Letty M. Russell – författare

In different ways, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace their beginnings to Abraham. His wives, Hagar and Sarah, though also pivotal in the story, have received far less attention. In this book, however, noted Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars focus on Hagar, Sarah, and their children, from Ishmael and Isaac to their many descendents through the centuries.Moving from ancient and medieval sources to contemporary appropriations of the Sarah and Hagar story, the authors begin with an overview of the three religions--from their scriptural beginnings to their contemporary questions. They then explore how the story was developed after its canonization, in rabbinic interpretations, in the stories of Islam, and in the teachings of the early church fathers. They also present contemporary womanist and feminist perspectives. Timely, relevant, and provocative, this book provides an entree into interreligious discussion and understanding.

In this book, theologian Letty Russell redefines the commonly held notion of hospitality as she challenges her readers to consider what it means to welcome the stranger. In doing so, she implores persons of faith to join the struggles for justice.Rather than an act of limited, charitable welcome, Russell maintains that true hospitality is a process that requires partnership with the "other" in our divided world. The goal is "just hospitality," that is, hospitality with justice.Russell draws on feminist and postcolonial thinking to show how we are colonized and colonizing, each of us bearing the marks of the history that formed us. With an insightful analysis of the power dynamics that stem from our differences and a constructive theological theory of difference itself, Russell proposes concrete strategies to create a more just practice of hospitality.

Letty M. Russell's Household of Freedom addresses concerns important to all those struggling with issues of authority and equality in the church. Known for her work in feminist and liberation theologies, Russell now looks at the question of authority: that is, legitimate power in the context of Christianity. She uses the image of community, God's household of freedom, to describe ways in which human beings can better live and work together in faith.

How should men and women and God relate to one another? Letty Russell's answer is "partnership," understood in new ways as a relationship rooted in the life story of Jesus. Instead of concentrating on individuals as single entities, she develops the theme of the individual in partnership--both with God and with Others. She deals with the theological foundations of partnership and such practical concerns as lifestyles, human sexuality, education, church community life, and ministry. Her book speaks to the interests of churchwomen, feminists, students of theology, and the many who have studied her other books.

Basing her discussion on the Bible and today's situation in society and theology, Letty Russell explores what it means to be human. She focuses particular attention on who we are in light of Jesus' own humanity, relationships between men and women, those who are treated as less than human, and how human liberation may be achieved.

This book is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of a group of outstanding theologians, historians, and biblical scholars within the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature. Clarifying for themselves and others the distinctive character of feminist interpretation, they continue the process of liberating the word that concerns the whole church.

Today, women are joining other oppressed groups in a search for liberation. Human Liberation in a Feminist Perspective--A Theologyis an attempt to wrestle with this challenge by making a contribution to the Christian understanding of human liberation from the feminist perspective.

This book represents a major contribution toward the development of a global feminist theology. The personal histories and experiences of women of African, Asian, Anglo-American, and Latin-American heritage recounted here make it possible to analyze the social and historical contexts of their Christian faith. Their insights into the lives of those who have been oppressed or excluded, in the Third World or in the United States, clear the way for understanding the partnership of men and women everywhere.

Ideas of the Christian church are changing, and Letty Russell envisions its future as partnership and sharing for all members around a common table of hospitality. Russell draws on her pastorate in Harlem, her classes in theology, and many ecumenical conversations to help the newly emerging church face the challenges of liberation for all people.