Monday, September 23, 2024
The world lost a giant of Christian feminism and an important social justice advocate on September 20, 2024, when CFT member and former Executive Council member Rev. Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton passed away.
Jann was one of the foremost Christian advocates for a gender-inclusive way of imagining and referring to God. She knew it was imperative to peel away the patriarchal facade that obscures Christ’s true message and meaning, and her work challenged the Christian theological devaluation of women, something she saw as the molten core of social and cultural gender inequality.
In recent years Jann’s work included more specific forays into racial justice and intercultural ministry, including her involvement with The Gathering: A Womanist Church. She also served as co-chair of the organization Equity for Women in the Church.
Underlying her creative work was her belief that moving toward social justice awareness and action must be supported by affirming music and liturgy. She sums it up quite well on her website:
A theology inclusive in gender and race brings liberation and justice when we apply it in our worship services. To contribute to a new egalitarian church and society, we need to go beyond biblical explanation to ritual experience in community. Rituals touch the heart and soul. When our worship includes female and male divine names and images of diverse races, we experience a change of heart. Our actions also change as these liberating rituals change us at the deepest level.
Jann’s liturgical resources, especially her new inclusive lyrics set to traditional hymn tunes are used in Christian worship around the world.
Jann’s work changed, and will continue to change, the social justice awareness of Christians everywhere. Lucky for us, Jann was careful to leave an accessible record and catalog of her amazing work for those of us who remain on earth. We’ve tried to compile several important resources below.
We hope you will take some time to celebrate the gifts of Jann Aldredge-Clanton by reading some of her work, listening to her speak, or maybe by singing along with one or two of Jann’s hymns available on YouTube.
Jann Aldredge-Clanton’s Official Obituary
Obituary and place to share memories
Christian Feminism Today’s Obituary by Dr. Kendra Weddle
“Jann Aldredge-Clanton: A Life Dedicated to the Service of Christ-Sophia”
Memorial Posts on Other Websites
(We are not listing posts or obituaries that are copies of Jann’s official obituary above.)
“Remembering Jann Aldredge-Clanton” by Mark Wingfield on Baptist News Global
Obituary: Jann Aldredge-Clanton on Baptist Standard
A tribute by Girl God Books on Facebook
A brief slideshow shared via YouTube by The Gathering A Womanist Church
“Remembering Rev. Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton” from Baptist Women in Ministry
Read about Jann’s Life and Work on Christian Feminism Today
“Jann Aldredge-Clanton Interview” (Jann is interviewed by Letha Dawson Scanzoni in 2011)
“Sharing Our Stories, Healing Our Lives” (A transcript of her plenary presentation from the 2012 EEWC-Christian Feminism Today Gathering, includes both audio and transcript)
“Coming to Evangelical Feminism: Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Jann Aldredge-Clanton In Conversation” (video and transcript)
Reviews of Jann Aldredge-Clanton’s books and hymnals on Christian Feminism Today
Books:
Changing Church: Stories of Liberating Ministers (reviewed by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott)
She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World (reviewed by Letha Dawson Scanzoni)
Building Bridges: Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Friends with Kendra Weddle (reviewed by Mark William Olson)
Intercultural Ministry: Hope for a Changing World with Grace Ji-Sun Kim (reviewed by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott)
The Gathering: A Womanist Church (reviewed by Chandra D. Snell)
Hymnals:
Earth Transformed with Music! Inclusive Songs for Worship (reviewed by Lē Isaac Weaver)
Hersay: Songs for Healing and Empowerment with Katie Ketchum (reviewed by Katie M. Deaver)
Articles and posts written by Rev. Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton on Christian Feminism Today
Why Inclusive Language Is Still Important
In Search of Life-Giving Christian Symbols
God is Not a Guy, and Neither Am I!
Commentary on “We Sound a Call to Freedom” Video
Rev. Jann Aldredge-Clanton’s Reflection on the 2017 Women’s March — “Changing History”
Report from the 2017 UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61)
2016 #GCNConf – First Timer Reflections – Jann Aldredge-Clanton
Jann’s Web Page
Jann’s Social Media
Jann’s YouTube Channel (hymn recordings and more)
Facebook (personal page) Facebook (public page)
X (Twitter)
Instagram
LinkedIn
Wikipedia
Articles and Interviews of Note on Other Websites
Baylor University Institute for Oral History Interviews:
Oral Memoirs of Jann Aldredge Clanton, Series 1 (1986)
Oral Memoirs of Jann Aldredge Clanton, Series 2 (2001-2002)
WATERtalks: Feminist Conversations in Religion Series:
“The Gathering: A Womanist Church—Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies” with Rev. Irie Lynne Session, Rev. Dr. Kamilah Hall Sharp (2021)
“Building Bridges: Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Friends” with Dr. Kendra Weddle (2020)
“She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World” (2015)
A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton (Blessed Are the Feminists podcast episode)
Posts on Baptist News Global
“Revolution Through Rituals by Jann Aldredge-Clanton” on Feminism and Religion
© 2024 by Christian Feminism Today
