Feminism och liturgi - en ecklesiologisk studie

The core of the thesis consists in a collection of liturgies celebrated in Sweden during The Ecumenical Decade Churches in Solidarity with Women 1988-1998, conducted by the World Council of Churches. The liturgies are seen as a Swedish example of what has become known internationally as the feminist liturgical movement. The overarching aim of the thesis is to show how a feminist ecclesiological perspective can be of help to the feminist liturgical movement in handling the dilemmas with which it is confronted in its practice. The discussion is conducted within an overarching interpretive framework of feminist ecclesiology, while the liturgies are analysed from the following perspectives: liturgical tradition, gender theory and ecclesiology. Liturgy, gender and church are themselves treated as interrelated constructions undergoing constant change and adaptation. The basic dilemma confronting the feminist liturgical movement lies in the frequent requirement to choose between a Christian and a feminist identity. The dilemma can only be resolved conclusively through a transformation of both church and society. Feminist liturgies are understood as attempts to handle this dilemma in the short term. To this end a number of different strategies are put to use. The thesis concludes by suggesting that the movement described would benefit from a more explicit self-understanding both as a feminist movement for liturgical renewal, and as church. This kind of ecclesiological framework might mitigate the consequences of choice, consequences which threaten the richness of both feminist and Christian identity