Clapham School Seniors Josie Etzel, Taline Labib, and Tia Labib will defend their thesis projects on Tuesday, May 19 from 12:15-2:35pm. Below are interviews with each Senior about their thesis topic, writing process, and plans for after graduation.
Josie Etzel
What are you arguing in your Senior Thesis?
I’m arguing in favor of women’s ordination through a biblical and pastoral approach.
What inspired you to write about this topic?
Several things! I never thought about this topic until a few years ago, when my sister began pursuing ordination herself. It hadn’t yet occurred to me that women’s ordination was a controversial practice until I noticed the absence of female pastors in my own church atmosphere. Additionally, many of my own experiences, struggles, and questions as a woman in the church ultimately led me to the question: what does the Bible intend for women in terms of ordained leadership?
What has surprised or challenged you in your research and writing process? What have you learned?
Since women’s ordination isn’t a primary theological issue (as opposed to, say, salvation), I was amazed by how much I hadn’t learned about it already. Consequently, I’ve also learned that I simply can’t address every single piece of evidence in the space of one thesis. The sheer amount of things to discuss and questions to ask are truly a testament to how complex and longstanding this debate is.
What are some objections you have encountered? How have you worked to respond to those counterarguments winsomely?
The objections I’ve encountered the most are appeals to places in Scripture that seem to bar women from ordination. And, very importantly, I wouldn’t be advocating for women’s ordination if I believed it contradicted the Bible! When I approach these objections, I want to emphasize that my argument shares the same origin: following the teachings of God’s Word. The thing to note is that reading these passages at face value fails to capture their full meaning. When we understand them through the eyes of their original audience, we can see that ordaining women really does uphold what Scripture teaches.
What do you hope people will take away from your thesis?
My hope is that people will come away from my thesis with the realization that women have always been active in the Church—especially as leaders! There’s so much that isn’t typically taught or talked about regarding women in the Bible and in Christian history, but their contributions have been integral to the Church as we know it today.
What are your plans for next year?
I will be attending Wheaton College with a major in English Writing, a double minor in Theatre and Theology, and a fellowship with the Public Humanities and Arts cohort of Aequitas.
Taline Labib
What are you arguing in your Senior Thesis?
In my thesis, I am arguing that teens can combat detachment caused by an individualistic mindset, an improper relationship to technology, and a distorted sense of self with practical methods like initiating meaningful events and service to others in order to experience authentic Christian brotherhood.
What inspired you to write about this topic?
I was tired of seeing the goodness and potential in people going unnoticed and unnurtured. I was tired of my generation being passive spectators of their own lives, just because it is easier and safer, when the Lord calls them through His Word to be holy together. Most of all, I was tired of feeling like a spectator in my own life and relationships when I saw the transformation that real brotherhood can bring. I wrote about the topic of detachment and brotherhood to take back my generation’s power and show us that we don’t have to sit and wait for the circumstances to change to feel the love of God through fellowship.
What has surprised or challenged you in your research and writing process? What have you learned?
I had a very clear picture of the impact I wanted to make through my thesis, but synthesizing that into a logical, systematic argument was a challenge, and I found myself revising the main points of my argument several times. After that hurdle, however, the thesis drafting process was not as daunting as I expected, and after working steadfastly on each individual section, I stepped back and was pleasantly surprised to see a full thesis that came together almost without me realizing it!
What are some objections you have encountered? How have you worked to respond to those counterarguments winsomely?
While my topic is not particularly contentious, the biggest objection I have encountered is the question of plausibility. It is not that teens do not want to live out brotherhood; it is that it seems, despite their best attempts, impossible to do in the world we live in. I have worked to respond to that argument by simply holding space for the challenge we are facing, as if looking at a mountain we are about to climb. Of course, it feels scary, daunting, and practically impossible, but do we not still take the first step? I recognize the vulnerability that underlies the counterarguments, and it is from that lens that I encourage my readers to try and give them the tools they need to start climbing in whatever capacity they can.
What do you hope people will take away from your thesis?
I pray, most importantly, that my thesis reminds us that we are not powerless. We are strong enough, through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us, to go against the current and fight together; In the Body of Christ, we are not alone.
What are your plans for next year?
God willing, I am planning to attend Wheaton College in the Fall, with a double major in Psychology and Theology and a minor in Studio Art, as well as a fellowship in Public Arts and Humanities.
Tia Labib
What are you arguing in your Senior Thesis?
In my Senior Thesis, I am arguing that Church unity is essential to the future of the Church, that unity must be aided by the teaching and tradition of the Apostles and Church Fathers, and that the Church must unite around the Eucharist, common service, and a joint calendar.
What inspired you to write about this topic?
I have been very passionate about theology and Church unity in the past few years. Through my time in the Upper School, this passion grew substantially, especially through our Theology sequence. Thus, when brainstorming ideas for my thesis, I knew this topic would be something I would love to write about.
What has surprised or challenged you in your research and writing process? What have you learned?
Something that surprised me was how often my argument would change. In the beginning, I thought I was set on a certain argument, but the more I wrote, the more clarity I had on what I truly wanted to convey. As someone who usually does not enjoy a lot of writing, I learned that it is easier and more enjoyable when you are writing about something you care about deeply.
What are some objections you have encountered? How have you worked to respond to those counterarguments winsomely?
Some objections I have encountered are that the Church is already spiritually united through Christ and that complete unity is impossible to achieve. I have worked to respond to these counterarguments winsomely by demonstrating, both biblically and extrabiblically, how Christ and the Early Church desired a deeper form of unity than what we are currently seeing. I worked to respond to the latter by emphasizing that while it will be extremely difficult to execute, our comfort should not take precedence over the desire of Christ.
What do you hope people will take away from your thesis?
I hope that people will consider familiarizing themselves with the Church Fathers’ writings if they haven’t already, and recognize that Church unity is more significant than they might have thought.
What are your plans for next year?
God willing, I will be attending Northwestern University and majoring in Biological Sciences on a Pre-Medicine track.
If you would like to learn more about Clapham School’s Senior Thesis take a few minutes to read last week’s post, “The Senior Thesis: What is it and Why Does it Matter?”