Anderson, Herbert, Edward Foley, Bonnie Miller-McLemore and Robert Schreiter (Eds.). MUTUALITY MATTERS: FAMILY, FAITH AND JUST LOVE

Abstract

Anderson, Herbert, Edward Foley, Bonnie Miller-McLemore and Robert Schreiter (Eds.). MUTUALITY MATTERS: FAMILY, FAITH AND JUST LOVE. Toronto: Rowman and Littlefield, 2004.Almost sixty years ago, Simone de Beauvoir wrote: whole of feminine history has been man-made. ...Men have presumed to create a feminine domain-the kingdom of life, of immanence-only to lock up women therein* For better or worse, the Christian faith has contributed much to such a kingdom. The world of immanence, the world of caring for the young, infirm, and old has been regarded almost universally within the Christian church as the special calling of Jesus' followers, and as feminist commentators have pointed out, this sacrificial work is mandated disproportionately to women. The authors of this anthology agree that the church has neglected justice and in its commendation of the ideal of self-sacrifice. This is especially evident within the family. These essays offer a rethinking of Christian relationships through conversations with secular movements toward equality, particularly feminism. As Paul Waddell puts it: Mutuality matters because it is only in relationships where love is given and received, where persons are affirmed, challenged and respected, that we mirror the divine love that completes us. (p. 13).In many of the essays, authors look to ways that the church's lack of might be reformed through the application of secular theories. For example, James N. Poling urges that systems theory, drawn from secular counselling, be applied to the interpretation of power dynamics within a given congregation. Such theory calls upon pastors to exercise critical self-awareness with regard to their use of authority. Dianne Bergant, commenting on the familial norms delineated in the Book of Sirach, utilizes the critical tools of hermeneutics in order to refashion the tradition,( 164) thereby challenging the abiding relevancy of Sirach's patriarchal codes.At times, criticism flows the other way, as the church is viewed as a potential balm for society's ills. Homer U. Ashby Jr., sees the Black Church as a potential source for the renewal of black families as fathers are both challenged to remain active within the children's lives and are nurtured in spiritual disciplines in order to do so by the still robust fellowship that exists in many black American churches. Bonnie Miller- McLemore's wonderful essay challenges sloppy conceptions of mutuality (126) which predominate in the wider culture which fail to assess adequately power structures within relationships of care. …