Eerdmans<\/a>.<\/p>\nBy Jill Firth<\/p>\n
Are you a woman who has trouble with your voice in public speaking? Preaching voice too soft or too squeaky? Flat tone, lacking conviction, imagination, or modulation? Nervous giggles, or that awkward ascending inflection at the end of sentences? Nancy Lammers Gross argues that \u201cthe voice is a full-body, physical and musical instrument.\u201d Women can lack confidence, or become disconnected from their bodies. She proposes three basic theses in this book:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe voice is a full-body instrument.<\/p>\n
Many women struggle to speak.<\/p>\n
Many women struggle to speak because they are disconnected from their bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n
She then proceeds step by step to examine the loss and restoration of a woman\u2019s voice. Chapter 1, \u201cThe Symphony of Miriam,\u201d uses the story of Miriam as a metaphor for the value of women\u2019s voices. Chapter 2, \u201cAsking Permission,\u201d tells paradigmatic stories of life experiences that lead women to lose connection to their voices. Seminary student \u201cChatty Cathy\u201d smiled throughout her delivery of her sermon on Job\u2019s misfortunes. She realised that her smile was apologetic, as she came from a tradition that did not allow women to preach. \u201cSarah\u201d learned that what girls said didn\u2019t count: \u201cWhen I was hit, I learned not to cry out; no one would help me anyway \u2026 When I was molested, I swallowed my no.\u201d Writing in an American context, Gross includes women of Korean and African American background. \u201cGi\u201d explained that in her Korean culture, women should not speak too loudly in the presence of men. Particular grammatical constructions and honorifics indicate respect for older people and respected members of the congregation. \u201cAtara\u201d, an African American woman, discovered that issues in her family and home church were preventing her from taking up her call to preaching. Chapter 3 is \u201cVoice Lost,\u201d where three issues are addressed: women\u2019s loss of confidence in their body being acceptable, the loss of a right to speak, and disconnection from the body due to physical or sexual abuse. Chapter 4, \u201cVoice Restored,\u201d considers the call of God and the need to \u201cbody forth\u201d the gospel message. Aspects of female anatomy including the vocal cords are discussed. Chapter 5, \u201cEmbodied Voice,\u201d invites reflection on a woman\u2019s story including memories of using her voice as a child and adult, and of memorable sermons she has heard. Exercises in breathing and posture for developing the preaching voice are included. Chapter 6, \u201cAs If It Matters,\u201d uses the story of Martha and Mary at Lazarus\u2019 tomb as an example of a full-bodied sermon. Exercises in voice modulation, emotional tone and volume help the preacher examine the voices in the text and the appropriate preaching voice for that text. The book concludes with notes, bibliography, and indices of names, subjects and scripture references.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Voices and the Practice of Preaching<\/em> is a useful and practical book examining reasons for issues with women\u2019s preaching voices and suggestions for action. Nancy Lammers Gross is well qualified to address this topic. She teaches preaching, worship and speech communication in ministry in Princeton Theological Seminary. As an ordained Presbyterian minister, she is an experienced preacher. The concept of \u201cfull-body\u201d preaching is a gift to women, and the practical exercises will be beneficial to many. A preaching class or preaching mentor may use these exercises and insights with great benefit. Aspiring women preachers may enjoy reading this book with a friend and trying out the suggestions. A must for seminary libraries.<\/p>\nJill Firth is a lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. She is an ordained Anglican minister and conference speaker.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nancy Lammers Gross Women\u2019s Voices and the Practice of Preaching Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2017. Available at Eerdmans. By Jill Firth Are you a woman who has trouble with your voice in public speaking? Preaching voice too soft or too squeaky? Flat tone, lacking conviction, imagination, or modulation? Nervous giggles, or that awkward ascending inflection at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":13808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>Nancy Lammers Gross<\/strong><\/span>