In a world filled with injustice and violence, we long for a new sacred symbolism to inspire transformation. Our yearning includes a widespread hunger for visions of the Female Divine in church life and worship to restore gender balance and finally achieve just, equal and inclusive faith communities. This collection of engrossing narratives of women and men trying to change the institutional church - and society - illuminates how reclaiming multicultural female images of God extends beyond the sanctuary and into the community. Whether you're searching for your own place in the church or you want to explore this growing movement, these fascinating pioneers invite you to join the adventure of creating rituals that include Her, affirming the sacred value of all people and all creation. "The Bible teaches that we are made in the image and likeness of God; therefore, I must believe that there is a male and female expression of God.. Claim your divinity and walk in it every day, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made." -Rev. Dr. Susan Newman, "Claiming Our Divinity"

Table of Contents:
Index of Inclusive-Language Hymns viii Introduction ix Part 1: Wisdom's Works of Gender Equality 1 Rev. Lori Eickmann: Teaching Female Divine Images in Scripture 3 Intentional Interim Pastor, Sierra Pacific Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Rev. Sheila Sholes-Ross: Preaching Transformation of Church and Society 9 Pastor, First Baptist Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Cochair, Equity for Women in the Church Community Dr. Kendra Weddle Irons: Embracing Our Mother 15 Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Texas Wesleyan University Mark Mattison: Reclaiming Biblical Female Divine Images 21 Author; Lay Theologian; Coeditor, Divine Feminine Version of the New Testament Rev. Dr. Angela M. Yarber: Embodying the Divine Feminine 27 Scholar; Dancer; Artist; Minister Part 2: Wisdom's Works of Racial Equality 33 Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim: Healing Racism, Sexism, and Classism Through Sophia Christology 35 Associate Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Moravian Theological Seminary Rev. Christine A. Smith: Creating Multicultural Churches 40 Senior Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church, Wickliffe, Ohio Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon: The Virgen de Guadalupe at the Forefront of Justice 46 Episcopal Priest; Founder and Executive Director, TengoVoz Dr. Melanie Springer Mock: Gathering Everyone under Her Wings 52 Professor of English, George Fox University Patrick Michaels: Celebrating Her Dark Gracefulness 58 Composer; Minister of Music, St. James's Episcopal Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts Part 3: Wisdom’s Works of Marriage Equality 65 Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty: Challenging Unjust Marriage Laws 67 Pastor, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina Rev. Dr. Susan Newman: Claiming Our Divinity 73 Associate Minister of Congregational Life and Social Justice, All Souls Church, Washington, D.C. Rev. Paul Smith: Releasing the Divine from the Male Prison 79 Author; Teacher; Minister Dr. Caryn D. Riswold: Connecting Feminism and Christianity 84 Professor of Religion; Chair, Gender and Women’s Studies Program, Illinois College Rev. Stacy Boorn: Changing the World by Changing the Church 90 Pastor, Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco, California Part 4: Wisdom’s Works of Economic Justice 97 Rev. Dr. Isabel Docampo: Sophia Wisdom Making All Things New 99 Professor of Supervised Ministry, Perkins School of Theology Dr. Mary E. Hunt: Seeing Everyone in the Divine Image 105 Cofounder and Codirector, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual Rev. Dr. Gail Anderson Ricciuti: Bearing Her Life in the World 111 Associate Professor of Homiletics, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley: Changing Our Default Settings 117 Global Religions Director, Arcus Foundation Part 5: Wisdom’s Works of Caring for Creation 123 Rev. Dr. Genny Rowley: Neighbors in the Whole Community of Creation 125 Pastoral Theologian; Religious Environmentalist Rev. Dr. Rebecca L. Kiser: God as Gender-full 131 Intentional Interim Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Daniel Charles Damon: The Amazing Diversity of Creation 137 Composer; Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Richmond, California Rev. Connie L. Tuttle: Justice for Earth and All Creation 142 Pastor, Circle of Grace Community Church, Atlanta, Georgia Part 6: Wisdom’s Works of Nonviolence 147 Rev. Judith Liro: Weaving Our Lives Together with Sophia-Spirit 149 Priest, St. Hildegard’s Community, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas Marg Herder: Knowing Her, Loving All People 155 Writer; Musician; Director of Public Information, Evangelical &Ecumenical Women’s Caucus–Christian Feminism Today Rev. Dr. Monica A. Coleman: Knowing a Savior by What She Does 161 Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions, Claremont School of Theology Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott: Radicalized by the Bible 167 Author; English Professor Emeritus, William Paterson University Rev. Marcia C. Fleischman: Holy Mama’s Peaceful Vision 173 Pastor, Broadway Church, Kansas City, Missouri Part 7: Wisdom’s Works of Expanding Spiritual Experience 179 Deborah Hall: Mother God Nurturing My Soul 181 Lay Theologian; Founder of Sophia Sisters, Chandler, Arizona Rev. Larry E. Schultz: Singing the Gospel of the Divine Feminine 186 Composer; Minister of Music, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina Rev. Beverly Jane Phillips: Learning a New Language for the Divine 192 Presbyterian Minister; Author Rev. Alice D. Martin: Divinity Within and Around All 198 Healer, San Francisco, California Part 8: Wisdom’s Works of Interfaith Collaboration 203 Dr. Chung Hyun Kyung: The Great Mother of All People 205 Lay Theologian of the Presbyterian Church of Korea; Associate Professor of Ecumenical Studies, Union Theological Seminary Lana Dalberg: Face-to-Face with the Mother 211 Writer; Activist; Lay Theologian Jeanette Blonigen Clancy: Cherishing Christianity Without Its Exclusive Claims 217 Writer; Educator; Lay Theologian Orion Pitts: All-Encompassing Love Uniting Us 223 Director of Music, Office Administrator, First United Lutheran Church, San Francisco, California Part 9: Wisdom’s Works of Changing Hierarchies into Circles 229 Ann Landaas Smith: Cocreating a New Story 231 Writer; Cofounder and Director, Circle Connections Dr. Mary Ann Beavis: Charting New Spiritual Paths 237 Professor of Religion and Culture, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan: Leading, Not Leaving, the Church 243 Priest, Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, Sarasota, Florida; Bishop, Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Christina Cavener: Seeing God in Her Fullness 249 Founder and Leader of Feminine Divine Worship Services, Minister of Formation, Grace United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas Part 10: Wisdom’s Works of Creative Worship 255 Christ-Sophia Loves Us, Restores Us, and Sets Us Free 257 Liturgy by Christina Cavener Prayer for Christ-Sophia’s Peace 259 Beverly Jane Phillips Litany for Peace 259 Deborah Hall Seeking Sophia 260 Poem by Susan C. Hamilton A Pentecost Prayer: Come, Sophia-Spirit 261 Diann L. Neu Blowing Where She Wills 263 Excerpts from a Pentecost Sermon by Shawna R. B. Atteberry Breathe on Me, Ruah, Fire 265 Hymn by Deborah Hall In the Beginning 266 Poem by Shawna R. B. Atteberry Sophia Is the Breath of Life 267 Responsive Meditation by Christina Cavener Who Are You, God? 269 Poem by Bridget Mary Meehan Part 11: Wisdom’s Works of Feminist Emancipatory Faith Communities 271 Epilogue 281 Notes 283 Additional Inclusive Worship Resources 297 Credits 300