Gender and Religious Leadership: Women Rabbis, Pastors, and Ministers

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This volume analyzes historical and recent developments in female religious leadership and the larger issues shaping the scholarly debate at the intersection of gender and religious studies. Jewish activism and scholarship have been crucial in linking theology and gender issues since the early twentieth century. Academic and vocational leadership and training have had significant, concrete impact on religious communal practices and formation across the US and Europe. At the same time, these models provide important avenues of constructive dialogue and comparative ecumenical and interfaith enterprises. This volume investigates those possibilities towards constructive, activist, holistic female ministerial leadership for religious faith communities.

Reviews

In an age blessed by talented women taking leadership roles in religion (finally), we need thought leaders who can assess the paths already taken, and the portals yet to cross in the future. In Gender and Religious Leadership, a strong cadre of scholars assembles the examples of how women have broadened religious vitality and responsiveness across denominational and faith lines. This is first rate scholarship addressing an issue of vital importance. -- Bradley Shavit Artson, Roslyn and Abner Goldstine Deans Chair, American Jewish University
This volume offers a skillful insight into the currents of research on female religious leadership. Historical investigation sits alongside engaged perspectives of activist-scholars, making this a lively collection of contributions arising from the lived experience of academic and professional life. -- Hannah Holtschneider, senior lecturer in Jewish Studies, University of Edinburgh
Gender and Religious Leadership blends scholarly articles and reflective essays to tell the story of women's ordination as rabbis. Itisan important resource for both scholars and lay readers who want to understand the trajectoryof women's leadership in modernJudaism, as well as other faith traditions. -- Dvora Weisberg, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Author Bio

Hartmut Bomhoff is senior research fellow at the Abraham Geiger College, University of Potsdam. Denise L. Eger is an international Jewish leader and social justice activist and founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami (West Hollywood, CA). Kathy Ehrensperger is research professor of New Testament in Jewish perspective at the Abraham Geiger Kolleg, University of Potsdam. Walter Homolka is professor of Jewish theology at the University of Potsdam and coeditor of the Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations.