Supporting Husbands In Theology

Supporting Husbands in Theology

Matushka Lutheran Style

In a recent Patheos post, “Blessed Mother Olga of Alaska Knitted Mittens,” I celebrated this Carpatho-Russian Orthodox saint for her humility. She knitted mittens for Alaskan children to keep their hands warm in winter.

Just a reminder: Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, Alaska, was orignally named Arrsamquq when she was born into the Yupik tribe 1916. She passed away in 1979. She was glorified in 2023.

Members of my family objected to my post. They claimed that by focusing on mittens I had understated her accomplishments. She was the wife of a priest. That’s what “matushka” refers to. As a parish leader, she became midwife to women with difficult pregnancies. She came to the rescue of sexually abused women. The Carpatho-Russians remember her today as Tabitha of the North, referring to the story of Tabitha of Joppa in Acts 9:36, an early Christian known for her works of charity. “Matushka Olga worked alongside her husband, not so much in preaching and teaching the faith but living it and teaching it by her example. She knew by heart the hymns of many feast days, including Palm Sunday,Holy Week and Pascha in Yupik.”

Yes, indeed, this compassionate heart should be remembered for humble yet ultimately important accomplishments in service of divine love in this otherwise cold and jittery world.

Lutheran Matushkas

Karen and Diane, “Supporting Hushands in Theology”

In the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (abbreviated ELCA), some of our pastors are ordained women. Some are ol’ fashioned men who are married to very supportive spouses.

I tried explaining all this to two of my favorite wives of Lutheran pastors. One is named Diane. The other who is named, Karen, is my personal matushka. Both are devoted to the gospel and to the Christian ministry. Both are personally committed diciples of Jesus.

Karen is an honorary member of an organization founded by Diane. What is that organization? Supporting Husbands in Theology, abbreviated SHIT. You need not look for Supporting Husbands in Theology on the web.

Does Supporting Husbands in Theology suggest any spiritual differences between Carpatho-Russians and Lutherans? I hope not.

Patheos ST 4140 Supporting Husbands in Theology

For Patheos, Ted Peters posts articles and notices in the field of Public Theology. He is a Lutheran pastor in the ELCA and emeritus professor at the Graduate Theological Union. He co-edits the journal, Theology and Science, with Robert John Russell on behalf of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, in Berkeley, California, USA. His single volume systematic theology, God—The World’s Future, is now in the 3^rd edition. He has also authored God as Trinity plus Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society as well as Sin Boldly: Justifying Faith for Fragile and Broken Souls. See his website: TedsTimelyTake.com.