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Austin Channing Brown, Christian Feminism Today, Diana Butler Bass, Jann Aldredge Clanton, Reta Halteman Ringer
I will be one of the five plenary speakers at the annual Christian Feminism Today conference.
Registration opens January 15, 2016. Please share this conference with your friends and colleagues. Hope to see many of you there.
Christian Feminism Today
Equality and Inclusiveness Through God’s Expansive Love
“Prophets In Every Generation”
The 2016 Christian Feminism Today Gathering
Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:27 NRSV
June 23-26, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Registration opens January 15, 2016
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Use the gathering hashtag: #CFT2016
Click here for a printable “Save the Date” flyer.
Featured Presenters
Diana Butler Bass
Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture.
She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of nine books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution (HarperOne, 2015) and the widely influential Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (HarperOne, 2012). Her other books include A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009), nominated for a Library of Virginia literary award, and the best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (2006) which was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and was featured in a cover story in USA TODAY.
Diana regularly speaks at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events for religious leaders, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues. She writes at The Huffington Post and The Washington Post and comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR.
From 1995 to 2000, she wrote a weekly column on American religion for the New York Times Syndicate. She is a contributing editor for Sojourners Magazine has written widely in the religious press, including Christian Century, Clergy Journal, and Congregations.
Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Austin Channing Brown
Austin C Brown began her journey as a racial reconciler in college with an experience called Sankofa–a three-day bus trip exploring black history sites throughout the South. It was on this pilgrimage that she first connected with her own history and share that experience with others.
Following her undergraduate work, Austin went on to earn a masters degree in social Justice from Marygrove College in Detroit, MI. From her experience with Sankofa and the foundation of her graduate work, she has directed a short-term missions site on the west side of Chicago, creating interactive opportunities for youth to engage issues of poverty, injustice, and race and worked on staff with Willow Creek Community Church developing strategies and programming around multiculturalism. Currently she serves as Resident Director and Multicultural Liaison forCalvin College, in Grand Rapids, MI.
As a speaker, Austin travels the country through out the year sharing her message at college’s, universities, conferences, and churches. She has been featured at The Justice Conference, Why Christian? Conference, Christians for Biblical Equality Intl. Conference, University of Northwestern, and the CCDA National Conference, to name a few.
In the midst of all of her accomplishments, racial justice and reconciliation, and womanhood have continued to be the core of her message. She writes about these topics on her popular blog austinchanning.com and as regular contributor to Today’s Christian Woman. She has also contributed to Her.maneutics, Relevant and The High Calling.
She is married to her best friend, Tommie, an attorney in Grand Rapids, MI and adores her little puppy, Mowgli.
Jann Aldredge-Clanton
Jann Aldredge-Clanton is an ordained minister, author, teacher, and chaplain. She currently serves as adjunct professor at Perkins School of Theology and Richland Community College, Dallas, Texas. She also serves as co-chair of Equity for Women in the Church, Inc., on the Dallas Workers’ Rights Board, and on the council of Evangelical & Ecumenical Women’s Caucus-Christian Feminism Today (EEWC-CWT).
A native of Louisiana, Jann received the B.A. degree from Louisiana Polytechnic University, the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas Christian University, and the M.Div. from Southwestern Theological Seminary.
She is the author of She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World (Skylight Paths Publishing, 2014); Earth Transformed with Music! Inclusive Songs for Worship (Eakin Press, 2015); Changing Church: Stories of Liberating Ministers (Cascade Books, 2011); Inclusive Hymns for Liberation, Peace, and Justice (Eakin Press, 2011); Seeking Wisdom: Inclusive Blessings and Prayers for Public Occasions (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2010); Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006); Breaking Free: The Story of a Feminist Baptist Minister (Eakin Press, 2002);In Search of the Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians(Twenty-Third Publications, 1995; Eakin Press, 2004); Imagine God! A Children’s Musical Exploring and Expressing Images of God (Choristers Guild, 2004); In Whose Image? God and Gender (Crossroad, 1990, 2001); Praying with Christ-Sophia: Services for Healing and Renewal(Twenty-Third Publications, 1996; Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007); Counseling People with Cancer (Westminster John Knox, 1998); God, A Word for Girls and Boys (Glad River, 1993; Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007). She has also published articles in The Journal of Pastoral Care, The Christian Ministry, and elsewhere.
Connect with Jann on Twitter (@aldredgeclanton) and visit her website.
Grace Ji-Sun Kim
Grace Ji-Sun Kim received her M.Div. from Knox College (University of Toronto) and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. She is an Associate Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion.
Grace is the author of 6 books, Embracing the Other: The Transformative Spirit of Love (Eerdmans); Theological Reflections on “Gangnam Style”: A Racial, Sexual, and Cultural Critique (Palgrave Macmillan) co-written with Joseph Cheah; Contemplations from the Heart (Wipf & Stock); Colonialism, Han and the Transformative Power (Palgrave Macmillan); The Holy Spirit, Chi and the Other: A Model of Global and Intercultural Pneumatology (Palgrave Macmillan); and The Grace of Sophia: A Korean North American Women’s Christology(Pilgrim Press).
She is the editor of 3 books, Christian Doctrines for Global Gender Justice (Palgrave) co-edited with Jenny Daggers; Here I Am: Faith Stories of Korean American Clergywomen (Judson Press, forthcoming); and Reimagining with Christian Doctrines co-edited with Jenny Daggers (Palgrave Macmillan).
Grace writes for The Huffington Post, Sojourners, EthicsDaily.com, Wabash Center and Feminist Studies in Religion (co-editor).
She has also written for TIME, The Feminist Wire, Feminism and Religion, The Forum for Theological Education, 99 Brattle and The Nation.
Grace is an ordained minister of word and sacrament within the PC (USA) denomination. She is married to Dr. Perry Y.C. Lee (Associate Professor of Mathematics, Kutztown University) and they have 3 children Theo, Elisabeth and Joshua.
Reta Halteman Finger
Reta Halteman Finger retired in 2009 from teaching Bible (mostly New Testament) at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She now serves as an affiliate associate professor of New Testament at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Reta is the author of the Bible study blog, “Reta’s Reflections,” on our EEWC-Christian Feminism Today website and is also a contributing editor for Sojourners magazine.
In addition to other speaking and writing projects, she edited the Christian feminist magazine, Daughters of Sarah, for 15 years. A gifted teacher, Reta is uniquely skilled in relating the Bible to today’s issues and in getting others involved in discussions about the material she presents. She specializes in life in the early church and is the author of Roman House Churches for Today: A Practical Guide for Small Groups, and Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts. She is also co-editor with Kari Sandhaas of Wisdom of Daughers: Two Decades of the Voice of Christian Feminism (a book of selected articles from Daughters of Sarah magazine). Reta is a longtime member of EEWC-CFT and has served the organization in many ways, including past service on the executive council.
REV. ERICA LEA
Rev. Erica Lea received her bachelor of arts from Texas A&M University with a major in psychology and a minor in women’s and gender studies. She received her master of divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University with a concentration in spiritual formation.
She has continued her studies at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and currently serves at the Pastoral Resident at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Previously she served as the interim pastor at Houston Mennonite Church in Houston, TX, and as a pastoral intern at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, TX.
Erica is a member of the Capital Area Anabaptist Network, DC EcoWomen, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, The Alliance of Baptists, Gay Christian Network, Renovaré Spiritual Formation Covenant Member, The Academy of Preachers, Mennonite Women USA, and The Young Clergy Women Project.
Rev. Lea will be preaching the sermon during the Gathering worship service.
Connect with Erica on Twitter (@RevEricaLea) or check out her blog.
Student Presenters
Cherise Bock
Cherice Bock teaches at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, where her areas of research and specialization include nonviolent theology, ecological theology, Quaker studies, pneumatology, feminist theology, and liberation theology. She holds an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently working on a PhD in environmental studies at Antioch University New England.
In addition, Cherice serves as the editor of Whole Terrain (an environmental studies journal), coordinates acommunity garden at George Fox University, and edits Peace Month for her denomination. You can find Cherice tending her own little patch of land, hiking and camping in her home state of Oregon, biking around town with her spouse and two sons, and enjoying home-grown fruits, veggies, and eggs.
Her doctoral work will focus on the garden as metaphor and physical space for encountering God, others, and creation in order to nourish resilient communities.
Connect with Cherice on Twitter (@ChericeBock), and check out her blog.
Katie Deaver
Katie Deaver is a native of Viroqua, WI. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Religion from Luther College in Decorah, IA, as well as a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Masters of Theology from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Deaver works as the Director of Music Ministry at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Glenview, IL.
Her research interests focus on Christian feminist reinterpretations of atonement theology, violence against women, and sexual ethics. In her doctoral dissertation, she will explore the specific question of whether the doctrine of atonement can and ought to be reclaimed within Lutheran feminist circles. She aspires to teach theology at a college, university, or seminary.
Katie Deaver was the 2015 Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Deaver will present “Theology and Abuse: Prophets Then and Now.” The presentation will address feminist voices, from throughout the ages, who have critiqued Christianity for perpetuating, and in some cases even encouraging, violence against women.
Jennifer Newman
Jennifer is a Master of Theological Studies Candidate at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Prior to entering her masters program, Newman graduated summa cum laude from George Fox University with a BA in Philosophy, a BA in Politics, and a minor in Women’s Studies.
In addition to her schooling, Newman currently works for the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder and is a graduate assistant coach with the Vanderbilt Debate team.
When she is not doing any of those things, you can find her on campus listening to lectures, reading at a Nashville coffee shop, or trying to catch up on television shows like Madam Secretary or Downton Abbey. In the future, Jennifer hopes to pursue doctoral work in feminist philosophy of religion.
Jennifer will be presenting “Beyond the Gender Binary: Theology of Healing for Gender and the Divine,” a discussion of different historical feminist approaches to language about God, ultimately arguing that Virginia Remy Mollenkott’s term “omnigender” is helpful in creating a theology that is affirmative and inclusive of the multiplicity of gender experiences, and incredibly important to the life of the church today.
Some of the Workshop Presenters
Teresa B. Pasquale
Teresa B. Pasquale, LCSW, E-RYT 200, is a trauma specialist, contemplative practice facilitator and Director of Sacred Wounds for Transform Network. She has a MSW in Clinical Social Work from NYU and is a graduate of Richard Rohr’s Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Teresa co-facilitates Seekers, a dinner church service in Delray Beach, Florida and is co-curator of the Emerging Voices blog on Patheos.com.
She is author of Sacred Wounds: A Path To Healing from Spiritual Trauma and Mending Broken: A Personal Journey Through the Stages of Trauma & Recovery. She offers talks, workshops, retreats, and events on issues of trauma, contemplative spirituality and healing in a variety of contexts, sacred and secular.
Teresa will be presenting the workshop “Sacred Wounds: Spiritual Trauma, Activism & Healing.”
You can connect with Teresa at www.teresabpasquale.com and on Facebook and Twitter (@tbpasquale).
Kendra Weddle Irons and Melanie Springer Mock
Kendra Weddle Irons teaches Religion at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas and is a member of EEWC. She has served on the EEWC Council for six years, several as coordinator. Her essays and articles appear in publications such as Christian Feminism Today and Christian Scholar’s Review, andMethodist History. Her first book, Preaching on the Plains: Methodist Women in Kansas, 1920-1956, was published in 2007. Her second, coauthored with Melanie Springer Mock, If Eve Only Knew: Deconstructing Evangelical Popular Culture was published in 2015 by Chalice Press. She and Melanie blog at Ain’t I a Woman?
Connect with Kendra on Twitter at @KendraIrons
Melanie Springer Mock is a Professor of English at George Fox University, in Newberg, Oregon. Her essays and reviews have appeared in Christian Feminism Today, Literary Mama, Christianity Today, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Nation, Runners World, and Mennonite Weekly Review, among other places. Her books include Writing Peace: The Unheard Voices of Great War Mennonite Objectors, Just Moms: Conveying Justice in an Unjust World, The Spirit of Adoption: Writers on Religion, Adoption, Faith, and More, and If Eve Only Knew: Deconstructing Evangelical Popular Culture (with Kendra Weddle Irons). She blogs about (and deconstructs) images of women embedded in evangelical popular culture at Ain’t I a Woman?
Connect with Melanie on Twitter (@aintiwomanblog).
Kendra and Melanie will be presenting the workshop “If Eve Only Knew: Deconstructing Evangelical Popular Culture.”
Grace Ji-Sun Kim 
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