Maxine Hanks
SUNDAY | MAY 31 2020 | 7:00-9:00 pm
Join us for a discussion of the Christian holy day of Pentecost and its related themes of the Holy Spirit and the sacred feminine. What is Pentecost? What is the Holy Spirit? How do they relate to the sacred feminine and how can they help us during the current crises?
GATHERING AT:
Your home or hang out of choice via Zoom.
Jana Spangler will host us again. Thank you Jana. Below is some helpful info for being part of a Zoom convo. Close to the event date I will send the Zoom link via email. If you are not on my email list then either join at the bottom of this site’s home page or text me at 801-695-5036.
Find a comfortable chair and join us!
THE CONVERSATION:
We are in the midst of a historic year, in many ways. 2020 is the 200th anniversary of the LDS Church’s founding event,
the First Vision, and it is the 100th anniversary of U.S. women getting the vote, and the 150th anniversary of Utah women getting the vote, and we are living in the first worldwide pandemic in 100 years. This year’s Pentecost seems an ideal time to explore the Holy Spirit and the sacred feminine and how they can inspire or inform our lives during this historic and life-changing year.
Maxine will discuss the role of Pentecost on the Christian calendar and its theme of the Holy Spirit, then explore how the sacred feminine relates to both. Is the Holy Spirit feminine? Does the sacred feminine play a role in Pentecost and the Christian year? And, how might these ideas play out in helping us and others to envision or re-envision current historic events and cope during a pandemic?
After Maxine addresses these themes, we will break into small virtual groups so you can share your thoughts on these themes. We will then circle back to the large group and hear what came up and finish our discussion together. Questions for Maxine are always welcome. Please be conscious of sharing airtime with others and listening with resilience and compassion. You can find some helpful conversation guidelines here.
ABOUT MAXINE
Maxine Hanks is a theologian and historian who lectures and writes on women’s studies in Mormonism and in Christianity. Her work focuses on women’s history and feminist theology in Mormon studies and in Christian liturgy. She did her B.S. in Gender Studies and her Masters in History, with additional grad work in theology and religious studies. She was a visiting fellow at Harvard Divinity School, and a research fellow with the Utah Humanities Council. She has lectured at the University of Utah, and guest lectured at Utah Valley U., Salt Lake Community College, Weber State U., Harvard Divinity School, and Claremont Grad. U.
Her first book, Women and Authority, recovered Mormon feminist history and theology. Subsequent books include Mormon Faith in America, and Getting Together With Yesterday. Her essays and articles appear in journals and anthologies.
Maxine was one of the “September Six” who were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1993. She returned to Church membership in 2012 and teaches Sunday classes in her congregation. During her years outside of the Mormon faith, Maxine studied Christian liturgy and clergy formation, and served in ministry and chaplaincy.
EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:
Acts 1&2 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Some additional readings recommended by Jay:
Richard Rohr: Archetypal Feminine
The Holy (Mother) Spirit And The Divine Feminine In Christianity
Searching for Heavenly Mother: Why? Why Not? How?
Women and Authority: Re-Emerging Mormon Feminism
Acts 1&2 New International Version (NIV)
Acts 1&2 The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints, Thomas Wayment
TIPS FOR BETTER ZOOMING
Before you begin the Zoom Conversation:
- Prior to when we meet, get your camera and mic ready and troubleshoot any problems. It would be wise to do a dry run with the camera and microphone on your device before we converse. Best to have the camera at eye level so that it is as if we would talk to each other in person. You can use a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.
- If you are having difficulty with the technology, don’t hold up the meeting by distracting other participants for solutions. Try Googling your problem. I do that with most of my life’s problems.
- Find a quiet place to get comfortable and that you can hang out in for a couple of hours.
- Be aware that the rest of the group can see you and what is behind you. Avoid having bright lights, distracting images, or people or pets wandering around behind you. No Bigfoot bombing in the background please.
- Please don’t wander around doing other things. This is not General Conference, it’s a CONVERSATION.
- And don’t pick your nose. Besides, we aren’t supposed to be touching our faces anyway right now.
- Mute your microphone when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else
- Resist the urge to multitask—be with us people. Knitting is still allowed though.
- Please share air time and follow the guidelines under “Intentions” on this website.
To enter the Zoom conversation:
- Click on the Zoom link above, and if a password is requested, enter the one given above.
- Once you click the link Zoom should open, and you should be able to see and hear other participants.
- If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. Also, make sure you have your volume up.
