Surveying the Landscape of Doctrinal Imagining

"“Christian doctrines” and “global gender justice” rarely appear together in the same sentence. For feminist theologians who imagine with doctrine, the heart-beat of feminist theology is a double outward and inward impetus in relation to received doctrinal traditions: on the one hand, an outward constructive impetus away from the core of regulatory orthodox doctrine in favour of its own unimpeded creative constructions; on the other, an inward trajectory in response to the “pull” exerted by doctrine, through insisting on the orthodoxy of creative imagining with doctrine. Global issues press on our creative imaginings as we grapple with our own received doctrines. Shaped by our past traditions as we in turn imagine their current and future form, we glimpse a Christian gospel of love and justice that has always been among “us”—the current gatherings of Christians throughout the history of our faith—even while western Christendom and other iterations of Christian faith have as often exacerbated the violence and injustice of the world. This band of constructive theologians keeps company with those who have caught a love of justice throughout Christian history then use it as the key for understanding their faith. White feminist theology is both enriched and diminished by dialogue with theologies of women of colour. Constructive theologies including the imaginings of Latina/mujerista, evangélica, womanist, and Asian American women deserve attention from all theologians, men as well as women.