Content

 
Part I: Introduction Women’s Studies Theology (history, methodology, topics)
 
Part II (Prof. Dr. Veerle Draulans, Theologische Faculteit Tilburg, K.U. Leuven)
Gender and Leadership out of a social-ethical and pastoral theological perspective
1) Gender and religious leadership: confrontation with empirical data, personal mindset, theoretical reflection.
2) A Vatican Viewpoint on male-female-relationships in church and society: Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church (30/05/2004)
3) E. Schüssler Fiorenza reflects on religious leadership
4)  An outspoken white, middleclass feminism and theology criticized:  D.S. Williams, Sisters in the Wilderness.
5) A gender perspective on Ministry and Church Personnel Policy
6) Ethics of Care: implications for Christian inspired care-institutions
 
Part III (Prof. Dr. Reimund Bieringer, Prof. Dr. Sabine Van Den Eynde, Prof. Dr. Barbara Baert, Prof. Dr. Karlijn Demasure, K.U. Leuven)
Maria Magdalene in the Bible, in Visual Art and Pastoral Practice (special emphasis will be on the meaning of “do not touch me” in John 20:17):
1) The different presentations of Mary Magdalene in the four gospels
2) The alleged Old Testament background of the presentation of Mary Magdalene (e.g., Genesis and Song of Songs)
3) The presentation of Mary Magdalene in visual art
4) Mary Magdalene and the pastoral practice of the Christian churches.

Aims

• Becoming aware of androcentrism in one’s own culture.
• Learning about the history and method of women’s studies (including feminist theology, and, if possible, other forms as, for instance, womanist theology and Latina theology).
• Learning how to apply methods of women’s studies in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology.

Description of learning activities

Regular class attendance; critical interation with course material; some well-described assignments geared to learning methodology; making use of Toledo; look up sources in the library and learn to use them.

Course material

 
Required: 
Part I:

• V. Draulans, Gender and Religious Leadership: Some Critical Observations from a Western European Perspective, in D. Nauer, R. Nauta, R. Witte (eds.), Religious Leadership and Christian Identity, Münster: Lit-Verlag, 2004, pp. 224-238;
• V. Draulans, Wetenschapsbeoefening: genderblind of genderbewust?, in Onze Alma Mater – Leuvense Perspectieven 55 (2001) 3, pp. 279-305.
• J. Ratzinger, A. Amato, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World, Rome, 32/05/2004  

• D.S. Williams, Sisters in the Wilderness. The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk, New York: Orbis Books, 1993, pp. 15-33, 160-161 
• M. Heimbach-Steins, Frauenbild und Frauenrolle. Gesellschaftliche und kirchliche Leitideen im Hintergrund der Diskussion um den Diakonat der Frau, in: P. Hünermann, A. Biesinger et al., Diakonat. Ein Amt für Frauen in der Kirche – Ein Frauengerechtes Amt?, Ostfildern: Schwabenverlag, 1997, pp. 14-32; 
• J. Sanders, Vrouw en beleid. Belemmeringen en stimulansen voor de doorstroom van vrouwen naar beleidsbepalende functies in de kerkelijke organisatie, in H. Geerts & J. Meyer-Wilmes, Als man en vrouw. Spiritualiteit in veranderende man-vrouw-verhoudingen, Nijmegen: Valkhof Pers-Katholieke Raad voor Kerk en Samenleving, 2003, pp. 74-98;  6.
• U. Gentner, “Mit der Vision leben...” Gender Mainstreaming im kirchlichen Kontext, in M.M. Jansen et al., Gender Mainstreaming. Herausforderung für den Dialog der Geschlechter, München: Olzog, 2003, pp 270-291. 
• J. Tronto, Moral Boundaries. A Political Argument for an Ethic of Care, New York-London: Routledge, 1993, pp. 101-155

• Osiek, Carolyn, The Feminist and the Bible: Hermeneutical Alternatives, in Adele Yarbro Collins (ed.), Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship (SBL: Biblical Scholarship in North America), Atlanta GA: Scholars Press, 1985, pp. 93-105.
• Brown, Raymond E., Roles of Women in the Fourth Gospel, in TS 36 (1975) 688-699 = Brown, Raymond E., The Community of the Beloved Disciple. The Life, Loves, and Hates of an Individual Church in New Testament Times, London, 1979, pp. 183-198.
• Bieringer, Reimund, Maria Magdalena in viervoud, in Interpretatie 11 (2003) 4-6.
• King, Karen L., The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle, Santa Rosa CA: Polebridge Press, 2003, pp. 3-18, 83-90, 129-133.
• Maisch, Ingrid, Between Contempt and Veneration ... Mary Magdalene: The Image of a Woman through the Centuries, trans. by Linda M. Maloney, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1998.

• E. Schüssler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins, New York: Crossroad, 1983.
• Schottroff, Luise, Silvia Schroer & Marie-Theres Wacker, Feminist Interpretation: The Bible in Women's Perspective, Minneapolis MN: Fortress, 1998.
• Haskins, Susan, Mary Magdalen: Myth or Metaphor, New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1993.