Today in Lent Madness it's a 19th century reformer taking on a 16th century Reformer (see what we did there?). It's an intriguing matchup between an educator on the forefront of the Women's Rights movement and a theologian on the forefront of the Protestant Reformation. Who will advance to the Saintly Sixteen? That, dear friends, is up to you!
Yesterday, in what may well be considered the biggest upset thus far, Franz Jägerstätter narrowly took down Joan of Arc 52% to 48%. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an official Cinderella of the 2017 bracket -- and rather than a glass slipper he's wearing double umlauts.
Amelia Bloomer
Born to devout Presbyterian parents in 1818 in New York, Amelia Bloomer was taught by her mother at home and given basic instruction in a village school. Bloomer worked as a teacher and a governess. When she married, the vows omitted, at the bride’s declaration, the promise to obey her husband. She became an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Seneca Falls.
Bloomer’s passion was the issue of temperance—she recognized the damage alcohol abuse brought to communities and relationships. She attended the Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls. While she initially rejected much of the platform from Seneca Falls, the seeds of equality were planted and nurtured by Bloomer’s faith and her community.
Realizing the power of newspapers, Bloomer began publishing The Lily in 1849, much to the mocking consternation of male journalists, who deemed her project a failure. But The Lily bloomed, providing a national platform to address women’s rights, temperance, women’s education, and double standards between women and men. The Lily’s coverage of a new fashion for women that allowed for movement and less restriction went viral; subscriptions for her paper doubled when more mainstream newspapers ran stories about the ensemble eventually called bloomers.
In her newspaper, Bloomer publicly countered arguments from clergy who used scripture to condemn women’s fashion. Well-versed in scripture, Bloomer wrote extensively about verse traditionally used to demean women. She recognized that women’s fashion issues were symptomatic of a larger issue—women were not seen as independent, capable citizens in the eyes of the government or the Church.
Amelia was a devoted Episcopalian, challenging clergy who opposed women’s rights. Her Christian faith was fuel for her commitment to moral and social change, and she continued to champion women’s rights, preaching that one day, God would “bring about the emancipation of women, and make her equal in the power and dominion that she was in the beginning.” She died in 1894; twenty-six years later, women won the right to vote.
Collect for Amelia Bloomer
O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servant Amelia. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Philipp Melanchthon
Edmund Hillary had Tenzing Norgay. Ginger had Fred. Joey had Monica and Chandler. And Martin Luther had Philipp Melanchthon.
In the shadow of Martin Luther was Philipp Melanchthon, who wrote some of the most important theological works of the Protestant movement. Melanchthon received a thorough classical education, studying philosophy, rhetoric, Greek, jurisprudence, and medicine. He was eligible for a master’s degree in 1512 but was denied the degree because he was only fifteen at the time. Four years later, he was finally awarded his master’s degree, and he began to study theology in earnest.
A year after Luther posted the 95 Theses, Melanchthon was invited to the university in Wittenberg, where he and Luther became fast friends and faithful collaborators. In 1521 Melanchthon published the first edition of Theological Commonplaces—the first systematic explanation of Reformation thought. Luther said of this work, “Next to Holy Scripture, there is no better book.” This text became the essential theological textbook for understanding the Reformation across Europe. It is possible that the comprehensive quality of this work is one reason that Luther never wrote his own systematic theology.
Melanchthon was part of the team that drafted the Augsburg Confession—the most widely accepted confessional document of the Lutheran tradition to this day. He also wrote The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, which is also considered a binding document for many Lutherans.
Not content with merely reforming the Church, Melanchthon also worked to improve education across Germany, writing a guide for elementary education that served as a model for schools across Germany. In addition, he provided guidance for the founding and renewal of several important universities.
Following Luther’s death, conflicts within the Reformation movement cast a shadow over Melanchthon’s work. On his deathbed, he wrote, “You shall be delivered from sins, and be freed from the acrimony and fury of theologians.” Following his death in 1560, Melanchthon was buried alongside Luther in Castle Church, Wittenberg.
Collect for Philipp Melanchthon
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit gives to one the word of knowledge, and to another the insight of wisdom, and to another the steadfastness of faith. We praise you for the gifts of grace you have imparted to your servant Philipp Melanchthon, and pray that by his teaching we may be led to a fuller knowledge of the truth we have seen in your Son Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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242 comments on “Amelia Bloomer vs. Philipp Melanchthon”
Melanchthon is one of my favorite Reformation theologians, and the task of systematizing Protestant theology is the equivalent of herding cats--no wonder he came to abhor the wrangling of theologians! He also recognized the importance of education for all, something we need to be reminded of in today's world. A true humanist, in short. But Amelia Bloomer pressed for the recognition of half God's people in line with the church's first great reformer, the Apostle Paul (Galatians 3:28) so forcefully that the theologians of today are still scandalized by her deeds. That, too, is the work of the Holy Spirit, which often takes surprising forms. Imagine transforming an article of clothing into a token (a sacramental?) of our unity in Christ. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes!
I'm also from Western New York and know the effects of alcohol on families, but like others did not know about her journalism efforts. Have fought for Equal Rights for most of my life. As much as I appreciate the works of Phillip, I had to vote for Amelia today.
The hardest choice so far. I want them both to win. They both contributed so much in times when it was difficult to do so.
Melanchthon's theological works are impressive, but I really have to vote for Amelia, the 19th century's inventor of today's pantsuits, and a "mother" of our continuing struggle for equality for women!
Amelia a woman before her time. Thank God we had women like here because who knows where we would be today. I always wondered who designed the bloomers.
Need more information. . . I'll be baaaaack. . .
Go Amelia Go!
It's easy to see why Bloomer is clobbering Melanchthon. I'll usually take social activism over academic theology any time. (Interesting to see where the term "bloomers" came from.)
However, I note that many of the people giving Bloomer her landslide are women supporting her alleged feminism. I'm not sure Bloomer would consider herself a feminist by today's definition. But then, I'm a guy, so what do I know?
Right, that seems to be the voting pattern, with personal faith & actions speaking to us at this time of moral crisis, more than historically recognized figures.
Two people equally devoted to the fulfillment of great social movements of their times. Hard choice for me. The bloomers won me over.
Okay, I'm ready now. . . still close to a 'coin flip decision,' but I'm going for Philip. While greatly admiring Amelia's determination and dedication to 'the cause,' I'm struck that much of it was at the urging of her forward-thinking, Quaker husband, Dexter (God bless his heart!). There are LOTS of social reformers who do saintly works. . . but I'm going for the the guy who helped formulate the premises of those decisions and still was able to break with some of Luther's divisive judgments.
(Can the SEC make this any more convoluted?!)
Okay, I'm ready now. . . still close to a 'coin flip decision,' but I'm going for Philip. While greatly admiring Amelia's determination and dedication to 'the cause,' I'm struck that much of it was at the urging of her forward-thinking, Quaker husband, Dexter (God bless his heart!). There are LOTS of social reformers who do saintly works. . . but I'm going for the the guy who helped formulate the premises of those decisions and still was able to break with some of Luther's divisive judgments.
(Can the SEC make this any more convoluted?!)
That low key Friends reference at the start of Melanchthon
I voted for Amelia because she showed the injustice that even the Church was subjected to, she worked hard and fought courageously... she is truly a great role model.
Because there are still those today who do not see women as capable and independent (I have experienced them firsthand) I voted for Amelia!
I voted for bloomer because she showed many people what women could be
Founder of proto-pantsuit nation...Amelia!
I have deep respect for Philip. He was the theological braintrust of the German Reformation.
But I had to vote for the woman who wrote, " Alas! Poor Adam, while it required all the persuasive powers and eloquence of the subtle tempter, all the promises of wisdom, and knowledge, and power to seduce the so-called "weaker vessel" from the right path, all that was necessary to secure his downfall was to simply offer him the apple."
Amelia has been a favourite of this snarky feminist since I read that in University.
I, too, had the "obey" vows taken out of our ceremony... not because I'm so much of a feminist per se... I just knew that was one we humanly wouldn't be able to uphold, and I refused to lie to God in my wedding ceremony. Much to our nice Methodist minister's chagrin.
Let's not turn this into a battle of the sexes. Pick the most qualified, not merely voting for a man or a woman.
I'm an old-school feminist and admire Amelia, but Philipp is getting my vote. He's one of those essential people who doesn't get the history-book headlines.
Love the blogger's introduction. "Ginger had Fred." Yeah, I see what you did there....
Re Tenzing Norgay, it's cool to remember that (the awesome) Edmund Hillary always referred to him as "my partner" rather than "my guide." And when they reached the summit, Hillary took a photo of Norgay but did not have Norgay take a picture of him. I suspect that's because Hillary knew if there were photos of both of them, the press would choose him. Instead they had to credit Norgay.
"like"
As a proud Rochesterian (home to Susan B. Anthony and short jaunt from Seneca Falls), I had to cast my vote for Amelia. I respect her knowledge and use of Scripture in arguing for women's equality. I do appreciate learning about Herr Melanchthon.
Reading of Philip;s concern for education, I was thankful for his work.. but ..Amelia spoke to concerns of her time and yet still of ours today...
Would that she could speak with the current administration!!!both present and past...
My mother and grandmother used to refer to women's pants as"bloomers". So .... Bloomers it is !
As a librarian who relies on the Amelia Bloomer Project to help bring women's rights as human rights to the forefront, this was an easy pick.
If you were to ask me whom I'd promote? Amelia has my vote!
For women's emancipation, education, equality, and comfortable clothes we give thanks! My vote goes to Amelia.
Amen!
Ameli; she did not say "obey", neither did I and 50 years ago, that was not common. How could I vote any other way!
That is Amelia...darn my arthritic hands!!
No contest here! A woman, an Episcopalian, and an Iowan. I am thankful for all the women who paved the way so that I can do what I do each day.
I voted for Amelia Bloomer, strong advocate for women and strong in faith. Also, she encountered the Fashion Police and prevailed....bloomers led to kullottes, skorts, city shorts, etc.
'Her Christian faith was fuel for her commitment to moral and social change, and she continued to champion women’s rights, preaching that one day, God would “bring about the emancipation of women, and make her equal in the power and dominion that she was in the beginning.” '
Bloomer!!