ABSTRACT

Lesbian theology developed as a distinct body of theology in primary relationship with feminist rather than gay male liberal or liberationist theology. Relationality presupposes relativity because everything is relative to everything else, nothing is static. An understanding of the divine as erotic power requires a sex-affirming ethic in which non-abusive sexual pleasure is a moral good. Carter Heyward's theology is impressively non-individualistic. She manages to centre the divine in the midst of human relationship without identifying the divine with human relationships. Heyward regards friendship as a synonym for right, mutual, relation. This is because, for many women, friendship is the most exact experience people have of mutual relationship. Mary E. Hunt believes that it is vital to 'sacramentalise' friendship, by which she means pay it attention through public expression both by celebrating its formation and commemorating its loss. This will encourage communities to take friendship seriously and make people accountable for them.