The Center for Catholic Studies will welcome back alumna Elyse Raby '08, PhD, for “Midpoints: Gender Questions for a Synodal Church,” the first of three-part virtual seminar hosted in collaboration with Commonweal Magazine.
Elyse Raby '08,PhD, is an assistant professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University. In the first event of a three-part Commonweal in Conversation virtual series on Catholicism and gender, the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ alumna will present a lecture titled This livestreamed event is free and open to the public.
In her lecture, Dr. Raby will discuss the significance of gender and how it intersects with the Synodal process, exploring ways in which the Church can respond to evolving societal understandings of gender while maintaining its core values in a rapidly changing world. Ellen Koneck, executive director of Commonweal Magazine, will respond to Dr. Raby’s presentation.
Dr. Raby has done extensive research on the dynamics between gender and sexuality, ecclesiology, and theological anthropology. Her work includes contributions on priesthood and ministry in U.S. Catholic, intersex embodiment and theological anthropology in Theology and Sexuality, and an exploration of Christian symbols and kyriarchal structures in the book Congress of Wo/Men: Religion, Gender, and Kyriarchal Power by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza.
After earning her BA in religious studies from ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University in 2008, Dr. Raby served for a year as assistant director at Rostro de Cristo, a non-profit organization that offers volunteer programs focused on intercultural experiences and faith in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. She then returned to ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ where she worked as administrative coordinator for the Center for Catholic Studies and the Center for Social Impact for three years. She earned her MA in theological studies and PhD in systematic theology from Boston College.
The second virtual event of the Commonweal in Conversation series on Catholicism and gender will take place on Feb. 26. will be presented by Cristina Lledo Gomez, PhD.
The third and final event in the series will feature Brianne Jacobs, PhD, in a March 26 presentation titled
All three events are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ.edu/cs
