Pentecostal Discussions

Princess Theology - Part III (conclusion)

by Jacqui Grey

The challenge for Pentecostals wanting to affirm the value of women is to not just adopt images from secular society but also adapt them. The creation story presents women as a princess by virtue of their relationship with God and purpose of reflecting his image. This identity offers Pentecostal women the opportunity to become (and possibly more importantly the chance to feel like) the true feminine ideal. By adopting the contemporary princess myth, the physical beauty of women can be affirmed – a beauty that reflects their journey in life with all the scars and hopes of that process.

Princess Theology - part II

by Jacqui Grey

The call for images that address Pentecostal women beyond the role of princess is crucial. Throughout this discussion, it has become clear that the use of metaphors and images in the pastoral context has limitations. No one image can accurately capture the message it attempts to convey; to expect otherwise is a misunderstanding of the nature of metaphors.

Secondly, the discussion highlights the role of metaphors (in the reading of biblical texts and pastoral context) as essential for offering women a vision beyond their present circumstances for a future reality. In the Old Testament (OT) that future hope was in the geographic-political kingdom of Israel. For the church, this vision is for an alternative reality called the 'kingdom of God’. This is a vision of what the church is called to be, far from the values and rules of our present culture. It presents for the reader an alternative reality – a life shaped by God and the values of God’s kingdom. We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness, not the greed of the world for material possessions or power or status, but desire the values of the kingdom of God

Princess Theology - part I

by Jacqui Grey

Once upon a time…these words evoke a plethora of images of beautiful princesses in a fairytale existence; from Disney’s Cinderella to the warrior princess variety in the mould of Xena and Lord of Ring’s Eowen to Princess Diana and more recently, Mary (the fairytale dream incarnate). Each figure represents a young and beautiful woman who captivates hearts (and a prince) complete with to-die-for wardrobe. Although they live in a palace, they are not ignorant of the suffering of others or immune from their own inner turmoil. It is this fairytale image that has captivated Pentecostal women as they attempt to contextualise Christianity within the contemporary Australian context. Conference brochures splash tiaras and glitter across their pages as they call for the uniting of the ‘daughters of the king.’ However the question must be raised whether the adoption of princess imagery from Western society to promote Pentecostalism is helpful to women.