In Her Voice: Raising Women’s Voices in Preaching the Gospel
Garratt Publishing, $24.99
This inspiring volume of liturgies and reflections comes from Women and the Australian Church (WATAC), one of the cofounders of the Australian Women Preach project. The organisation is ecumenical and many different Christian leaders are represented here from churches all over Australia. However, one of the initial impetuses for the formation of this organisation was the recognition, nearly 50 years ago, of the need for women to be more obviously involved in Catholic institutions and leadership.
The preface of the volume, written by president Andrea Dean, states that WATAC “no longer waits for the Church to act, but seeks to model the Church we want to be: inclusive, diverse and welcoming” and the collection of writing here achieves that goal. The female voices here represent many different perspectives and vocations, from those ordained in ministry to those contemplating theology to those more actively involved in social justice and a range of other diverse gifts. Fully embracing all members of Christ’s community in worship, service, thought and outreach can only serve to advance and improve the Church and the community.
The volume follows the Church year of many Christian denominations and would be a useful addition to anyone contemplating a range of different teachings on the life and mission of Christ, the role of the Church in today’s world and how female ministers reflect on their unique calling and responsibility. The In Her Voice Mission, stemming from their podcast (see australianwomenpreach.com.au) seeks, as Dr Tracy McEwen says, “to raise women’s voices and highlight the preaching talent of women. Inclusiveness and diversity are important and the women who are featured in this volume come … from different Christian denominations, generations, backgrounds, cultures and geographical locations.”
In Her Voice illuminates how a diversity of views only serves to better represent the “kingdom of God” and the community of Christians who seek to better understand the way of Christ in the world today.
