Forging Voice: Pioneering Scholars in Religion
Kate Common, Methodist Theological School
Kate Common and co-creator Ashley Theuring created the film FORGiNG VOICE, which explores gender, race, and theology with pioneering feminist and womanist scholars in religion. For the film, they interviewed eleven pioneering theologians who discuss their stories as the first women to pursue academic careers in religion and theology. In the film, these scholars share their experiences, challenges and ultimately how they were able to succeed in forging their own voices in an often hostile environment. In this paper, Common will discuss the feminist epistemological and pedagogical framing of the project, what they learned through the filmmaking process, and the impacts of the film.
Reflections of a Vietnamese Buddhist Leader on Leadership Through the Four Positive States of Mind: An Autoethnographic Study
Tham Thi Thu Tran, UMass Lowell
This article is an autoethnographic investigation of my journey as a Buddhist youth leader. What has made me a dedicated leader over the past eighteen years? What distinguishes my leadership? To address these questions, I engage in introspection and examine diaries, emails, and texts from myself, students, fellow teachers, and fellow leaders, framed by the four positive states of mind: love, compassion, heartfelt joy, and equanimity. My reflections reveal the interconnection between teachers and students, leaders and followers, mirroring the qualities of the practice I uphold and embrace.
NFP is Pro-Women’: Catholic Women and 21st-century Reproductive Health
Kate Dugan, Springfield College
Abstract forthcoming.