This week we had our PhD Symposium for the School of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen. My particular area is Practical Theology.

As many things still remain, this was virtual. So I was grateful to be able to easily attend.

In the final session, we had a Q & A panel with the faculty. One question was what are they currently reading and why it is important to them. One member, Dr. Katie Cross, who is a prominent voice in feminist theology today, shared some insights about reading women in theology. From that, she also shared a post by Maggie Dawn, who is herself a professor of theology at St Mary’s College, Durham University. This post lists a plethora of resources on women writers in theology. These women do not just write about women’s issues. They speak into all things theological. And that’s how it is supposed to be!

Interestingly, this is how Maggie Dawn introduces her own post:

When people ask about women theologians, the subtext is often “I need to read about ‘women’s issues‘ in theology so I need a female author”. But women’s voices in theology are not necessarily writing on “women’s issues” per se, they are simply writing theology. Certainly their experience of theology will be colored by the fact they are a woman. But there is something insidious about assuming that women are there to add ‘women’s issues’ to what is otherwise neutral theology. It implies that theology written by men (mostly white men, incidentally) is neutral theology, while women add on-the-side issues that are not central. But in fact, no one gives you neutral theology. . . And theology by women is not done just for women, nor is it only about women; neither should it be treated as a secondary tier of theology. It’s theology for everyone, done by women.

So, check out the great list of author’s Dawn has posted on her blog.

I am aware I need more female voices, along with other minorities. White men, like myself, have ruled the roost far too long.