"In the kitchen because there's no other space for me" Testimony and epistemology in Newfrontiers women
A Charismatic Practical Theological investigation into the lived religion of Newfrontiers women in the UK

Abstract

This thesis examines the faith lives of women from the Christian Charismatic church network Newfrontiers using a practical theological research methodology. Data for the research was collected via participant observations of services and research interviews. This research is situated within Charismatic theology and the methodological processes stem from this commitment. Making use of Charismatic practices of testimony to hear experiences of meeting God and accounts of oppressions this research offers a novel methodology for Charismatic Practical Theology. The review of literature concerning this church network shows that there is a a gap in knowledge about Charismatic women’s faith lives with most research in this field concerning gender and complementarian church governance. Research by Kristin Aune in 2001 described the construction of gender in Newfrontiers; it is, along with my own Masters research, the only academic treatment of Newfrontiers women. Kristin Aune describes the use of the Jezebel narrative in 1 and 2 Kings as part of the network’s self-understanding of women who seek power in churches and marriage.

Hearing the testimony of the research participants allowed for the construction of the primary theme in the research: making a place. This theme is expanded upon by describing it in terms of epistemic justice. The women can be understood as suffering epistemic injustice that they negotiate using the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. A hermeneutic of Newfrontiers women is created from the data and a new reading of the story of Jezebel is offered. The research suggests that this is not a fitting way to describe women in Newfrontiers but rather the biblical character of Elizabeth is suitable.