Open Friendship: Jürgen Moltmann's Overture to Feminist Theology Today

This paper argues that Jürgen Moltmann’s concept of “open friendship” represents an overlooked overture to feminist theology today. As a “law of grace,” it invokes “the righteousness of the kingdom of God” through mutuality, equity, and justice in human relations. In particular, Jesus’ “open friendship” inspires a spirituality of resilience and eschatological hope to counter the sexism and misogyny in our cultural imaginary today. To mount this argument, I consider three encounters between Jesus and women in John’s Gospel: the Samaritan woman at the well, the women at the cross, and Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. I contend that these encounters carve a feminist via salutis of forgiveness and conversion, of gathering in sorrow and solidarity, and of rising up to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s life-giving Spirit. In sum, I commend “open friendship” as Moltmann’s invitation to pursue a radically transformative feminist theology of grace.