"Den mest splittrande frågan": En queerekumenisk undersökning av Kyrkornas världsråds syn på sexualitet
(2024) KRMM74 20241Centre for Theology and Religious Studies
- Abstract
- In the ecumenical global discourse, sexuality is often said to be “the most divisive issue”. Despite this, there have been and still are many ongoing conversations on this matter. One significant example is the document Conversations on the Pilgrim Way: Invitation to Journey Together on Matters of Human Sexuality, which was produced by the World Council of Churches and released in 2022.
This master thesis explores the notion of sexuality in the WCC document, and it is driven by three objectives: to understand, deepen and improve it. In other words, an underlying purpose of the thesis is to develop a more constructive conversation concerning sexuality within the ecumenical global discourse. The theoretical framework of the thesis is... (More) - In the ecumenical global discourse, sexuality is often said to be “the most divisive issue”. Despite this, there have been and still are many ongoing conversations on this matter. One significant example is the document Conversations on the Pilgrim Way: Invitation to Journey Together on Matters of Human Sexuality, which was produced by the World Council of Churches and released in 2022.
This master thesis explores the notion of sexuality in the WCC document, and it is driven by three objectives: to understand, deepen and improve it. In other words, an underlying purpose of the thesis is to develop a more constructive conversation concerning sexuality within the ecumenical global discourse. The theoretical framework of the thesis is queer-ecumenical which means that it is built upon both queer theoretical and ecumenical perspectives.
Firstly, an empirical approach is taken to understand the document's view on sexuality. The conclusion found is that the view on sexuality is both broad and comprehensive.
Secondly, with the aim to deepen, a critical approach is taken to analyse and discuss the results from the empirical findings. The queer-ecumenical framework is crucial to twist and turn the notion of sexuality in the document. The critical discussion examines various themes. These themes include safe spaces, structural cultures of silences, the margin and marginalized groups, post-colonial perspectives in the discourse, unity and division in ecumenism, the double message of the document and the role and power of language based on words and concepts.
Finally, a constructive approach is used with the aim to improve the conversation on sexuality. This draws on both ecumenical and queer theoretical perspectives and shows how they can work together to improve the conversation on sexuality. The power of language is discussed, and it is suggested that it can be developed in relation to how churches understand the responsibility and task of preaching. Furthermore, the use of theological language rather than secular language, focusing on concepts like the body of Christ over notions like safe spaces is advocated. The thesis emphasizes how things are made rather than how they are. Thereby, it highlights the performative aspect of spaces and shows how the celebration of the eucharist can add to this perspective. Lastly, the need to break cultures of silence is ascertained for a church that wants to live up to the mission advocated by the Brazilian theologian Rosalee Velloso Ewell: to create “good trouble”. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9164178
- author
- Helgesson, Linnea
- supervisor
-
- Jakob Wirén LU
- organization
- course
- KRMM74 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- sexuality, ecumenism, queer theory, queer-ecumenism, World Council of Churches
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9164178
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-18 14:06:29
- date last changed
- 2024-09-18 14:06:29
@misc{9164178,
abstract = {{In the ecumenical global discourse, sexuality is often said to be “the most divisive issue”. Despite this, there have been and still are many ongoing conversations on this matter. One significant example is the document Conversations on the Pilgrim Way: Invitation to Journey Together on Matters of Human Sexuality, which was produced by the World Council of Churches and released in 2022.
This master thesis explores the notion of sexuality in the WCC document, and it is driven by three objectives: to understand, deepen and improve it. In other words, an underlying purpose of the thesis is to develop a more constructive conversation concerning sexuality within the ecumenical global discourse. The theoretical framework of the thesis is queer-ecumenical which means that it is built upon both queer theoretical and ecumenical perspectives.
Firstly, an empirical approach is taken to understand the document's view on sexuality. The conclusion found is that the view on sexuality is both broad and comprehensive.
Secondly, with the aim to deepen, a critical approach is taken to analyse and discuss the results from the empirical findings. The queer-ecumenical framework is crucial to twist and turn the notion of sexuality in the document. The critical discussion examines various themes. These themes include safe spaces, structural cultures of silences, the margin and marginalized groups, post-colonial perspectives in the discourse, unity and division in ecumenism, the double message of the document and the role and power of language based on words and concepts.
Finally, a constructive approach is used with the aim to improve the conversation on sexuality. This draws on both ecumenical and queer theoretical perspectives and shows how they can work together to improve the conversation on sexuality. The power of language is discussed, and it is suggested that it can be developed in relation to how churches understand the responsibility and task of preaching. Furthermore, the use of theological language rather than secular language, focusing on concepts like the body of Christ over notions like safe spaces is advocated. The thesis emphasizes how things are made rather than how they are. Thereby, it highlights the performative aspect of spaces and shows how the celebration of the eucharist can add to this perspective. Lastly, the need to break cultures of silence is ascertained for a church that wants to live up to the mission advocated by the Brazilian theologian Rosalee Velloso Ewell: to create “good trouble”.}},
author = {{Helgesson, Linnea}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{"Den mest splittrande frågan": En queerekumenisk undersökning av Kyrkornas världsråds syn på sexualitet}},
year = {{2024}},
}