Thanks to the painstaking work of contemporary scholars, we now have compelling evidence that women held leadership and ministerial roles in the early church similar to those held by men. Inscriptions and images found on papyri, tombstones, frescos and mosaics show early Christian women served as apostles, prophets, teachers of theology, priests, deacons, stewards, enrolled widows and even bishops.
Women Officeholders in the Early Church Monograph (Cost: $3)
This short monograph was written by FutureChurch’s Sr. Christine Schenk. It is an introduction to the work of two scholars: Ute Eisen and Dorothy Irvin.
Eisen's book: Women Officeholders in Early Christianity (Liturgical Press, 2000) is an exhaustive study of the literary and epigraphical evidence for women officeholders from the ancient Church to the Middle Ages. Her shows that women led and served communities Asia Minor, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Sicily, Italy, Palestine and Yugoslavia.
Dorothy Irvin holds a pontifical doctorate in Catholic Theology from the University of Tubingen, Germany with specialization in bible, ancient near eastern studies and archeology. For the last twenty years she has been an active field archeologist. Her calendars: The Archeology of Women's Traditional Ministries in the Church have made recent discoveries more widely accessible to the general public.(email: irvincalendar@hotmail.com)
Attractively presented, the 5000 word monograph includes a map of the Mediterranean world showing where archeologic data about women priests, deacons and bishops was found as well as line drawings of ancient inscriptions produced by archeologist Dorothy Irvin.
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New! Women Leaders in Early Christianity CD and Presenter’s Guide (Cost: $20)
Includes 43 images from catacomb frescos, newly available sarcophagi friezes, original art, paintings and mosaics of early Christian women leaders from the first to the 9th centuries. A sixteen-page presenter’s guide includes carefully researched summaries of what experts can tell us about these artifacts. Ideal for personal or group study as well as high school or college religious studies courses. CD includes Powerpoint and PDF formats.
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In This Packet:
Articles and Reprints
Anonymous Women essay and prayer | Karen Flotte |
Benchmarks for Church Leadership Roles for Women | Leadership Conference of Women Religious |
Catholic Women Deacons | Phyllis Zagano |
Feminist Christology from Consider Jesus: Waves of Renewal in The Catholic Church | Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ |
God's Dominion Free Order: Women and Children | Walter Wink from Engaging the Powers |
Heart of Flesh: A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men | Joan Chittister, OSB |
Lay preaching: A Hearing Aid | Patricia Hughes Baumer, Partners in Preaching |
Understanding the Ministry and Experience: Parish Life Coordinatorsin the US | Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate |
Women in the Bible and the Lectionary | Ruth Fox, OSB |
Women Officeholders in the Early Church | Christine Schenk, csj |
Brochures
| Barbara Ballenger |
Mary of Magdala | Christine Schenk, csj |
Jesus & Women | Christine Schenk, csj |
Lay Ecclesial Ministers in the Catholic Church | Christine Schenk, csj |
The Women in Paul's Ministry | Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ |
Other materials
Can Lay Ministers Exercise the Power of Governance? | United States Catholic Conference of Bishops |
FutureChurch's Women's Leadership Survey | FutureChurch |
Our Foremothers in Faith: Women in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures | M.T. Winter MMS et al |
A Parish Life Coordinator's Story | Carol Karnitsky, sscm |
Quotations from Church Teaching about Women in the Church | FutureChurch |
Some Highlights of hte Document Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord | ed. by Mary Collingwood |
Status of Women in the Roman Catholic Church: A Report Card | Regina Bannan Women's Justice Coalition |
Women Deacons, Why Now? | Christine Schenk, csj |
Organizing Materials
Tips on Advancing Women in Church Leadership | FutureChurch |
Lydia's House: An Example of Doing Women's Spirituality in Community | Patricia Ferguson |
Scripture Readings that Subordinate Women | Liturgy Office, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops |
Bibliography and resources | FutureChurch Women In Church LeadershipAdvisory Committee |