Chang-Learning From Her Story Qualitative Research On Female Pastors Life Stories As Teaching Resources For Theological Education In Taiwan

2016·2.5 MB·English

by  Yu-Hui Chang

LEARNING FROM HER STORY:
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON FEMALE PASTORS’ LIFE STORIES AS TEACHING
RESOURCES FOR THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN TAIWAN
A Dissertation
presented to
the Faculty of
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Yu-Hui Chang
May 2016
Copyright © 2016 by Yu-Hui Chang
This dissertation completed by
Yu-Hui Chang
has been presented to and accepted by the
faculty of Claremont School of Theology in
partial fulfillment of the requirements of the

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Faculty Committee

Frank Rogers, Jr. Chairperson

Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook Committee Member

Rosemary Radford Ruether Committee Member

Dean of the Faculty

Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook

May 2016
ABSTRACT

LEARNING FROM HER STORY:
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON FEMALE PASTORS’ LIFE STORIES AS
TEACHING RESOURCES FOR THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN TAIWAN
by
Yu-Hui Chang

This is a qualitative research study about the life stories of female ministers in Taiwan. The
purpose of this research is to learn about female pastors’ experiences of pastoring in Taiwan and
to submit these accounts to theological educators as teaching resources to teach and apply in
seminaries. This is also pioneering research since no one has done qualitative research about this
topic before and suggested how it might inform future theological education in Taiwan,
particularly of women. Nor has anyone related actual theological education of women in Taiwan
and women’s theories and female pedagogy in theological education.
This dissertation includes a research plan and discusses methods applied in this research.
It presents a literature review of women’s theories and theological education, interview data, and
educational applications and suggestions for theological education in Taiwan. The research
methods applied in this qualitative research are mainly based on the tradition of biography and
phenomenological study since the data includes both Taiwanese female clergies’ life stories and
their experiences which contain the data of some phenomena. The literature reviews include the
theories of women’s psychology and neuroscience studies and the research of women’s pedagogy
and spiritual formation in theological education. Because my background is in the Presbyterian
Church in Taiwan (PCT), I collected the data of female Taiwanese PCT clergy members’ life
stories. The educational applications and suggestions for theological education in Taiwan follow
the representation and analysis of the data. The educational applications and suggestions I suggest
connect the life stories and experiences of female pastors to the women’s theories relating to
theological education for female learners.
This qualitative research also contextualizes the US literature in the Taiwanese context.
The findings show that Taiwanese female ministers’ experiences, both positive and negative ones,
include very helpful practical information that theological educators can usefully integrate into
their teaching to better prepare female seminarians for ministry.
CONTENTS
List of Tables and Figures …................................................................................................x

Chapter
1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….1
2. Research Plan and Methods Applied in this Study …...…………………………..5
Research Plan of this Study………………………………………………………..5
Research Methods Chosen for this Study………………………………………...8
Research Methods Applied in this Study………………………………………...9
The Tradition of Biography……………………………………………………..9
Research Forms and Theories Applied in the Tradition of Biography
The Procedures of the Research in the Tradition of Biography
Analysis and Presentation of the Research Data in the Tradition of Biography
The Tradition of Phenomenological Study….…………………………………….17
Approaches in the Tradition of Phenomenological Study
Research Procedures of in the Tradition of Phenomenological Study
Analyzing and Presenting the Research Data in the Tradition of
Phenomenological Study
3. Literature Review on Women’s Theories: Psychology and Neuroscience…….…29
The Theories of Psychological Development of Women………………………...29
Literature Review of Women’s Psychological Development…………………..…29
Carol Gilligan’s Research
Robert Kegan’s Theory
Other Psychologists’ Contributions
The Relationship with Others and Self………..………………………………35
The Relationship with Others……………………………………………….36
Realizing the Differences among Others
Accepting the Varieties of Others
Building the Alternative Views for Others’ Differences
The Relationship with Self………………………………………………….44
Recognizing the True Self
Accepting the True Self
Revealing the True Self
Neuroscience Studies about Women….………………….……………………...52

vi
The Development, Organization, and Working System of the Brain………………52
Bottom-to-Top Organization
Back-to-Front Organization of the Cortex
Right-to-Left Organization of the Cortex
Neuroscientists’ Perspectives on Gender Differences………………………..59
Structural and Organization Differences
Behavior and Cognitive Differences
Other Views on Gender Differences of Neuroscience

4. Literature Review on the Theories of Women’s Pedagogy and
Spiritual Formation in Theological Education……………………………….....70
Literatures of Women’s Pedagogy and Spiritual Formation…………….70
The Pioneer Educator and Following Women Pedagogy Researchers
Other Feminist Educators and Theologians and Their Assertions
The Contribution of Female Spiritual Development Theory
Teaching Women in Theological Education…...…………………………………….77
Dialogue Process – A Way for Women to Voice Their Inner Thoughts
A Supporting Group – Strength for Women to Transform
Alternative Space – An Opening for Women to Learn More
Aesthetic Teaching – An Artist Manner for Women to be Authentic
Women’s Spiritual Growth within Theological Education……………….…………..96
Being a Listener – For the Voice Needs to Be Heard
Being a Supporter – For the Relationships Need to Be Connected
Being an Authentic Woman – For Authentic Self Needs to Be Revealed
Being an Artist – For Creativity Needs to Be Empowered

5. The Life Stories and Experiences of Female Ministers in Taiwan………...……108
Introduction to the Taiwanese Context
Taiwanese General Context: Population Analysis and Religious Context
The Taiwanese Women’s Context: The Influences of Traditional Views and the Rise
of Women’s Movements
The PCT Context of Theological Education and Female Pastors
Her Stories………………………………………………………………………118
The Stories of Married Han Tribe Female Ministers….……………………..119

vii
Story 1: Bonnie – A Lady Finding Balance between Family and Ministry
Story 2: Tiffany – A Young Mother Trying to Fulfill Multiple Roles in the Ministry
Story 3: Jenny – Finding her Identity in the Ministry
Story 4: Wendy – Facing Gender Inequality in her Ministry
The Stories of Married Indigenous Tribe Female Ministers….……………...136
Story 5: Lynn – A Pastor with a Mother’s Heart
Story 6: Isabella – A Dedicated and Brilliant Minister in the Village
Story 7: Kirsten – A Young Female Pastor Earning Credits from the Male Elders
Story 8: Holly – A Tough Woman Who Conquered Difficulties in her Ministry
The Stories of Single Han Tribe Female Ministers…………………………..160
Story 9: Yolanda – Her Sufferings in Life Became the Blessings in her Ministry
Story 10: Yvonne – A City Girl Adjusting to Country Life
Story 11: Faith – From Ministering Alone to Team Work
Story 12: Lily – Facing the Patriarchal Culture in the Church
What We Learned from their Stories ………………………………………….189
The Analysis of Interviewees’ Background…………………………………..189
The Advantages and Disadvantages/ Challenges in their Ministries…………191
The Advantages that the Female Pastors Find in their Ministries
The Disadvantages/ Challenges that the Female Pastors Find in their Ministries
Their Expectations for Theological Education…..…………………………….209
6. Educational Applications of this Research and Suggestions for
Theological Education in Taiwan……………………………………………...221
A Summary of Teaching Concepts from Women’s Theories……...………….221
Educational Applications for Theological Educators………………………….224
Be a Listener before Being a Speaker
Be a Supporter before Being a Teacher
Be Liberated before Liberating Others
Educational Suggestions for Theological Schools/ Seminaries………………...229
For Seminarians: Improve/ Increase the Courses about Practical Theology
For Ministers: Enhance Continuing Education
With Churches: Build up Good Relationships/ Partnerships
7. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………236
The Challenges of this Research
Research Limitations

viii
Further Research Directions/ Plans
Appendix…..……………………………………………………………………………243
A. Informed Consent Form
B.English Translation of Interviewees’ Primary Data
Bibliography….………………………………………………………………………...286
ix
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Table
1. Data analysis and representation in the tradition of biography……………….16-17
2. Moustakas’ model of representing research data……………………………26
3. Data analysis and representation in Phenomenological Study…….………….27-28
4. The gender ratio of the students enrolled at Taiwan Theological College and
Seminary………………………………………………………………………...116
5. The interviewees’ information……………………………………………..190-191
6. The advantages and disadvantages/challenges for female pastors in the
ministry…………………………………………………………………….192-193
7. Interviewees’ expectation of theological education…………………….....209-211

x