Women Preachers and Prophets through Two Millennia of Christianity

by Beverly Mayne Kienzle, Pamela J. Walker (Editor)

For nearly two millennia, despite repeated prohibitions, Christian women have preached. Some have preached in official settings; others have found alternative routes for expression. Prophecy, teaching, writing, and song have all filled a broad definition of preaching. This anthology, with essays by an international group of scholars from several disciplines, investigates the diverse voices of Christian women who claimed the authority to preach and prophesy. The contributors examine the centuries of arguments, grounded in Pauline injunctions, against women's public speech and the different ways women from the early years of the church through the twentieth century have nonetheless exercised religious leadership in their communities. Some of them based their authority solely on divine inspiration; others were authorized by independent-minded communities; a few were even recognized by the church hierarchy. With its lively accounts of women preachers and prophets in the Christian tradition, this exceptionally well-documented collection will interest scholars and general readers alike.

Genres: Religion, History, Feminism, Nonfiction, Theology, Spirituality, Christianity

386 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1998

Reviews

[Mir]

I read to essays by Kiezle, which I am conflating here: "Preaching as a Touchstone..." (Medieval Sermon Studies 43) and "The Prostitute Preacher" from this volume.

Preaching was central to religious controversies. Views on preaching were used as a rest of orthodoxy. Preaching was public instruction on faith and morals (generally not prophetic at this time), which implied authority and was dangerous especially for uneducated laymen, although the Church never entirely forbade it.

Evidence relating to the subject usually comes from polemical texts or inquisiorial records.
See R.I. Moore's "formation of a persecuting society."

"The Prostitute Preacher" iirc was about the Waldensians specifically. Women preaching was reversal of social order and thus a sign of the impending end of the world. Also typical accusations of promiscuity. Women weaken then betray men, like Delilah and Eve.

[Rachel Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of essays and sermons of women who have followed Jesus from early Christianity to now. One thing that stood out to me was how women used the influence of their own time and place to preach and teach about Jesus. Women had to be wise in how they asserted themselves, and some stirred up trouble within their spheres of influence, but I was so encouraged by how these women did not give up when things were hard. Some pushed through the hard and some found creative ways to get around it, but they all tried to be faithful to following the path they felt God wanted them to follow.

[Ella]

An uneven and somewhat dated essay collection full of excellent bibliographies and some really good gems.

Read two essays for medieval studies honours thesis