Turning towards the Tomb: Priesthood and Gender

Abstract

This article offers some broad theological reflections on gender and priest hood through the lens of three turns. The first turn is that of Mary Magda lene away from the gardener and towards her Lord. This is described as a turn which broke the male/female gaze. The second turn is Butler's turn towards gendered subjectivity which brings with it melancholia from which there is no escape. Stuart argues that Mary Magdalene's second turn is a turn away from a subjectivity grounded in gender towards a subject ivity grounded in Christ, a turn made by all those who receive the sacra ment of baptism. The third turn is the traditional turn of the priest towards the east, a turn which obscures the gender of the priest and orientates those gathered towards a reality in which gender is deprived of any ulti mate status. Stuart argues that the turn of the priest is a re-enactment of the turn of Mary Magdalene and that priesthood is essentially a non-gendered order.