Agency in Paul and Implications for Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Agency is a particular concern for ministry with adolescent girls because they rarely see themselves as subjects of their own lives. Human agency is often emphasized in churches as a way to explain human sinful action. As a population treated as objects by society, it is important for young women to embrace and exercise their agency in order to be fully human and live in greater wholeness. The apostle Paul offers opportunities for different interpretations of anthropological agency in relationship with divine agency. Reflection on these types of agency offers insight for ministry with adolescent girls.

Notes

For example, Beverly Roberts Gaventa (2007, 74), a New Testament scholar at Baylor University, writes about Galatians: “If instead of asking only about the relationship between Paul and the historical audience of this letter, or about Paul's attitude toward women, we ask about the letter's profound theological dynamics, then Galatians emerges as a powerful voice articulating God's new creation, a creation that liberates both women and men from their worlds of achievement and identity.”

Throughout this article, when I capitalize the word “Sin,” it is because I am referring to Sin as a power or force exerting pressure on a person that compromises his or her agency.

The term “eschatological reservation” is used to express the effort to take care not to proclaim that the eschaton is complete. This is often expressed as an “already and not yet” idea of eschatology found in Paul's letters. The eschatological age has been ushered in by the Christ event, but has not yet come to fulfillment.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emily A. Peck-McClain

Emily A. Peck-McClain is Instructor of Christian Formation Preaching and Worship, Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia. E-mail: [email protected]