Welcome to my website
Elaine Storkey
Philosopher, sociologist and theologian, known for her lecturing, writing and broadcasting. Her books include Women in a Patriarchal World and Meeting God in Matthew.
Latest reflection · Woman Alive magazine · 22 May 2024
Hagar: a woman for all seasons
Genesis 16. 1-16; Genesis 21 8-21
One of my students did a research project on the lives of marginalised women in Addis Ababa. She found that few of the group she engaged with had any knowledge of the Bible or much contact with Christianity. So, she asked the group leader to read some bible stories about women with them, to find out what they thought. When they got together afterwards she asked if they could identify with any of the women they had read about. Almost unanimously, the answer was yes, they could identify with Hagar.
In our darkest moments we are not alone; we can reach out to God and find in the bleakness his blessings and comfort.
Writing
Columns, Bible reflections, tributes and essays, written for Church Times, Dagen, Woman Alive and The Independent, gathered here as an archive.
Browse by publication
Books
From What's Right with Feminism in 1985 to her commentary on Matthew's Gospel, Elaine's books bring philosophy, sociology and theology to bear on faith, gender and justice.
Meeting God in Matthew
SPCK, 2022
An accessible introduction to Matthew's Gospel, with questions for discussion and reflection in every chapter.
Women in a Patriarchal World
Twenty-five empowering stories from the Bible
SPCK, 2020
Twenty-five women in the Bible, how they responded to the crises they faced, and how they can act as models for today.
Scars Across Humanity
Understanding and overcoming violence against women
SPCK, 2015. IVP Academic, 2018
Winner of the Christianity Today Book Award 2019, Politics and Public Life.
Earlier books
- Origins of Difference: The Gender Debate RevisitedBaker Academic, 2001
- Conversations on Christian FeminismZondervan, 1999
- The Search for IntimacyHodder & Stoughton, 1993
- Mary's Story, Mary's SongZondervan, 1993
- Losing a ChildLion Publishing, 1989
- What's Right with FeminismSPCK, 1985
Life and work
Elaine Storkey is a philosopher, sociologist and theologian, having held posts at the Open University, King's College, London, and the University of Oxford.
In 1997 she became President of Tearfund, and has since been involved in monitoring aid, relief and advocacy work in countries of the Global South. In 2010 she and her husband Alan became founder members of Restored, an organisation committed to advocating against violence to women.
Academic posts
- 2003-2007
- Senior Research FellowWycliffe Hall, Oxford University
- 1999-2001
- Lecturer in Theology and Religious StudiesKing's College, London
- 1992-1999
- Executive DirectorLondon Institute for Contemporary Christianity
- 1987-1992
- Lecturer in Social SciencesThe Open University
Qualifications
- BA Philosophy, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1966
- MA Philosophy, McMaster University, Ontario, 1967
- DD Sociology and Theology, Lambeth, 1998
- Fellow of Aberystwyth University, 2013
On air and in print
Elaine has broadcast on BBC radio since 1986, on Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Radio Wales, Radio Scotland, Radio Ulster and the World Service, and has contributed to Thought for the Day since 1987.
She has written and presented documentaries for BBC television and the World Service, including St Paul for BBC 2 and Faiths in Conflict for the World Service.
Radio
- Thought for the Day
- Woman's Hour
- The Moral Maze
- Beyond Belief
- Sunday
- Front Row
Television
- Songs of Praise
- Newsnight
- The Big Question
- Soul of Britain
Columns
- The Independent
- Church Times
- Dagen, Sweden
Jo and Lyn Lusi, Congo, Heal Africa
A story that must be told
Amongst the many daily demands on time, I am struggling to fulfil a task, which I see as my chief calling at present. For the last thirteen years, I have been writing a biography of someone whose life is the best illustration I know of deep human love and committed Christian faithfulness.
Hello. I'm Elaine
This is Elaine Storkey's site. It will grow as an archive of writings, articles, resources, broadcasts, and videos. It is being created to provide those who have asked for some of her content. If you have any links or content of hers that is not enclosed then please send them through the contact page for it to be collated. Thanks.