Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church

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Summary: Trash leftist feminism under the guise of Christian theology
Review: Lesbianism and witchcraft are legitimate alternatives to Christianity because of the oppressive male patriarchy found in the Church? A priestess who doesn't feel she belongs to her church, but will not return her ordination because of her stance to further women's rights? This is the pablum of the 1990's, meaningless pandering in the name of charity and goodwill. This book is an excellent summation of where left wing theology has gone. The biggest disgrace is that this book is required reading in some of the nation's Seminaries.

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Summary: Hospitality, equality, and leadership for all
Review: The Church in the Round by Letty M. Russell is an inspiring and thought provoking book. It also addresses the mundane problems that confront most parishes. It is both practical and applicable to what most local pastors must deal with and confront. However, she also has the added perspective of a female pastor serving in a male dominated institution. But, her ecclesial goals and mine (a male pastor) are the same. She desires a congregation in the round where persons are greeted and accepted with hospitality, where growth and nurture are shared, and where parishioners and clergy gather about a round table of equality, with no head nor foot. I applaud her stance for a congregational structure based on talent, abilities and shared responsibilities. Patriarchal, hierachial and pyramid organizations are counterproductive to a sense of community. This is true in both the ecclesial and secular worlds. Domination and subordination have no place anywhere, but especially in the Church. Russell even proposes the possible elimination of the ordained clergy. I do not know if I am ready to eliminate the ordained clergy, but she has certainly identified the problem. The elimination of clergy could solve the problems she states, but I think that it would create different ones. I think that it would lead to a greater privatization of faith and create parishes of like minded individuals unable to see their own prejudices. This could result in the marginalized being pushed under or completely away from the table. Someone has to have a historic and theological perspective from which to proclaim the prophetic word on behalf of the marginalized. Someone has to be an enabler of the marginalized. I agree that clergy should not dominate nor dictate, but there is a legitimate role of prophet, enabler, teacher and companion for our journey through this valley of tears. Russell's views are shaped by her community of educated, intellectual, and progressive thinkers, many of whom are seminarians, denominational leaders, and social activists. This community is blessed with an abundance of knowledgeable, skilled, and motivated persons willing to be involved in ministry. This is not the case in many blue collar parishes. There parishioners have either bought into the domination system or have been handicapped by it. Many of these victimized parishioners are unwilling or unable to be a part of a participatory democracy and shared ministry. This is especially true of mill village parishes. Yet, on the other hand, they may engage in total rebellion because the clergy are the only authority figures safe to attack. The round table approach and the circular web type organization, like the YWCA's which she wrote about, is my style of ministry. It has been received with varying degrees of acceptance, but no overwhelming success. Yet, the goal of a Church in the round is a worthy endeavor. Another important issue addressed was the doctrine of election. Russell recognized that many Christians see their religion as a grantor of privilege where the believers are blessed and the rest damned. The saved are the insiders and the others are the outsiders. Russell reminds us that Christians are called to serve, not to be served. We are not given privilege but a mission. She writes that Karl Barth reminds us, "that God's election is focused not on a particular people but on the one who represents the chosen people, Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is both the elected one and the one who in suffering, death and resurrection elects us all to faith and service" (page 171).