Women, Ministry & Equality
Examines women’s spiritual authority, ministry, and pursuit of equality within Quaker life. Explores how women challenged restrictive interpretations of Scripture and religious authority, exercised independent theological judgment, and contributed to reform. Includes historical and literary perspectives on the relationships among faith, gender, family, and public witness.
-
“Putting the Bible into Perspective: Hicksites and the Theological Treatment of the Bible in Progressive Reform”
This article explores the Hicksite schism’s impact on Progressive Quaker women’s theological freedom, particularly regarding the interpretation of the Bible. It highlights how figures like Hannah Barnard, Elias Hicks, and Lucretia Mott challenged traditional views of biblical authority, emphasizing the primacy of the “inner light” over scripture, especially in social reform movements like abolition and…
-
Hannah Barnard — a Liberal Quaker Hero
The post recounts the life and ministry of Hannah Barnard, a bold and assertive female minister in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who championed liberal Quaker theology and challenged orthodox evangelical authority, particularly on scriptural interpretation and the peace testimony. Despite being disowned for her views, Barnard remained influential as a pioneer of…
-
Mary Dyer Musings – A Measure of Light , A Novel by Beth Powning, and Mary’s Joy, a Play by Jeanmarie Simpson
Playwright Jeanmarie Simpson reflects on the life and enduring mystery of Quaker martyr Mary Dyer while comparing Beth Powning’s historical novel *A Measure of Light* with her own one-woman play, *Mary’s Joy*. She examines how both works imaginatively interpret Dyer’s marriage, motherhood, religious awakening, persecution, and decision to face execution for defying Massachusetts’s ban on…