Book review
- Latimer trust
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Deaconess Margaret Rodgers: A Woman in a Man’s World, Erin Mollenhauer (ed.) Latimer, 2024.
This short book provides a portrait of the remarkable life of service of Deaconess Margaret Rodgers (1939–2014). The book is based on talks originally given at the Donald Robinson Library Lectures at Moore Theological College in 2023. The purpose of the lectures was to ‘honour one of the most significant women, and one of the most significant laypeople, in the history of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney’ (2).
Four contributors each take up a different aspect of Rodgers’ inspirational service in Sydney Diocese. Peter Jensen begins by giving an overview of Margaret’s ministry throughout her life. He includes a short account of Margaret’s character from her work with him as the Archbishop’s media officer. Colin Bale gives a brief historical overview of the Deaconess Institute in Sydney and then Deaconess House, where Margaret first taught and subsequently became Principal. Bale describes her innovative and pioneering spirit which helped bring necessary reforms to Deaconess House and includes personal reflections from her former
students. Kara Hartley describes Rodgers’ influence in the different spheres of Sydney Diocese, including her notable appointment as the first woman to be elected to the Synod’s standing committee. Rod Benson finishes by giving attention to Rodgers’ work as CEO of Anglican Media and Archbishop’s Media Officer. Rodgers, described as ‘the secret weapon behind Sydney Anglican’s high profile in the media’ (37), was convinced that the Archbishop’s role in public life should be as a ‘Christian theologian and preacher who is willing to bring his Bible-informed Christian mind into public discussions of the critical issues of the day’ (40). Benson closes with summarising Rodgers’ indefatigable service with an overview of her work in Ecumenism.
Each contribution demonstrates how Rodgers took seriously her responsibility to use her influence and gifts in all the contexts which the Lord led her to. I felt the two aspects of Rodgers’ fearless service and influence that were most interesting were, first, Rodgers being ‘a woman in a man’s world’ in the church, and, secondly, her skills in bringing the voice of the church to a secularist society. Margaret sought change in the church, change to women being theologically educated and change in attitudes to women being in ministry. In this it seemed Margaret was not driven by a resentment of her male colleagues or a desire for self-interest (she never pursued ordination herself) but was motivated by a deep conviction about the importance of theological training for women in ministry. Can we learn from Rodgers’ tireless example of belief in the necessity and goodness of the ministry of women in our own churches? We can also be encouraged by Rodgers’ example that through her gifts and shrewdness, she was able to significantly platform the Christian voice in secularist media with remarkable skill.
Rodgers’ public ministry is the focus in this book, and readers may be disappointed that, apart from a short passage in the first chapter, there is little attention given to Rodger’s own character and personal ministry. However, the writers succeed in not lionising Rodgers or eclipsing her with her achievements. Instead, her faithful service and devotion to Jesus Christ is held out as the underlying motivation for all her service.
This is a very encouraging book which warmly celebrates the life of a woman who poured herself out in brave and self-giving Christian service. As with all biographies, especially Christian ones, we must be careful to not be disheartened by reading ourselves into another’s circumstances, for which God has not equipped or called us. However, Margaret’s life is inspiring for all of God’s people, whether male or female, lay or ordained, because we are reminded how we are all called to be good stewards of the influence God has given us in the contexts he calls us to. In an era where we see an increasingly secularised church and secularist society, may Rodgers’ example of using her influence to be salt and light in her generation give us hope and courage to be the same.
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