BOOK REVIEW & PREVIEW

Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen introduces Living on the Boundaries
Alvera Mickelsen introduces The Redemption of Love

NOW AVAILABLE!
Living on the Boundaries
by Nicola Hoggard Creegan and Christine D. Pohl

Reviewed by Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen

This is a unique study, both empirically AND theoretically grounded, which looks at the challenging yet fruitful space inhabited by the first generation of evangelical feminists to study and pursue vocations in the theological academy. The result is an astute, timely and compassionate analysis that remains passionately Christian.

One of the book’s reviewers, church historian Margaret Bendroth of Calvin College, rightly said of it: “Being smart, evangelical and female can be a tricky combination, but the wise and passionate women interviewed and described by this book demonstrate the creative potential of life pursued outside the established pathways of toady’s academic and religious worlds. Pohl and Creegan’s sensitive yet often unsparing accounts of women’s experience in theological education is essential reading for administrators, teachers and church leaders—and for any smart evangelical female who is thinking about going on to graduate school.”

The book’s chapter titles show that this volume covers ground not yet explored by other CBE books: Ch. 1: “Where Are the Good Women? Road Maps for a Changing Terrain”; Ch. 2: “The Voices and the Stories: Staying and Leaving [the Academy]”; Ch. 3: “Gender Issues and Contemporary Evangelicalism: Critical Reflections from the Inside”; Ch. 4: “Passing the Table, Finding a Voice: Students, Mentors and Teaching”; Ch. 5: “Shaping the Good Woman: Call, Church and Community”; Ch. 6: “Evangelical and Feminist Maps: Refining the Theological Interior”; and Ch. 7: “Continuing the Theological Debate: Finding a Home for Eve.”

Finally, the tone of the book is irenic, not confrontational. Its hopeful conclusion is that “an evangelical feminism is possible because both parts of evangelical [egalitarian and complementarian] are interested in broader conversations and because the feminist theological movement is changing… towards a stronger emphasis on the transcendence as well as the imminence of God.” At the same time, the authors predict, “Conversation within evangelical feminism will look to Scripture as authority, not quickly jumping over hermeneutical challenges, but staying with the text long enough to glean fresh and redeeming insights.”

This is a book that supports mutuality in gender relations, a high view of Scripture, and continuing dialogue among all parties. It also gives us the first careful EMPIRICAL look at how evangelical women are surviving and thriving (or not) in the academy as they negotiate their status with their churches. I recommend it.

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Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen is Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa. She is also Resident Scholar at Eastern University's Hestenes Center for Christian Women in Leadership. Mary taught at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) for many years, and has been a senior editor for Christianity Today. Currently she is an editor for The Reformed Journal. Van Leeuwen has written, co-authored, and contributed to books such as Gender and Grace (IVP), winner of Christianity Today's 1991 Critics' Choice Award.

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COMING THIS SPRING! The Redemption of Love by Carrie A. Miles Previewed by Alvera Mickelsen

This is a book well worth reading, and almost everyone will find material that they did not know before. While the emphasis is biblical, it draws deeply upon the history of marriage and the influences of economics on cultural patterns in Bible times and in our times around the world.

Miles’ competency in Biblical languages and thorough understanding of both Old and New Testaments gives her credence in discussing the problems facing marriages in ancient times as well as in our day. Her discussion of the real meaning of the Song of Solomon gives depth and unusual appreciation of this often neglected or misinterpreted writing.

Her approach to modern family problems for Christians, and their responsibility, opportunity, and limitations in the world of politics is informative and challenging. Her discussion of the social problems facing our world, their impact on marriage, what Christians can and should do about these factors is honest and realistic.

This book should be in every church library, on the shelf of every marriage counselor, on the reading list or textbook list of Christian college courses on marriage, and would make great discussions for church book clubs! How often is economic pressure—past and present—a part of our understanding of marriage? It should be.

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Alvera Mickelsen received her M.A. from Wheaton College and M.S. in journalism from Northwestern University. She taught writing for several years at Wheaton and Bethel Colleges. She and her late husband, Berkeley Mickelsen, wrote several articles and books together including The Family Bible Encyclopedia, Understanding Scripture, and The Picture Bible Dictionary. The two of them were among the founders of Christians for Biblical Equality. Alvera has also served as editor for Women, Authority, and the Bible.

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