The Changing Face of Women in Christianity

1
The Changing Face of Women in Christianity
Moving Outside The Domestic Sphere
2
The Traditional Perspective

• Severe restrictions prior to Christ
• Christs revolutionary message of sexual parity
• 1800 years of denigration
• Modern movements towards equality

3
Symptomatic of Societal Change

• Equality for Women
• Increased Female Education
• Greater Numbers Entering Theological School
• Orthodox Reservations
• Increased Responsibilities

4
Major Female Characters

• Aimee Semple McPherson
• Dorothy Day
• Mahlia Jackson
• Flannery OConnor
• Catherine Marshall
• Right Mary Magdalene Egg Symbolic of Female
  Fertility

5
Aimee Semple McPherson

• 1890 1944
• Devout Pentecostal Fundamentalist
• Married 3 times, Including 2 Divorces
• Flamboyant Revivalist of 1920s and 30s
• Saw Radio as Excellent Medium for Reaching Out
• 1922 Angelus Temple (See Right) in Los Angeles,
  1.5 Million Structure
• 1927 Founded the International Church of the
  Foursquare Gospel

6
Dorothy Day

• 1897 - 1980
• Never Held a Clear Position of Authority
• 1931 Founded Catholic Worker Movement
• Houses of Hospitality
• Sacrifice, Worship, and a Sense of Reverence

7
Mahalia Jackson

• 1911 1972
• Queen of Gospel music
• Devout Baptist
• Essential to the Black Experience
• Civil Rights Activist
• Sang for JFK Dr. M. L. King

8
Flannery OConnor

• 1925 1964
• Christian Author
• Diagnosed with Disseminated Lupus
• Strength in Faith
• Works set in her Southern Homeland
• Characters of Christian and Protestant
  Denomination

9
Catherine Marshall

• 1924 1983
• Protestant
• Published Writer
• Wife of Peter Marshall
• Editor, Biographer, Active Speaker Founder of a
  Publishing Company

10
Extended Dimensions

• Fame and Notoriety
• Multitude of Skills
• Pushed the Boundaries of Traditional Role
  Expectations
• Influential on the Status of Women in and out of
  the Church
• Devotion to the Promotion of Their Denomination

11
Future Considerations

• Has the Movement Towards Female Equality Stalled
  Out?
• Why Would the Early Church Diminish the Roles of
  Women Despite Christs Support of Equality?
• Will Women Ever be Permitted in to the Highest
  Levels of Christianity?
• Eves Apology in Defense of Women -vs- Eve as
  Mans Temptation to Sin

12
Sources for Information Photos

• Noll, Mark A. 1992. A History of Christianity in
  the United States and Canada. Pages 512-521
• The Role of Women in Christianity
  http//www.religioustolerance.org/lfe_bibl.htm
• Christ with Women http//latterdaymainstreet.com/
  wp-content/uploads/2007/07/img_0329.JPG
• Image of Nun Outline http//wings.buffalo.edu/sa/
  muslim/library/jesus-say/img/nun.jpg
• We Can Do It http//images.allposters.com/image
  s/130/048_m1498.jpg
• Mary Magdalene with Egg
• Angelus Temple http//images.google.ca/imgres?img
  urlhttp//lh3.google.com/_tMd-7JXPkQA/RkwN8rcovNI
  /AAAAAAAAOJ8/mtBRIcp9Krk/s800/05MAY072B-2B049.JP
  Gimgrefurlhttp//picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z
  1rUS1f4CB6VZBGLCIPr8Ah600w800sz67hlenstar
  t3tbnid37lniAerH5-hFMtbnh107tbnw143prev/
  images3Fq3Dangelus2Btemple26gbv3D226hl3Den
  26sa3DG

13
Sources for Information Photos Continued

• Aimee Semple McPherson http//www.jonasclark.com/
  amee.jpg
• Dorothy Day http//www.journeywithjesus.net/Essay
  s/Dorothy_Day_Catholic_Workers_Movement_sm.jpg
• Mahalia Jackson http//heroforchrist.kitoba.com/i
  mages/Mahalia2.jpg
• Flannery OConnor http//www.gcsu.edu/internation
  al/newsletters/images/FlanneryO'Connor.jpg
  http//www.lib.utexas.edu/pcl/roundup/everythingth
  atrises.jpg
• Catherine Marshall http//www.shekinahgloryminist
  ries.org/images/59304/catherine_marshall.gif