Women and the Authority of Scripture: A Narrative Approach

Theology Today, Jul 2003 by Bellis, Alice Ogden

Women and the Authority of Scripture: A Narrative Approach

By Sarah Meaner Lancaster

Harrisburg, Trinity, 2002. 198 pp. $24.00.

Sarah Meaner Lancaster, associate professor of theology at Methodist Theological School of Ohio and ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, investigates a topic of great interest to feminist and womanist Jews and Christians. Her study begins with a review of historically orthodox, Protestant approaches to the Bible, because she believes that properly transforming a tradition requires its first being thoroughly understood. She moves from this review and critique into alternative contemporary, but not specifically feminist, approaches to divine revelation. She understands revelation as the encounter among biblical stories, readers, and the communities of which readers are a part. Lancaster then turns to concepts of authority and the many different kinds of authority that operate in society. Finally, she considers the ways in which the Bible may be considered authoritative for women who struggle with some of what they find there. She provides a path between total rejection and total acceptance.

Women and the Authority of Scripture is a thoughtful reflection, grounded in some of the theological frameworks of the past. Lancaster's careful definition of terms, such as the difference between revelation and inspiration, helps the serious reader to develop greater clarity in a theological arena that is often fuzzy. Her use of Richard DeGeorge's nontheological analysis of the various kinds of authority is insightful, providing new tools to grapple with the issues.

Lancaster's work will be most valuable to women in the Methodist tradition who are open to a theologically literate discussion of the issues. Because Wesleyan theology is perhaps the most dominant tradition in the Protestant west today, this book will also help women from many Christian traditions. Men who are concerned about issues of biblical authority will find this book useful, as it outlines an approach with implications far beyond specific feminist concerns.

Although Protestant orthodoxy is a reasonable starting-place for Lancaster's book, especially since Wesleyan theology is to some degree a reaction against it, those who find enduring value in Reformed theology in general, and particularly those Calvinist traditions that evolved in unfortunate ways into Protestant orthodoxy, will occasionally find her representations of Calvinism to be less than ideally nuanced. The unsuspecting reader may get the impression that Calvin's thought and that of Protestant orthodoxy are one and the same. For example, suggesting that human freedom to accept or reject salvation is the simple opposite of irresistible grace (to use an old-fashioned term) is similar to considering free will and determinism as either/or propositions. The reality is that human freedom to choose is highly limited, due to the circumstances into which individuals are born; nevertheless, humans do exercise some freedom of will within the rather narrow confines of our physical, emotional, and spiritual worlds. Likewise, if God presents someone with a vision that resolves obscure but pressing questions, does that individual really have any choice but to accept the gift? When the light shines, can we do anything other than see?

In spite of these quibbles, Lancaster's book should prove a valuable resource to ministers and serious laity who are willing to grapple with issues of biblical authority.

ALICE OGDEN BELLIS

Howard University School of Divinity

Washington, DC