May She Speak in the Name of the Father
Patriarchy, Preaching and the Gospel
May She Speak in the Name of the Father
Patriarchy, Preaching and the Gospel
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Publisher: SCM Press
ISBN: 9780334067160
Number of Pages: 208
Published: 12/02/2026
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
Is the process of ‘formation’ or ministerial education in the Church of England, Baptist churches and other mainstream Christian denominations in the UK an exercise in power that needs to be resisted if marginalised voices are to be heard? May She Speak in the Name of the Father examines how women’s voices and experiences can be silenced and discredited during training, particularly in relation to preaching, examining first the context and culture of formation, particularly in the Church of England, then approaches to homiletics and show how widely accepted approaches act to silence women’s voices. Liz Shercliff goes well beyond a critique of institutions and practices by offering practical suggestions for inclusive pedagogical approaches.
Based on years of experience and conversation with women training for Anglican ministry, and a lively commitment to embodied preaching Shercliff has produced a grounded and inspiring piece of work that is essential reading for all involved in preaching and ministerial education. This volume is an important contribution to homiletics, theological education and ministerial training.
Table of contents
1 Formation: not an intransitive verb
2 Is contemporary preaching really liberative?
3 Women’s voices: absent, lacking, in need of correction
4 Women’s voices as resistance
5 Resisting formational power to become ourselves
6 Denormale-ising teaching and preaching
Liz brings a deeply prophetic challenge to the Church and theological colleges to make space for women to name and shape their own faith and ministries, while also envisioning what this might look like in practice. This book is an invitation to be and become your true self in ministry and to be part of an embodied community that is truly transformative whatever your gender. -- Revd Dr Clara Rushbrook
Liz has heard a whole myriad of women's experiences into speech and brings a deeply prophetic challenge to the Church and theological colleges to dismantle patriarchy and to make space for women to name and shape their own faith and ministries, while also envisioning what this might look like in practice. This book is an invitation to be and become your true self in ministry and to be part of an embodied community that is truly transformative whatever your gender. -- Revd Dr Clara Rushbrook
A brutally honest analysis of the abuse ordained women encounter in the Church of England, where their voices are silenced or distorted to complement and protect entrenched patriarchy. Shercliff calls for women to show anger and courage by speaking with authentic voices; her book is a must-read for all who want to see God’s word fully and fairly represented in our churches and world today. -- Revd Martine Oborne
