only Christ."

[Steve Wegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of the writings of the 16th century reformation pastor's wife. She's an unusually strong female voice in a time when they typically had almost none. The insights to her life and the early reformation are interesting, but the writing is is so full of sermonizing and scripture references that its difficult to read

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read on a pastor's wife who was heavily involved in Reformation activities. Includes her surviving writings. Another strong woman in Reformation history!