Frances S. Adeney, Benfield Professor of Mission, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, U.S.A.
E-mail: FADENEY@lpts.edu


Abstract

Women Doing Mission Theology: A Contextual Method

Traditionally doing theology has been the domain of men. Yet, throughout Christian history, there have always been a few women that have defied this pattern--those women have been doing Christian theology. As Christian women took on mission tasks, they developed mission theologies.

This paper contrasts the traditional method of doing theology from the top down--theology in the "Imperial Mood", a method that came into prominence in the Western European Christian tradition--to a contextual method that women use to develop theologies--theology in the "Contextual Mood." That method includes five moments or steps: 1.) Experience/encounter with God, 2.) Hermeneutic engagement with Holy Texts, especially the Bible, 3.) Acts of religion-identified resistance, 4.) Development of practices that further the work and nurture their spirits, and 5.) Intentional reflection on this process of doing theology. This praxis method yields new theological insights that are articulated and utilized in advocating positive social change and reshaping the beliefs of the church.

Although this process of experience/action/reflection has been used by women for centuries, post-colonial critiques of Christian mission brings this methodology into prominence as a most suitable method of doing mission theology in the postmodern era. Moving this methodology from the pre-theoretical, intuitive domain into conscious understanding and articulation can turn the contextual method into a strong tool for developing women mission theologies. No longer confined to letters and journals, women's mission theology done in the "Contextual Mood," can now contribute to academic, ecumenical, and church discussions on mission theology in diverse contexts and situations.

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