Naomi's Daughters: Bridging the Generations

Patricia Whitney, former coordinator of the Women’s Studies Program at
the University of Prince Edward Island, is the Bank of Montreal Visiting
Scholar in Women’s Studies at the University of Ottawa.

Alyson Huntly, deacon in the United Church of Canada and teacher of
theology at the United Theological College in Montreal from 1990 to
1995, has written an extraordinary book—lucid, accessible, useful,
humane, and grounded in first-class research. It looks at women’s
roles in contemporary Christianity and specifically at women’s
relationships across generations. Huntly seeks not only to understand
differences between churchwomen of various ages, but also to discover
what unites them as women and members of what is arguably Canada’s
most socially progressive Christian denomination.

In 1999, Huntly initiated workshops across Canada to hear the voices of
women in her church and develop strategies to help women bridge the
generations with “greater insight, empathy, and mutual
understanding.” The result is this fine book, which provides a
sensitive examination of demographic differences that set the stage for
expectations of appropriate behaviors among women themselves. Huntly
acknowledges that there are cleavages between, say, Strivers born
between 1910 and 1934, who may see change as negative and who place the
greatest value on hard work, family, and community, and Challengers (b.
1940–54) and Calculators (b. 1950–64), who embrace change and
believe, in general, that social progress is possible and desirable.

The matter of inclusive language is one source of contention. For many
middle-aged and young women, inclusive language in prayer and praise,
including embracing images of Mother God, are essential to their
spirituality. Some older women, however, feel distressed by such
changes. Huntly rightly argues that behind the discussions of tradition
and theology lies something more—“naming the injustices in women’s
lives.”

Naomi’s Daughters concludes with a rich resource of activities,
liturgies, and much more, making this book an essential tool for
bringing about growth and understanding among women in Christian
churches.