Reframing the House: Constructive Feminist Global Ecclesiology for the Western Evangelical Church

by Jennifer M. Buck

Reframing the House continues the conversation of global theology as the future of the church. Jennifer Buck tells how women's voices from Africa, Asia, and Latin America serve as a critique of Evangelical theology of the church in the West. Three voices are highlights here from the Majority Mercy Oduyoye, a Ghanaian feminist theologian as representative of Africa; Kwok Pui-lan, a Chinese feminist theologian as representative of Asia; and Maria Pilar Aquino, a Mexican feminist theologian representative of the Americas. Working with these women along with Quaker, political, and feminist voices, this work presents a constructive global ecclesiology, exploring areas such as salvation, sin, peacemaking, and more."This is a fantastic book. Jen Buck offers a wonderfully original work simultaneously critiquing outmoded models of the church while offering fresh and invigorating options built from the multitude of voices scattered across the earth. She helps us understand some of the most complex features of contemporary and feminist theology without sacrificing a robust commitment and confidence in the person and work of Christ. This is sure to become a leading voice in the field."--Gayle D. Beebe, President, Westmont College"Dr. Buck provides a needed resource for Evangelicals today who search to expand theological and ecclesial frames that may no longer hold increasingly diverse questions concerning faith and life. Buck's search for truth leads her to reap the wisdom of other theological voices and methods, ones that are sorely needed for contemporary Evangelicalism and the church. This is one of those works that challenges Evangelicalism out of an ecclesiological and theological past and into a bolder future."--Mark Chung Hearn, Director of Contextual Education and Assistant Clinical Professor of Contextual Education and Ministry, Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry"Jennifer Buck's Reframing the House gives a voice to Majority World women who have not been heard much in Western discussions about the nature of the church. And Buck uses their voice to propose a constructive global ecclesiology that has implications for the way we think about sin, salvation, and the existence of the church as an alternative society to the sexism, racism, ethnocentrism, individualism, and all the other -isms that even infect the contemporary church. She does this with graciousness and humility, yet conviction. There is no generic Christianity; the noun always requires an adjective--something we in the West often overlook. That is why Buck's book is it participates in the answer to the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians that we might come to know the dimensions of Christ's love 'with all the saints.'"--Dennis Okholm, Azusa Pacific University"This book should be celebrated for its deep feminist, ecumenical, and global commitments. Buck mines the richness of the work of three trailblazing feminists from the Third World--Mercy Oduyoye, Kwok Pui-Lan, and Maria Pilar Aquino--to show how and why the Western evangelical 'house' needs to be 'reframed.' Readers will find their theological horizons broadened, their appreciation of world Christianity deepened, and their understanding of the important contributions that feminism provides enhanced."--Grace Yia-Hei Kao, Author; Associate Professor of Ethics, Claremont School of Theology; Codirector of the Center for Sexuality, Gender, and ReligionJennifer Buck holds a PhD in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2016

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is not a modern feminist, she's a white feminist.
That doesn't refer to her race so much as how she navigates feminism.
Traditional feminism is really just white supremacy for white women.
The gains that white woman make are at the expense of Black and Brown women.
This isn't feminism. That's white women oppressing WOC and it's simply a page out of the white supremacist handbook.
This author has zero to offer on feminism.

[Jared Longoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique work brings together evangelical, liberation, and feminist theologies (among others) to form a constructive global ecclesiology (theology of church). Buck's call for the western church to submit itself to the teaching, leadership, and critique of majority-world theologians (especially female ones) is powerful. As well, the consistent and clear message that sin is systemic, not just individual, and that the church can be (or, rather, often is) a vehicle for sin and oppression is convicting. The book culminates with an incredible chapter on peacemaking, women in leadership, and multiethnic churches as related to ecclesiology. I foresee frequently returning to that chapter for inspiration and guidance on those topics.

A few side notes, the idea of moving beyond systematic theology (rigid and pre-defined) into "constructive theology" (presuppositionally flexible and inclusive) was new and highly attractive to me. As well, it was a joy to be introduced to leading feminist theologians from South America (e.g. Maria Pilar Aquino), Africa (e.g. Mercy Amba Oduyoye), and Asia (e.g. Kwok Pui-Lan), as well as to influential female-Quaker peacemakers (Margaret Fell and Lucretia Mott). Lastly, it is worth noting that I partnered in ministry with Dr. Jen Buck for a little over a year at Rose Drive Friends Church and was impacted in significant and positive ways by her ministry.

To close, here's one of my favorite quotes from the book: "the Church best reflects the Trinity when it is a common people, gathered around the Eucharistic table, sharing hospitality with one another ... Egalitarianism must primarily champion women to positions of leadership in the church, yet also extend responsibility for the corporate life of the church to the entire community." p.165.

[Cherice Bock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well done book about feminist theology combined with Quaker/peace church theology, and where we go from here. It was written before the 2016 election, and the Evangelical role in that, and so I feel like it's not as helpful regarding the future of Evangelicals in general, but it does give great thoughts about where the more progressive side of Evangelicalism can find hope and vision. I appreciated how Buck wove together the history of the Friends tradition, theologians from outside Quakerism (Moltmann, Yoder, and liberation theologians), and really challenged and filled them out through engagement with Majority World voices: Kwok Pui-Lan, Mercy Oduyoye, and Maria Pilar Aquino.

While she's writing to a broadly Evangelical audience (at least those that want to read actually theology texts), what she says is particularly helpful to the current Friends/Quaker situation, and the many conversations happening around the US regarding how to be Christ centered and Quaker.