Church of Our Granddaughters
by Carrie Frederick Frost
Who should read this book? Although the book was written by an Orthodox Christian for an Orthodox Christian audience primarily, it should also be of interest to those Christians who are interested in the pastoral care of women and female leadership and ministry.
What is the main point? The author asserts that “Orthodox Christian theology in its fullness affirms the humanity and dignity of women, but its practices, teachings, and structures [often] fall short” (p. 4). She exams the various practices and rituals surrounding women’s menstruation, the ritual Churching of the mother when she reenters the church after giving birth, miscarriage, leadership, and ordination. She first presents the history of the theme and then juxtaposes it with present realities. Finally, the author shares her hopes for a proper alignment of the Church’s practice with its theology in two generations’ time.
Why is this book significant? This work speaks to the need for discernment when encountering tradition and its ongoing reception for today. Which practices are faithful to the teachings of the Church and true [emphasis in original] and which are not? In addition, it draws on the actual experience of women and the pastoral implications of their experience to help make this determination.
Kudos. The sections of the book that I feel are the strongest and most interesting to an ecumenical audience are the chapters on theological anthropology and female ordination. In the former, the author tries to address the question, “What is the theological significance of humanity’s appearance in two sexes which are expressed in culturally influenced genders” (p. 17–18)? Dr. Frederick Frost acknowledges that the ancient church did not adequately address this question. Most patristic thinkers were more concerned with what it means to be a human person.
The author then examines two of the prevailing understandings of sex differentiation within Orthodox thought—the edenic and the eschatological. The former derives from the depictions and interpretations of the Genesis account and implies an essentialist and complementary view of the sexes. The latter understands sex differentiation as overcome in the next life. Although each model is speculative, the models often inform how the church thinks about questions of pastoral praxis such as female altar service and ordination, especially ordination of women to the presbyterate. The author concludes this section by emphasizing that we live in an “incarnational reality” and posits that we can then appreciate both the uniqueness of our personhood and our experience of living in sexed bodies.
The section on ordination primarily focuses on the ordination of women to the diaconate. The author presents the historical precedent of this ordained ministry of (and primarily for) women and argues for its renewal for today to meet the ministerial needs of the faithful and the Christian mission to the world. The author argues that the ministry of the diaconate is a distinct order within the three-fold ministry of Christ and should not be conflated with ordination to the presbyterate. However, she acknowledges that ordaining deaconesses today will lead to a “conversation [emphasis in original] about women in the priesthood” (p. 95). Dr. Frederick Frost sees the church of our granddaughters as capable of having this conversation.
Quibble. My only quibble with the book is the treatment of the subject of altar service (included in the chapter on church leadership), primarily for girls. Although the author outlines some of the reasons for their (usual) exclusion from this service, she could have developed more fully some of the positive reasons for their participation in this ministry (e.g. learning about the liturgy and encountering God and neighbor more fully in the liturgy by their active participation). We are all called to actively participate in our liturgical celebration and there can be great spiritual harm done to young girls who are prohibited from serving in this capacity if they so desire just because they are in a female body. May we continue to strive for a church that welcomes the gifts of all of the faithful—for our granddaughters.
Frederick Frost, Carrie. Church of Our Granddaughters. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2023. 114 pages. ISBN 9781666744859
REVIEWER: Teva Regule
–Orthodox Theological Society in America, Immediate Past-President
–St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess, Board Member