DESCRIPTION: This course seeks to explore the experiences and contributions of women in the church from the post-apostolic period though the twentieth century, together with the theologies and presuppositions that sometimes supported but more often discouraged their full participation in church and religious life. It is highly desirable (but not required) that students have some basic orientation to the world and thought of the patristic and Reformation periods, such as would be acquired in CH500/1 and CH502/3, but this course does not otherwise presuppose any acquaintance with church history, women's studies, or gender issues.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with the central theological doctrines and historical developments that have shaped the shifting attitudes and practices of the Christian church with respect to women throughout its history (attained through lectures and readings); (2) an ability to analyze and articulate the historical significance and theological arguments of the Christian past (attained through close readings of selected primary sources and contemporary historical critics, along with written responses); (3) critical appreciation for the theologies, worldviews, and experiences of women and men throughout this history (attained through lectures and group discussions); and (4) an ability to reflect on the perennial nature of these doctrinal and ecclesiastical controversies over gender (attained through lectures, discussion, and writing assignments).

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: While the role and ministry of women in the church has sometimes been seen as a recent and even faddish concern, this course will acquaint students with the remarkable degree to which gender has always played a role in the church's practice of theology and ministry. Class discussions and reflection on readings will help students discover why a historical perspective is essential in order to evaluate the significance of gender issues for theology and church today.

COURSE FORMAT: Weekly three-and-a-half-hour meetings for lectures and discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

Clark, Elizabeth A. Women in the Early Church. Liturgical Press, 1984. $24.95. ISBN-978-0814653324. [195 pp. assigned]

Heine, Susanne. Women and Early Christianity. Augsburg, 1988 (o.p.). Price TBD. ISBN-978-0806623597. [99 pp. assigned]

Jewett, Paul King. The Ordination of Women. Eerdmans, 1978 (o.p.). Price TBD. ISBN-978-0802818508. [141 pp. assigned]

Osiek, Carolyn, and Margaret Y. MacDonald. A Woman's Place. Fortress, 2006. $21.00. ISBN-978-0800637774. [178 pp. assigned]

Riggs, Marcia Y. Can I Get a Witness? Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women. Orbis, 1997. $28.00. ISBN-978-1570751134. [120 pp. assigned]

Thompson, John L. Reading the Bible with the Dead. Eerdmans, 2007. $20.00. ISBN-978-0802807533. [168 pp. assigned]

Van Leeuwen, Mary Stewart. Gender and Grace. InterVarsity Press, 1990. $23.00. ISBN-978-0830812974. [224 pp. assigned]

Selected readings, available on course Moodle page and or as eReserves. For specific page assignments and for the books listed above, see the full course syllabus, available on the instructor's website, http://documents.fuller.edu/sot/faculty/thompson_john/CH575syllabus.pdf.

Extensive recommended reading is listed on the full course syllabus (URL link above).

1. Assigned readings of 1550 pages, with weekly 1000-word reading-response essays, 45%.

2. Specialized report of ~3000 words on women or gender issues in one's own denomination or tradition, 20%.

3. Final exam, 35%.

4. Optional research project in lieu of specialized report and final exam.