Surprise and Diversity: A Woman’s Place in Reform Yesterday and Today

One of the delightful surprises of more recent historical studies is how many forgotten voices we can now hear – if we listen carefully. People of color, people with different abilities, people on the socio-economic margins, people on the far side of the world – including women. Add to this the wonderful diversity that is, and has always been there, if we want to see it. This conversation will explore some facets of surprise and diversity in women’s place (active presence, contributions, voices) in reform in 16th c. Europe and 21st c. Africa-and-US.

Dr. Elsie Anne McKee is emerita Professor of Reformation Studies and the History of Worship at Princeton Theological Seminary. Most of her academic research has focused on the 16th-century Reformation, particularly books on John Calvin and a woman reformer, Katharina Schütz Zell. She is probably best known for her trilogy on Calvin’s doctrine of the ministries and worship of the church: John Calvin on the Diaconate and Liturgical Almsgiving (Droz, 1984), Elders and the Plural Ministry (Droz, 1988), and The Pastoral Ministry and Worship in Calvin’s Geneva (Droz, 2016).

Named after the world-renowned Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection held at Pitts Theology Library, Kessler Conversations (30-45 mins) offer opportunities for the general public to learn about the events in Europe the 16th century and to consider what they may tell us about the issues facing our communities. Conversations in a given academic semester focus on a single contemporary theme and trace it back to the Reformers. These conversations are free and open to the public, but registration is required. The theme of the Spring 2022 conversations is “Women of the Reformation: Reclaiming Forgotten Contributions to Church Renewal.”