The above photo is of Virginia at age 48. An English professor emeritus at William Paterson University of New Jersey, Virginia Ramey Mollenkott is the author or co-author of 13 books, including several on women and religion. She is a winner of the Lambda Literary Award in 2002 and has published numerous essays on literary topics in various scholarly journals. In the mid-1960’s as her feminist awareness grew, Mollenkott began including women’s literary achievements in her classes and guest lectures. In 1973 she spoke at the first conference of evangelical feminists at the conservative Baptist Theological Seminary (Denver) and also wrote the introduction to Paul King Jewett’s theological book Man as Male and Female. In 1974, she gave the first women’s liberation speech at Malone College (Ohio), but was picketed by the students there “who brought newspapers to the chapel, opened them, and loudly rattled the pages while I was speaking.” In 1975, she spoke at the first national gathering of the Evangelical Women’s Caucus in Washington, D.C., and has delivered plenary speeches at almost every gathering of this organization since then. She provides leadership every year for two conferences at Kirkridge Retreat Center (Bangor, Pa): Christian People of the Rainbow in June, and Sisterly Conversations in September. Mollenkott is a member of NOW, the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press, and the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Freedom. She also serves as a manuscript evaluator for the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion; and was a member of the translation committee for the New International Version of the Bible (1970 - 1978); and of An Inclusive Language Lectionary (National Council of Churches). She is also a member of the Fellowship of
Reconciliation, CLOUT... and served on the Board of Pacem in Terris. In 1978, she co-authored Is The Homosexual My Neighbor? A Positive Christian View, which was expanded and updated in 1994. She has lectured widely on lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights and has also been active in the transgender cause, serving as co-author of Transgender Journeys (2003). Mollenkott, who has one son and three granddaughters, earned her B.A. from Bob Jones University, her M.A. from Temple University, and her Ph.D. from New York University. Her partner is Judith Suzannah Tilton.
(Virginia may be reached through e-mail at jstvrm@warwick.net)
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