This book explores the unprecedented challenge of involuntary singleness for women, and the implications of disregarding this challenge for the Christian (and particularly, baptistic) communities of faith. It argues that these communities not only fail involuntarily single women, but also in so doing, suffer a serious detriment to their own communal health and Christian witness. Taking the challenge of involuntary singleness as a test case, this book explores the method of convictional theology and argues for a holistic framework that can draw together the personal, communal, and visionary spheres of human existence. Although primarily a work of theological ethics, it also draws from a number of different disciplines, including cultural studies and sociology as well as intersections of science and theology. ""This is a great book on a number of levels, and Andronoviene's warnings to the churches about the 'male-female imbalance' in the pews is as relevant here in the United States as it is in her native Lithuania."" --Nancey Murphy, author of Bodies and Souls? Or Spirited Bodies? ""Andronoviene has addressed the issues of singleness in evangelical communities. From pulpits we hear facile language about the church family, which excludes many in the church who are not within the nuclear family and feel alienated by the rhetoric of church leaders. This book offers profound observations on issues such as 'happiness' within the believing community and deserves to be read and acted upon in every church."" --Keith G. Jones, International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS), Czech Republic ""This is an essential study for all those concerned with issues of human sexuality and the making and sustaining of personal relationships."" --Paul S. Fiddes, University of Oxford, UK ""At a time of unprecedented social and cultural change, we urgently need intelligent and informed commentary on the realities of the single life. Lina Andronoviene's book offers a bold and constructive new theology for Christian communities today."" --Elaine Graham, Chester University, UK ""Deeply learned, this wide-ranging book explores a critical issue in the life of the church which has long been neglected. . . . I commend this richly textured work as a fine resource for scholar-practitioners who seek a more expansive understanding of the human condition."" --Molly T. Marshall, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas Lina Andronoviene, is Lecturer in Practical Theology at the Scottish Baptist College. She is also Director of Studies at the International Baptist Theological Study Center of the European Baptist Federation, and the Director of Non-residential Bible School of the Lithuanian Baptist Union. A musician and artist as well as a theologian, she remains involved in the wider church life, and speaks at conferences on various aspects of ethics, spirituality, and theology of culture.
