Redeeming Singleness: Postmodern Pastoral Care and Counseling for Never-Married Single Women

Have you made a New Years resolution to get married out of nowhere? Did it work? When the author turned thirty she put getting married on her New Years resolution list not because she wanted to get married or had a boyfriend but because of social pressure in which she lived. Social pressure made her think that if she wanted to ever get married it was better to do so sooner than later. For three consecutive years she prayed about it and made efforts to form relationships. After three years passed by she was still single and unhappy. As she reflected on her unhappiness she finally realized that she was not happy because she was not able to accomplish a goal that was ultimately out of her control. How absurd it was to put get married on my New Years resolution!? As she eliminated marriage from her New Years resolutions and focused on what she really wanted to do with her life her energy level was boosted. Although she did not have any tool to frame her singleness she happened to choose the best course for her. Only if she knew the socially constructed characteristics of marriage the first three years of her thirties would have been different. The author hopes ministers and never-married single women can learn what we think is normal is a very contextual product. The author invites never-married single women to own their own stories instead of being owned by metanarratives in their lives. Too often single women in Korean churches are marginalized by a theology that promotes marriage and family as keys to happiness. This book weaves empirical data narrative theory and personal experience to liberate single women from the patriarchal norms of Korean and Korean-American congregations. A practical guide to empowering single women toward more faithful and life-giving roles in the church. A significant contribution to feminist practical theology for Korean and Korean-American congregations. --Duane R. Bidwell PhD Claremont School of Theology Redeeming Singleness offers a critical counter-narrative to the dominant patriarchy which undermines the full humanity of never-married single women. Being good women is more than looking pretty and having to serve their families--a powerful message that calls for empowerment of women and for transformation of the church to embrace all people with divine hospitality justice and love. Whether married or not I want my daughter to be a person of her own right and authority! --K. Samuel Lee PhD Claremont School of Theology HyoJu Lee is an adjunct professor at Mokwon University in Daejeon South Korea. She is ordained by Korean Methodist Church. She obtained her MDiv from Drew University and PhD from Claremont School of Theology.