Maria Gwyn McDowell

Theology | Ethics | Liberation | Jesus

Curriculum Vitae

Education

PhD

Boston College (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts): Theological Ethics, 2010

Dissertation: The Joy of Enacted Virtue: Toward the Ordination of Women to the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood

Francine Cardman, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Aristotle Papanikolaou, John Behr

MDiv

Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California): Theology, 1999

BA

Pitzer College (Claremont, California): Religion, 1994

Publications


Major Articles

Seeing Gender: Orthodox Liturgy, Orthodox Personhood” in Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, 343(2), Fall/Winter 2013.

The Iconicity of Priesthood: Male Bodies or Embodied Virtue?” in Modes of Godly Being: Reflections on the Virtues From the Christian East, eds. Aristotle Papanikolaou and Perry Hamalis. Special Issue of Studies In Christian Ethics, 26(3), August 2013.

Edited Volumes

The Church has Left the Building, eds. Michael Plekon, Maria Gwyn McDowell, Elizabeth Schroeder (Wipf & Stock, forthcoming, 2016).

Book Chapters

The Home that Joy Built,” in The Church has Left the Building, eds. Michael Plekon, Maria Gwyn McDowell, Elizabeth Schroeder (Wipf & Stock, forthcoming, 2016).

“‘The Hands of a Woman’: Person, Image and Ordination,” in A Communion Lived in Faith and Love: Reflections on Elisabeth Behr-Sigel’s Ecclesiology, Doxa and Praxis, eds. Eleni Kasselouri and Sarah Wilson (WCC and Volos Academy, forthcoming, 2015). To be published in English, French (in Contacts), and Arabic.

Online Publications

Life Bearing Love: A Too Risky Vision.” In Public Orthodoxy, edited by Nathaniel Wood. New York: Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University, 2016. (original link)

Response to the Pre-Conciliar Document ‘On Marriage and its Impediments.’” In Public Orthodoxy, edited by Nathaniel Wood. New York: Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University, 2016. (original link)

Marriage, Family, and Scripture.” In Public Orthodoxy, edited by Nathaniel Wood. New York: Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University, 2016. (original link)

Defending Human Dignity: A Response to the Pre-Conciliar Document ‘The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World.’” In Public Orthodoxy, edited by Nathaniel Wood. New York: Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University, 2016. (original link)

Book Reviews

Johannes Miroslav Oravecz, God as Love: The Concept and Spiritual Aspect of Agape in Modern Russian Religious Thought (Eerdmans, 2014), in Theological Studies (June 2015), p. 393-394.

Olga Lossky, Toward the Endless Day: The Life of Elizabeth Behr-Sigel (Notre Dame Press, 2010), in Anglican Theological Review (Fall 2010), p. 863.

Encyclopedia Entries

Standard articles: “Sexual Ethics,” “Deaconess,” “Communion of the Saints”; Notations: “Virgins,” “Widows,” “Mystery,” “Nicholas the Wonderworker”; Short notices: “Archdeacon,” “Protodeacon,” “Elder,” “Catechumen,” “Iconostasis,” “Pantocrator Icon,” “Pentecost,” “Metanie,” in The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, John McGuckin, ed. (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

Conference Proceedings

“Embodied Virtue: Male and Female Priests,” in Women in the Eastern Christian Tradition. Papers of the Sophia Institute (Academic Conference, New York, December 2, 2008), ed. J. Lasser (Edward Brothers, 2009): 158-167.

Other Publications

Variations on a Theme by Mary Shelley. Co-authored with Mark O”Connor, Director of the Honors Program, Boston College, 2007.

The Newness of the Spirit: the Ordination of Men and Women,” The Word: a publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, May 2004, pp. 9-11. (Not peer reviewed).

Conference Participation


Papers Presented

“Common Particularity: Theodore the Studite and Symeon the New Theologian on the Diversity of Embodiment.” Annual American Academy of Religion Meeting, Eastern Orthodox Studies/Religion and Sexuality Group, Atlanta, GA, 2015.

Unique Bodies, Unique Gifts: Towards a Liturgy that Deifies.” Conference: Deaconesses, Ordination of Women and Orthodox Theology, Center of Ecumenical, Missiological and Environmental Studies, “Metropolitan Panteleimon Papageorgiou”(CEMES), 22-24 January 2015.

“Seeing Virtue: Orthodox liturgy, Orthodox women, UnOrthodox exclusion.” Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2013.

“‘The Hands of a Woman/: Person, Image and Ordination.” Becoming Human, Becoming Divine: Elisabeth Behr-Sigel”s Contributions to the Church, Ecumenical Institute/WCC, Strasbourg, France, September 2011.

“Persuasion or Compulsion: Eastern Orthodoxy and Religious Freedom.” Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 2011.

Virtuous Icons: Unique Persons or Gender Stereotypes?” Conference: “Women and Church, East and West.” The Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Loyola Marymount College, Los Angeles, CA March 5-6, 2010.

“Orthodox Human Rights?” Panel presentation: “American” Orthodox Ethics in Western Public Life: Human Rights, Reconciliation, and War.” Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, January 2009.

“Embodied Virtue: Male and Female Priests,” Conference: Women in Orthodoxy: Past Roles – Future Paradigms, The Sophia Institute, Union Seminary, New York City, NY December 2008, 158-167.

“Gender and Priesthood in Gregory of Nazianzus,” Orthodox Theological Society in America Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, June 2008.

“Seeing is Becoming: “Icon” and Ethics,” Annual American Academy of Religion Meeting, Eastern Orthodox Studies Section, San Diego, CA, November 2007.

“Tradition, Change, and the Life of the Faithful in Fr. Dumitru Staniloae,” Annual American Academy of Religion Meeting, Eastern Orthodox Studies Section, Philadelphia, PA, November 2005.

Other Addresses and Presentations

“Praying our Visions: Story, Gender, and Icons of the Theotokos,” Spiritual Formation Series, Trinity Cathedral, Portland, OR, Spring 2015; Advent Series, All Saints Church, Advent 2015.

“Whose Liberation? Liberation Theology, Gender, and the Magnificat,” Spiritual Formation Series, Trinity Cathedral, Portland, OR, Jan 2015.

“Christian Interpretations of Exodus 3: The Burning Bush,” Guest Lecturer for Religious Quest, Boston College, 2006.

Justice as Asceticism,” St. Mary Orthodox Church Lenten Lecture Series, Cambridge, MA, March, 2004.

Ambiguity and Mystery: The ‘More; of God,” St. Mary Orthodox Church Lenten Lecture Series, Cambridge, MA, March, 2003.

Research Interests


Exploring communal and ritually shaped ethical formation, drawing connections between Eastern Christian theological trajectories and contemporary concerns regarding sex, gender, and theological ethics. I am particularly interested in the possible intersections of gender theory, liberation theologies and Easter Christian spirituality and sacramental theology in the formation of theories of justice, human rights and the common good.

Awards and Fellowships


University Fellowship, Boston College, 2002-2005

James F. and Barbara Ber” Merit Scholarship, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1996-1999

Lowell W. Berry Fellowship, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1995

Katie Lawson Memorial Award, Pitzer College, 1993

Professional Affiliations


Society of Christian Ethics

American Academy of Religion

Selected Service and Experience


Secretary, Orthodox Theological Society in America, 2009-2011

Editorial Board, The St. Nina Quarterly, 2007-2014