Medusa Magazine Feminist Theology: Dean Tiffany Steinwert by Jaime Bellemare Tiffany Steinwert is a feminist.

She is an activist and she is a queer ally. Tiffany Steinwert is also the Dean of Hendricks Chapel and an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church. For some people these identities may seem conflicting, but for Steinwert they are intimately entangled. From a young age, Steinwert recalls being acutely aware to issues of class and race. She focused her energy on issues of justice and equality, but like many young activists, Steinwert reached a point of feeling burnt out. It was during this time that a friend of Steinwerts invited her to attend a church service. Skeptical of religion, Steinwert went along, emerging with a new spark that further ignited her journey to justice. I realized theres this person named Jesus who had the same thoughts I did, said Steinwert. Steinwert recalled a story in which Jesus, himself, is changed by a woman who recognizes that compassion knows no human boundaries. Christianity is not opposed to the margins according to Steinwert. In fact, she says that Christianity is really about a deeper sense of hope. It was through this sense of hope that Steinwert continued on with her feminist education. I came to womens studies through a lens of faith, said Steinwert. Steinwert has a degree in womens studies, as well as psychology, divinity and practical theology. Through ministry and education Steinwert continues to embody her feminist beliefs. Feminism is not a label, its a lifestyle, said Steinwert. Steinwert acknowledges the negative stereotypes surrounding feminism. You mean the F-word? she jokes. Using inclusive language instead of gendered pronouns to refer to God is just one way in which Steinwert uses feminism to make others feel closer to their faith without directly stating, Heres a feminist approach to theology! Using a similar approach to her personal life, Steinwert uses the word partner rather than husband to rid herself of the heterosexual privilege associated with marriage.

This, along with her feminist identity, resulted in a lot of questions during her process of being ordained. The United Methodist Church does not allow gays, lesbians or others who are practicing homosexuals to be ordained. The Church does, however, believe in full civil rights for LGBT people legally outside the walls of the Church. This is just one of the policies prohibiting LGBT people from an all-inclusive membership in the United Methodist Church. While the process of being ordained inquired into whether or not Steinwert follows the rules set forth by God and the Church, Steinwert says she sees these things at odds. I believe I follow the spirit of the law, always, Steinwert says. Steinwert emphasizes the deep commitment to theological diversity within the United Methodist Church and the many Methodist women who have been at the forefront of civil rights movements. With time Steinwert believes that this will happen once again. I think the Church is on the same page, it just doesnt know it yet, said Steinwert. Here at Syracuse, Steinwert is breaking through glass ceilings of her own, being the first female-identified dean in Hendricks 80-year history. She is also leading a community-organizing project, partnering SU students with community members in effort to improve life in Syracuse. While doing this, Steinwert hopes to help students think about concrete ways to create change in the world. Religion is a very powerful force, said Steinwert. It can be used to liberate people, but also to abuse and oppress people. Steinwert believes this is a boundary that needs to be monitored by all faith traditions. Not to simply say were sorry, but to change the way we work in the world, she said. Steinwert recognized that bad experiences with religion are real, especially within the LGBT community, but she believes the media often reiterates negative stereotypes through their CHRISTIAN VS. GAY depictions. These views, says Steinwert, are really only representative of the religious right and not a reflection of the majority. With this perspective of social conservatism, many young people are moving away from attending church, but Steinwert hopes that these young people can be a voice for change, to show that there is a place for queer feminism in religion.