Nancy Hardesty

Biographical Information

Nancy Hardesty, along with Letha Dawson Scanzoni, wrote All We're Meant To Be (published in 1974). From an evangelical perspective, they argued that the Bible could be interpreted to support the equality of women. Hardesty subsequently obtained a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her dissertation, published as Women Called To Witness, suggested that the same type of "biblical feminism" characterized the 19th century women's rights movement because it was rooted in Finneyite revivalism and Wesleyan Holiness. From 1976-1980 she taught church history at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Since 1988 she has taught religion at Clemson University. Hardesty and Scanzoni were among the founders of the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus. Hardesty also helped found Daughters of Sarah, a Christian feminist newsletter published from 1974-1995.

Bibliography

BOOKS

"Your Daughters Shall Prophesy": Revivalism and Feminism in the Age of Finney. New York: Carlson Publishing, 1991.

The Memory Book. New York: Presbyterian Publishing House, 1989.

Inclusive Language in the Church. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.

Women Called to Witness: Evangelical Feminism in the Nineteenth Century. Nashville: Abingdon press, 1984.

Great Women of Faith. Brand Rapids: Baker Books, 1980.

All We're Meant To Be: Biblical Feminism for Today. (co-authored with Letha Dawson Scanzoni. Waco: Word Books, 1974.

ARTICLES

"Frances Willard" and "Phoebe Palmer," in Makers of Christian Theology in America. Ed. James O. Duke and Mark G. Toulouse. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997).

"Charles Grandison Finney," in American Reform and Reformers: A Biographical Dictionary. Ed. Paul A. Cimbala and Randall M. Miller. (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1996).

"Evangelical Theologies" and "Healing," in Dictionary of Feminist Theologies. Ed. Shannon Clarkson and Letty M. Russell. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996).

"Southern Women in and out of the Church," in The Changing Shape of Protestanitsm in the South. Ed. Marion D. Aldridge and Kevin Lewis. (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1996).

"Evangelical Women," in In Our Own Voices: Four Centuries of Women and Religion in America. Ed. Rosemary Skinner Keller and Rosemary Radford Ruether. (San Francisco: Harper, 1995).

"The Communion of Saints and Sinners," in Rattling Those Dry Bones: Women Changing the Church. Ed. June Steffensen Hagen. (San Diego: Lura Media, 1995).

"In Her Own Image." The Other Side 31 (Nov.-Dec. 1995): 22-24.

"Some Thoughts on Honest Communication." Update 19 (Summer 1995): 9-10.

"EEWC Time Line." Update 18 (Winter 1994/95): 4-5.

"Amanda Berry Smith: A 'Downright, Outright Christian'," in Spirituality and Social Responsibility: Vocational Vision of Women in the United Methodist Tradition. Ed. Rosemary Keller. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993).

"The Holiness and Pentecostal Movements," in Religion in South Carolina. Ed. Charles H. Lippy. (Columbia: The University of South Carolina Press, 1993).

"Holy Wars: Gays and Lesbians Fight Organized Religion." The Advocate 4 (Dec. 1990).

"'The Best Temperance Organization in the Land': Southern Methodists and the W.C.T.U. in Georgia." Methodist History 28 (Apr. 1990): 187-194.

"Paula: A Portrait of Fourth-Century Piety." Christian History 7 (1988): 17-19.

"'Whosoever Surely Meaneth Me': Inclusive Language and the Gospel." Christian Scholar's Review 17 (March 1988): 231-240.

"Hannah Whitall Smith Found the Secret." Daughters of Sarah (Sept.-Oct. 1984): 20-22.

"Is Jesus Lord?" Daughters of Sarah (July-Aug. 1984): 24.

"Lydia Sexton: Mother in Israel." Daughters of Sarah (March-Apr. 1983): 14-15.

"Early Quaker Woman: Targets of Persecution." Daughters of Sarah (May/June 1982): 16-18.

"Hroswitha: Germany's First Poet, Playwright." Daughters of Sarah (March/Apr. 1982): 19-21.

"Marcella and Paula: Bible Specialists." Daughters of Sarah (Jan./Feb. 1982): 18-19.

"No Rights But Human Rights." Perkins Seminary Journal 35 (Fall 1981): 58-62.

"The Wesleyan Movement and Women's Liberation," in Sanctification and Liberation: A Reexamination in the Light of the Wesleyan Tradition." Ed. Theodore Runyon. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981).

"'Your Daughters Shall Prophesy': Biblical Defenses of Woman's Right to Minister," in Women in New Worlds: Historical Perspectives on the United Methodist Tradition. Ed. Rosemary S. Keller and Hilah F. Thomas. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981).

"Women in the Holiness Movement: Feminism in the Evangelical Tradition," (co-authored with Lucille Sider Dayton and Donald W. Dayton) in Women of Spirit. Ed. Rosemary Ruether and Eleanor McLaughlin. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979).

"Why I Strive Toward 'Mature Manhood'." The Other Side (June 1979): 60-62.

"American Protestant Feminism: Revivalist Roots and Religious Reactions." Face to Face 5 (Spring 1978): 4-6.

"And God Said, 'Let Us Make Woman in Our Own Image'." The Other Side (Oct. 1977): 59-63.

"'Head': What Does It Mean?" Daughters of Sarah (July 1976): 2-6.

"Women: The Affordable Commodity." The Other Side (Jan. 1976): 63-67.

"Marital Status: Single." Daughters of Sarah (Jan. 1976): 1-3.

"Brothers All Are We?" Daughters of Sarah (Nov. 1975): 6-7.

"Why Sarah?" Daughters of Sarah (March 1975): 1-3.

"Eve in the Garden." Daughters of Sarah (Jan. 1975): 2-5.

"Woman: Helper or Companion?" Daughters of Sarah (Nov. 1974): 3, 5.

"Women: Second Class Citizens." Eternity (Jan. 1971): 14-16.

Internet Sites

Discussions about biblical feminist theology go on every day on the list PHOEBE-L@mich.com. The owner of the list is Pat Gundry, an early biblical feminist writer.

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