Women, Work, and Calling in the Organized Church
SOA 180A/380A
9:00-12:00 M-F
Alma College, Spring Term 2006
SAC 313
Dr. Catherine Fobes
Phone: 463-7257
E-mail: fobes@alma.edu
Office Hours (SAC 254): Monday-Thursday 1:30-2:30.
Course Description
This course examines how the arrangement of women’s work and calling is structured by
the broader social, geographical, racial, gendered, and economic context in which churches
operate. We begin by examining gender concepts, feminist theories, and varying definitions of
vocation. The course is then organized around three women’s stories—two autobiographical
(Dorothy Day and Heidi Neumark) and one fictional (Janie Crawford)—interspersed with articles
and essays. We conclude by investigating two contemporary controversies—lesbianism and the
church, and the sacred feminine. Throughout, we discuss structural barriers to vocational
fulfillment and strategies to work towards a more just and equitable society as well as how issues
raised by our three central women’s stories impact our own reflection on vocation and work.
Course Objectives
Learning in this course will occur in a variety of ways: presentations, analytical reading
and writing, digestion of lecture material, class discussions, small-group work, congregational
visits, response papers, and learning by doing. This course will:
1. Provide you with the opportunity to examine three women’s life stories, highlighting
their struggles and joys with work and calling, and in some cases, their contradictory
relationship with a church.
2. Reemphasize major sociological concepts such as gender, social structure, social
agency, work, and institutional religion to develop skills in critical analysis and
independent research.
3. Encourage you to apply findings and insights from three women’s life stories to your
own vocational journey, irrespective of the secularity or religiosity of your callings.
4. Encourage you to strengthen class community spirit through active engagement in
class.
Assignments
25% -- Presentation. You will be responsible for summarizing and facilitating a class
discussion on one or more articles/essays/book as part of our class meetings. A sign-up sheet for
articles, essays, and books will be distributed, along with presentation guidelines, the first day of
class.
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25%-- Response papers. With the exception of the material on which you present, you will be
responsible for handing in a one-page typed response paper on the assigned reading/s for the day.
They will be graded on a pass/fail basis, but in order to pass you must meet the following
critieria: (1) Summary of key points including thesis, (2) reflection on the reading in terms of
your own vocation and/or the world around you. There will be no questions assigned but you can
use discussion questions to brainstorm your own focus. Response papers must be typed, and no
longer than one page.
40%--Analytic Memoranda. Since part of the purpose of a liberal arts education is to encourage
you to think critically and analytically about the social world around you, you will write one
analytical memo (5-8 pages for SOA 180 students; 10-12 pages for SOA 380 students) that
allows you to apply a gender concept, feminist theory, or vocational concept to social issues
concerning women, work, and/or calling in a particular religion of your own choice. The
guidelines for the memo will be discussed in class and printed on a handout. The memo is due on
Wednesday, May 24 at 11:00 a.m.
10%--Participation. I evaluate your participation based on your attentiveness and effort in class
discussion and activities.
Attendance and Grading Policy
Attendance. I am serious about creating an atmosphere that enables students to draw upon the
resources of their classmates as well as the teacher. Therefore, class discussions will be an
integral part of this class. Since the absence of anyone of you diminishes the quality of resources
available for your colleagues, attendance is required.
I allow 1 absence (1 class) without penalty. Early departure without permission and
lateness (more than 20 minutes late for one class or 10 minutes late for three classes) will be
counted as half an absence. Also, coming to class without finishing reading materials or being
unprepared for class activities will count as half an absence. For each absence beyond the allowed
one, you will lose half a final course grade (for example, if your course grade is A, and you have
3 absences, your final grade will be B).
Congregational Visits. Site visits to congregations on Sunday, May 7, and Sunday, May 21 are
mandatory, with the exception of sports players who will have a completely separate assignment.
What Grades Mean.
A = Work that goes beyond the requirements of the assignment by adding new insight, creativity
and/or particularly thoughtful analysis. Demonstrates a comprehensive command of the course
material, an exceptional ability to apply concepts to the real world, and a superior ability to
organize and express ideas.
B = Work that is very good and meets the requirements of the assignment well. Demonstrates a
solid command of the course material, an ability to apply concepts to the real world with only
minor problems, and good organization and expression of ideas.
C = Work that partially meets the requirements of the assignment. Demonstrates acceptable
command of the course material, a basic ability to apply concept to the real world with some gaps
and problems, and moderate skill in the organization and expression of ideas.
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D = Work that marginally meets the requirements of the assignment. Demonstrates little
command of the course material, minimal attempt to apply concepts to the real world, and limited
ability to organize and express ideas.
E = Work that does not meet the requirements of the assignment. Demonstrates no command of
the course material, an inability to appropriately or consistently apply concepts to the real world,
and an insufficient organization and expression of ideas.
Grading Policy. Final grades will be calculated as follows. I reserve the right to curve the final
distribution if warranted.
94-100: A
69-73.99:CD
89-93.99: AB
64-68.99:D
84-88.99: B
60-63.99:DE
79-83.99: BC
Below 60:E
74-78.99: C
Benefit of the Doubt. I sometimes “bump up” a person’s grade if he or she falls at most, .5
points below a certain cut-off number. People who are “bumped up” are those I know have been
working hard, or who may have experienced some unfortunate event during the semester, such as
illness or family death, or who wrote an especially fine paper or exam. I implement this policy by
connecting attendance records with it. Anyone who has more than one unexcused absence will
not receive the “benefit of the doubt.”
Make-up Policy and Late Assignments. I will only permit make-up response papers if you
have an official medical excuse or an excuse from the Student Development Office. The format
of these make-ups may vary from the rest of the class. I will accept late analytical memos but
they will be penalized a half-grade for every day they are late. For example, if your assignment
earns a B and it is due on Tuesday and you turn it in on Thursday, you will earn a C. Since you
are responsible to the entire class on your presentation day, failure to present on your scheduled
date (unless changed by me) will result in a grade of zero.
Honor Code. It is fine to use ideas, words, and short passages from the writings of others in your
writing, as long as you acknowledge the source. To plagiarize is to use another person’s words,
ideas, or papers as your own (copying or paraphrasing) or to ask someone to write or co-write
your essay. A plagiarized assignment receives an E; and the student will be subject to additional
disciplinary action.
Required Reading
The following books are available for you to purchase at the bookstore:
Day, Dorothy. 1997 [1952]. The Long Loneliness. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins.
Hurston, Zora Neale. 1998 [1937]. Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York, NY: Harper
Perennial.
Neumark, Heidi B. 2003. Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx. Boston,
MA: Beacon Press.
The coursepak is available for purchase for $10.98 from Mrs. Debbie Smith, SAC 224. Please
bring exact change, $11.00, or a check made out to Alma College.
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There are additional books on reserve at the library for use with your memoranda. There may be
articles on reserve as well as in-class hand-outs.
Class Schedule
Note: For the first two weeks, we will meet from 9:00-12:00 everyday
Week 1.
Introduction, Core Concepts, Catholic Social Activist Dorothy Day
5/1/06
Introduction; sign-ups for presentations; discussion of upcoming field trip;
meeting with SOA 380 students; opening lecture on gender concepts
and feminist theories.
5/2/06
Lecture on vocation
*Presentation (1): Palmer
Presentation (3): Day, Confession and Part I: Searching, pp.1-109.
5/3/06
Homelessness and the Ordination of Women
Combined class with Dr. Brian Stratton, SAC 313
5/4/06
Presentation: Day, Part II, Natural Happiness, pp. 113-166;
part III, pp.169-204
Presentation : Day, Part III, Love is the Measure, pp. 204-286
5/5/06
Film and student-led discussion: Entertaining Angels
5/7/06
Meet 9:30 in Reid-Knox parking lot for congregational visit to
All Saints Episcopal Church, East Lansing, MI, meeting with
Mother LaRue and optional lunch in East Lansing
Week 2.
Gendered Organizations and Heidi Neumark, a Lutheran Pastor
5/8/06
Non-ordained Women’s Experiences With Gender and Church:
*Presentation (2): Fobes, “Maintaining the Gender Order…”
*Presentation (1): Beaman, “Molly Mormons…”
*Presentation (1): George, “Caroling with the Keralites: The Negotiation
of Gendered Space in an Indian Immigrant Church”
Discussion: Gendered Organizations
5/9/06
Lecture: Institution, Congregation, and Spirit-Centered Churches
*Zikmund et. al, Clergy Women: An Uphill Calling, pp. 92-113
*Presentation (1): Sullivan, “The Work-Faith Connection for Low-Income
Mothers: A Research Note”
Presentation (4): Neumark, Breathing Space, Preface and Pre-Construction,
sections 1-2, pp. 1-76
5/10/06
Presentation: Neumark, Breathing Space, Pre-Construction,
sections 3-4, pp. 77-112; Construction sections 5-6, pp. 115-170.
5/11/06
Presentation: Neumark, Breathing Space, Construction,
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sections 7-9, pp. 171-275.
5/12/06
Dr. Carol Gregg
*excerpts from Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process
Week 3.
One Women’s Spiritual Journey Outside of the Organized Church:
Janie Crawford, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Note:
For Week 3, we will meet from 9:30-12:00 W-Th; Individual meetings with
me on Friday, 5/19
5/15/06
Research Day
5/16/06
Research Day
5/17/06
Film: Their Eyes Were Watching God (with introduction by students)
5/18/06
Presentation (2): Hurston, Their Eyes Are Watching God
5/19/06
Individual meetings with me about your analytic memo
5/21/06
8:30 a.m. Meet in Reid-Knox parking lot for congregational visit to Community
Presbyterian Church in Flint, MI
Week 4.
Contemporary Controversies
Note:
For Week 4, meeting times will vary
5/22/06
10:001:00
Lesbianism and the Church
5/23/06
Analytical memoranda due 11:00 a.m.
*Presentation (1): Heyward excerpts, Our Passion for Justice: Images of Power,
Sexuality, and Liberation
Film: The Congregation
Afternoon matinee viewing of The DaVinci Code, time and place to be
announced; optional coffee/tea following the film
5/24/06
11:001:00
The Sacred Feminine
Guest Facilitator: Beckie Bechill
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