New impulses in theology“Gender-Equitable Perspectives in Theological Textbooks Cannot Be Assumed"Doing the Research series

21 February 2025, by Lennart Wichmann

Photo: University of Hamburg / Herzog August Library Wolfenbüttel: Portr. II 1988.3

The poet and theologian Catharina Regina Freifrau von Greiffenberg.

Feminist and diversity-oriented research approaches are firmly anchored in many disciplines. PD Dr. Frank A. Kurzmann from the Department of Protestant Theology at the University of Hamburg is investigating how to also implement them in theology. Among other things, he organized a workshop on the topic together with theology student Franziska Stratmann.

Dr. Kurzmann, what motivated you to focus specifically on gender justice in theology?

Textbooks on the history of the church and piety, for example, are mainly oriented towards a male-dominated perspective. Discussions with students showed me that courses should focus more on this topic area as a whole.

Teaching is based on research findings. What could a critical reflection of patriarchal structures in theology research look like?

This needs to be discussed on various levels. Regarding structure we are concerned about who can research what topics and who actually has the necessary resources, for example, whether single parents have sufficient time for their research besides childcare.

As to content, we should aim to strengthen awareness of new approaches and ideas. It takes courage to delve into previously little-researched fields, for example to introduce new gender identities into historical theology research. Gender-equitable research in particular should aim to establish links with queer and nonbinary identities. I consider it essential to integrate such perspectives into canonical theology.

Theological research is primarily based on biblical and historical texts. To what extent can one read feminist emancipation or criticism of patriarchy into them?

Historical research is increasingly looking at historical figures from a feminist perspective. That is an excellent way to open up new levels of interpretation. But it also bears the risk of anachronistic portrayals. Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg, for example, a seventeenth-century poet and theologian, is rightly seen as a figure of emancipation. However, although genuinely Lutheran, she explored a variety of pious topics in her own unique way and at the highest theological level. Thus, a key question is: What do we miss by reducing Greiffenberg to supposedly women’s interests?

We may overlook that male theologians adopted female perspectives in exegesis during this period. Von Greiffenberg’s work on biblical female figures, for example, may be treated in an isolated way, as similar works by men long went unnoticed—historical theology research largely ignored female perspectives.

This is not about reinterpreting female figures exclusively from a feminist perspective—rather, female and male perspectives on the history of theology and piety are inextricably linked.

You joined up with Franziska Stratmann, a student, to design this workshop. What is the idea behind the format?

At the end of last year, our department published a call for applications for a project on equality and diversity. Franziska Stratmann and I pondered how to provide new impetus for research and teaching via a workshop format.

During her studies, Franziska Stratmann, took a close look at women at the time of the Reformation, for example how they influenced society at various levels by advancing or curbing the Reformation. The scarcity of literature compared to the total amount of literature was striking.

Funding enabled us to design our project very freely and the workshop was a great opportunity to go beyond the regular curriculum. Building on our experience, we could expand the selection of reading material used in teaching and research together or in working groups. It has been particularly enriching to bring together different status groups, from students to professors.

We benefited greatly from the invaluable participation of Prof. Ruth Albrecht and guest speaker Prof. Dr. Ute Gause, both leading researchers in the field. The workshop was a great opportunity to network and exchange ideas with peers. It also helped generate new research ideas.

What are the challenges of researching or teaching gender-equitable theology? Do you encounter resistance?

Our collaboration with the Faculty’s equal opportunity representative and the department advisor was extremely good. Both were very supportive of implementing a workshop. Nevertheless, there was resistance, mostly due to long-established structures and the canon of classical theology.

I perceive an artificially maintained separation of traditional theological topics from perspectives with a feminist or gender-neutral view—as if the latter were not part of “real” theology. In the long run, we should not aim to juxtapose 2 distinct positions—the classical and the feminist—but to combine them.

What other disciplines influence your research?

I have conducted interdisciplinary work since my doctoral studies. At the University of Hamburg, I was part of the research training group Interconfessionality in the Early Modern Period. In recent years, I have collaborated with colleagues from art history, German studies, historical musicology, and history. Perspectives from psychology, sociology and medicine may also enrich gender-equitable theology. I am exchanging ideas with cultural studies researchers to explore where their field and my work overlap.

What do you hope the church and society will gain from a more gender-equitable perspective in theology?

We hope to contribute to a more open approach to gender-equitable theology. The University of Hamburg’s cosmopolitan, diverse profile is particularly reflected by our field. We strive to present our subject as inclusive and tolerant to attract students looking for this in a degree program profile. An important aspect is knowledge transfer via social media or podcasts. Young theologians are increasingly providing information about equality, gender justice, and queerness.