Sunstone 2010

UPDATE: Bumping this post as I’m about to go to bed. When I get up in the morning, we’re beginning our drive out to Utah for the symposium weekend. Wish us good luck!
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Originally published on July 28, 2010.
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I guess it’s probably time to plug for my Sunstone 2010 presentation. I’ll be presenting on Friday, August 6 from 3:30 – 4:30 PM. From the current program:
MORE PRECIOUS THINGS: EVIDENCE FOR WOMEN’S PRIESTHOOD IN THE EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY
Abstract: Mormon feminists have centered their arguments for women’s priesthood on data from the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries, contending that the Church’s founding leaders granted women a form of priesthood that was subsequently
choked out. Through an exploration of texts, inscriptions, and frescoes from the earliest Christianity, the author reaches back even farther
into history to show that women once served as apostles, elders, deacons, and bishops in addition to performing baptisms and administering the Eucharist.
Respondent: MAXINE HANKS, feminist theologian; gnostic clergy; scholar women’s studies in religion; fellow, Harvard Divinity School; editor, Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism
Chair: JANEANNE PETERSON
If you’re wondering how Maxine Hanks came to be my respondent, apparently she offered to participate as a respondent this year, looked through the program, and liked the sound of responding to my presentation best. I’m thrilled and humbled to have her.
Then from 4:45 – 6:15 PM the same day, I’ll be doing the following panel:
EXIT, VOICE, AND LOYALTY IN THE MORMON COMMUNITY
Abstract: The work of political economist Albert Hirschman suggests a nuanced approach to public dissatisfaction with an organization. Dissatisfied members of an organization, business, or nation have a variety of choices available, including both exit (simply leaving) and voice (discussing their dissatisfaction). As Hirschman notes, greater loyalty to the organization can correspond to greater use of voice. Contradicting traditional Mormon views, dissent may actually be an indicator of greater loyalty to the organization than silent acquiescence.
Panelists will discuss loyalty, voice, exit, and dissent from a variety of angles, ultimately suggesting that the Mormon community’s understanding of public disagreement may be underdeveloped, and sketching ways in which legitimate dissent could take on a broader role in the community.
Moderator Panelist: KAIMIPONO WENGER, JD, assistant professor, Thomas Jefferson Law School, San Diego
Panelists: KRISTINE HAGLUND, editor, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; JOHN DEHLIN, PhD student, clinical/counselingpsychology, Utah State University, founder, Mormon Stories podcast, STAYLDS.COM; yours truly
I haven’t done an academic symposium since the 2004 BYU Humanities Symposium, and I’ve never claimed any talent for public speaking, so I can’t promise a good show or anything. Looking at that line-up makes me feel like an ant among giants.
But, if you think listening to me is something you’d like to do, you’re welcome to come.

Comments

Sunstone 2010 — 5 Comments

  1. I just learned that my father-in-law gets and reads Sunstone. Will your presentation be published in the magazine, or is it only going to be available live during the Symposium?
  3. Having four daughters with strong opinions, I look forward to reading your work on women in the early church.
  4. Hey Jack,
    We were in some of the same Hebrew classes and a culture of civ. class. I don’t understand, if you think we’re that wrong in our church, why is it such a big deal to keep talking about all this stuff? Why not build up your own religion so we’ll be convinced to join it? Study early Christian frescoes to show why it proves your religious points of view. What does FMH have to do with your life?
    And also, can you truly judge which people are going to hell or not in my church or any others based on what you feel comfortable with about their relationship with the Savior?
    I’m honestly interested. Thanks.
    Susie aka Ashira
  5. Hi Susie/Ashira,
    I think I remember you. Didn’t we get married the same semester (Fall 2003)? And didn’t we do a presentation together in modern Hebrew where I did some really awful photoshopping?
    I’ll try to answer your questions.
    I don’t understand, if you think we’re that wrong in our church, why is it such a big deal to keep talking about all this stuff? . . . What does FMH have to do with your life?
    I’m gonna answer these two together. I hope that you understand that the point of my Sunstone presentation was not to show that the LDS church was “wrong” about anything. I covered the data for ordained women in early Christianity, then I explained that, thanks to the Ninth Article of Faith, Mormons don’t have to feel that the evidence for ordained women in early Christianity contradicts their faith. They can simply believe that women once held the priesthood, that this truth was lost in the apostasy, and that God has yet to restore it. The evidence for the decline of ordained women actually fits quite well into the LDS apostasy narrative. There’s no need for Mormons to box themselves into a corner on this issue.
    Difficulties within the LDS church do interest me, particularly gender issues, because my husband and I are raising our daughter in both religions, and there’s a possibility that she’ll choose to be LDS. I care very much about the influences that my daughter is exposed to and I think I’d be a rather irresponsible parent if I didn’t. That’s part of why I began participating at fMh.
    The other part is that fMh is just such an awesome community that fosters fun discussions and good friendships. They’re very tolerant and inclusive of outsiders.
    Why not build up your own religion so we’ll be convinced to join it? Study early Christian frescoes to show why it proves your religious points of view.
    Don’t I do that already though? I mean, as far as Christian gender issues go, that’s why I’m a member of Christians for Biblical Equality. You may also want to check out this post. It sort of touches on this issue.
    And also, can you truly judge which people are going to hell or not in my church or any others based on what you feel comfortable with about their relationship with the Savior?
    Absolutely not. It’s rare that I’ll make statements on the status of anyone’s standing before God, Mormons included. It’s usually not my place to judge.
    I hope you’ve been well since we last met, Ashira.
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