There’s been quite a bit of discussion recently about how we make sure that we are listening to and hearing from a more diverse range of authors and speakers. One specific question is about listening to female theologians and Biblical scholars.
I’ve got some further comments to contribute to the conversation in a later blog post. However, a more immediate priority I think is to very practically start highlighting a few Christian authors, theologians and Biblical scholars worth paying attention to and reading. So, here are some names and some books to look out for. Some may not have things published yet -but I’m hoping will have soon.
Elyse Fitzpatrick has co-authored a number of books. I particularly mention “Worthy” which she co-authored with E.M Schumacher but I’d also highlight “Give Them Grace” written with her daughter and her most recent book “Jesus and Gender.”
Rebecca McLaughlin has penned a number of brilliant apologetics books for adults and teens. The best known of these is probably “Confronting Christianity.”
Kirsten Birkett was one of our tutors at Theological College, lecturing in Church History and Pastoral Counselling. She was the first marker for my MTh dissertation on Marriage at Work. She has authored a number of books including “The Essence of Feminism.”
Ros Clarke’s work is available from her website here. Her PhD was on Song of Songs and has been heavily relied upon by other authors. I believe she is working on a commentary at present.
Dani Treweek’s book “The Meaning of singleness” is due for publication in 2023. I recently interviewed Dani for the podcast.
Helen Thorne writes on issues relating to counselling and has written Hope in an Anxious World and Walking with Domestic Abuse sufferers.
Others who have written from a Christian perspective on Mental health type issues include Emma Scrivener (A New Name) and Walking with Domestic Abuse Sufferers.
I’m aware of a couple of female theologians at various stages of PhD studies and hope that their work will eventually be published wider. Watch out for Fiona Gibson, Kristi Mair and Sydney Tooth.
It’s worth remembering that a number of excellent commentaries have been written by female scholars. Worth a look at include
Joyce Baldwin: The Message of Genesis 12-50 (BST)
Mary J Evans: The Message of Samuel (BST)
Debra Reid: Esther (Tyndale)
Beth Tanner (co-author) Psalms (NICOT)
Karen Jobes: 1 Peter (Baker Exegetical)
On my wish list is the NICNT commentary on Ephesians by Lynn Cohick
I’ve stuck on this list to a few people I know a bit about. However, there may be others you wish to add. So please stick them in the comments below.
Postscript re comments. I don’t normally open comments as I’m not really focused here on moderating debate. People are welcome to discuss and debate faithroots articles on social media. I also welcome feedback and am happy to publish right to reply articles from time to time. So, the aim here is not to start a discussion about affirmative action, quotas and tokenism. I’m well aware of the issues around those topics and the blog next week will discuss them. Rather the aim is to add other suggestions.
Faithroots 
I’m not nearly so interest in an author’s “identity” or gender as I am their thoughts and information. To focus on gender for genders sake is sexism. To focus on skin tone or ethnic background for skin tone and ethnic background’s sake is “Tokenism”… what uaed to be considered another form of racism. Don’t be sucked into these errors.
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I doubt I could be accused of focusing on gender for gender’s sake and no it is not sexism to identify specific people worth listening to. Nor is it tokenism. That is when you simply fill up quotas. I’m writing about that next week. There is however something about making sure we don’t fail to hear voices and the sexism is when we don’t appreciate someone’s gifts because we make gender a barrier. But the purpose of opening the comments here was to encouraged people to highlight other people worth reading
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I would hope the purpose of opening comments was for inviting the opinions of others to the post, even dissenting ones, as long as they’re polite and respectful. Which I believe mine was. I read widely. As I stated, I don’t read an author for “representation” but for their thoughts and ideas. That’s a good interpretation of “not judging by the color of skin” or their gender… “but by the content of their character” or thoughts in the book. Like encouraging people to “vote with their woman parts” as someone so famously did… encoyraging them to “read authors” by their gender or ethnic background is indeed a form of racism and sexism. And subtly, if unknowingly, broadcasts to them and the readers that they “need the extra help” because of their gender or ethnicity. They should be insulted that their words and thoughts and artistry alone is not enough and that people somehow think they’re so “handicapped” by their gender or ethnicity that they need some “white knight” to swoop in and “pull them up” to a place they “might not achieve” without their help. I’d be insulted. Im insulted for them. Perhaps you hadn’t thought as deeply about my comment and what I was trying to say as you probably should have. I was actually trying to help you perhaps see a Different perspective on this “promoting” people by “gender”. I hope I have not offended, but if I have… I hope the offense has prompted your thinking and consideration. Cheers. – Barabbas
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Hi Barabbas, you seem to have jumped to a lot of assumptions about me there. I always encourage caution when it comes to assumptions! However, I’ve explicitly stated in the introduction to the article, my purpose in listing some authors here and in the conclusion the purpose for opening comments. I hope you’ll respect that. Thank you, Dave
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A few others:
Rebekah Eklund has written good stuff on laments, at both academic & popular level. I’ve heard people praise her Beatitudes book too.
Madison Pierce is doing good work on Catholic Epistles – her books are pricey, but I think there are a few commentaries forthcoming.
Megan Hill has written excellent books on corporate prayer and the church
Natalie Brand from my theological alma mater
Katherine Sonderegger is good if you like lots of exclamation marks in your theology
Phyllis Trible is worth reading, even if you strongly disagree!
Also, several “not just wives”, e.g. Elizabeth Achtemeier, Adela Yarbro Collins
And don’t forget theologians who have stood the test of time, like Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, and various other Name of Place people
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You could do worse than the awesome Fleming Rutledge – not least her wonderful book on the Crucifixion; also I really valued the recent insights of Elizabeth Oldfield (Theos Think Tank) on deconstruction and her approach to apologetic and engaging academic unbelievers.
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You could do worse than the awesome Fleming Rutledge and her wonderful book on the Crucifixion; also I really valued the insights of on deconstruction and engaging academic unbelievers.
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It is beautiful to have inside outside females be scholars..תודה please can you also follow my blog about Torah and TANAKH.
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