Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network Mid-Year Meetings 2026
Follow up to Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network Mid-Year Meetings
“War Solves Nothing: Feminists Create Peace”
Mary E. Hunt, May 18, 2026
The Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network’s Mid-year Meetings with the theme “War Solves Nothing: Feminists Create Peace” were held on Zoom on May 13, 2026 at 1 PM ET and 7 PM ET. The videos of the two meetings can be accessed at:
Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network – WATER – Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
Session 1 Video: https://youtu.be/81SQoJK4SDc
Session 2 Video: https://youtu.be/kh4b91XzpwA
More than thirty-eight people participated from at least eight countries including Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, India, U.S., and Ireland. Colleagues include students, professors, ministers, activists, religious leaders, and others.
We began with a land acknowledgement. We moved into small group discussions about how we are dealing with the various wars that rage in our world. We shared what we are doing in our specific settings and what more we can do because we are networked.
At the 1 PM meeting, we heard short commentaries from two colleagues. Jane Redmont, writer and spiritual director, was just back to Boston after a month in Paris where she had lived as a child and young adult. She reported from an expat perspective how the U.S. is perceived. She contrasted the deep sense of history in France with the more ahistorical approach in the U.S. She noticed how important environment and energy issues are to the French, and the real progress at recycling, riding bikes, and other ways of promoting planetary wellness. Jane observed that voluntary associations and groups that lobby or work on specific issues like anti-racism are more common in the US. She described her own as a “quiet life” after decades of teaching, writing, and ministry. She emphasized spirituality and body work as resources for dealing with current challenges.
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is an actively retired professor now publishing an influential Substack, “No Fear Religion and Politics” https://susanthistlethwaitewaite.substack.com/. She spoke of the oldest war being on women’s bodies and how the Epstein pedophile crowd is now making wars to sell arms. She plans to offer an on-line course on Liberation Theologies beginning in September 2026. This is simply one more way in which she is ratcheting up her effort in light of the increased violence and injustice. As Susan insisted, we learn liberation theology in struggle, not in the classroom. Word on the class will be shared with FLTN.
The evening session followed the same pattern, minus the input from Jane and Susan. After the small groups, Kwok Pui Lan, actively retired professor of theology, shared some of her wisdom on how the abundant screen time that we all spend requires new modes of communication. She wants to be able to answer her grandchildren’s question about this difficult time, “What did you do?” with actions taken. For the answer, see her Substack, Kwok ‘n Roll” https://kwokpuilan.substack.com/ with many interviews with scholars and activists. Her own growing knowledge of the workings of AI and media is a contribution all its own.
Tracy McEwan, a researcher in Australia, shared some of the concerns there. Renewable energy sources, increasing violence (e.g., the Bondi Beach tragedy), new laws that shut down protests are all top of mind. Still, the stones tossed in the ponds that ripple out make a difference, like some progressive election efforts there. Elisabeth Lee, also from Australia, described increased polarization and the need for more conversation not debate.
Discussion was wide ranging in both sessions. Among the many issues addressed and suggestions made were:
- Use the Network to learn more about one another’s work
- Perhaps send a letter to Pope Leo to let him know about our work
- Take hope from the Hungarian elections
- AI and feminist liberation theology form an important topic for our common study
- Truth Telling is a central religious practice
- Bring these conversations to everyday level where people live
- War against women is based on sacrifice not mercy models; we should use every opportunity to demystify power and show how religious language and imagery work
- First Nations’ people teach that relationships are primary
WATER continues to sign on to amicus briefs on reproductive justice, collaborate with groups like Women of Dignity on lifting up the experiences of lesbian bi trans queer women, as well as offer regular programs to which all are welcome, www.waterwomensalliance.org.
Ashley Purpura recently spoke on her book, Women in the Orthodox Tradition: Feminism, Theology, and Equality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hX3jurE7eE.
Margaret Stapleton Smith spoke on her new book by Mary Daly that includes a previously lost manuscript, Catholicism: End Or Beginning? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1fqfyWsoII. It is exciting to see this creative work emerging even in such hostile times.
Kwok Pui Lan and Mary E. Hunt have been engaged in a series of podcasts called “Faithful Provocations” under the rubric of the “Kwok ‘N Roll” Substack. We’ve looked at White Christian Nationalism, Church and State, etc. https://www.youtube.com/@kwokpuilan_theology
The next FLTN Meeting will be in person only at the AAR/SBL in Denver Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, 4-6 PM MT.
Please send any additions or corrections to this report to mhunt@hers.com.
Resources Suggested by FLTN Colleagues
- Heyward, Carter. The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2022. See Pui Lan’s interview with her, www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGFhnAPYXZk&t=2s .
- Beth Blissman spoke of a new UN Intergenerational Program: United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development sponsored by Loretto and BVM Communities, July 8-15, 2026.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S9Kbs1O1QvAekGpy4ISJfB56EZVxZzbs-2sxpxUZFuA/edit?usp=sharing.
- See Allyson Timm’s forthcoming new book: If Women’s Lives were Sacred: Christianity, Human Rights, and the Struggle for Equal Rights. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/if-womens-lives-were-sacred-9781538193549/.
- Elizabeth Lee reported that the Society of Biblical Literature international meeting will be held in Adelaide, Australia, July 5-9, 2026. Several native women will speak. See https://events.humanitix.com/christianity-without-dominance.
She also recommended:
https://revrobynwhitaker.substack.com/
- Jane Redmont’s retreat “Spiritual Practices for Troubled Times” can be accessed via: readwithredmont@earthlink.net.
