Upcoming Mutuality Themes

In times of great suffering, corruption, or uncertainty, Christian mystics rise up, speaking prophetically to the church and the world, paving the way for much-needed reform. Because the mystics often operated outside the normal rules or expectations of mainline church organizations, many faithful female mystics found space to write, do theology, lead reform, demand holiness in leaders, and serve God.

In this issue of Mutuality, we will examine the powerful impact of Christian mystics today and throughout history as they speak out against the confusion and evil of their times and meditate on the powerful influence theological mysticism can have in times of struggle. We welcome articles about specific female Christian mystics and their influence; articles that discuss the relative freedom female theological mystics had to write and contribute to theology compared to mainline church structures of their day; articles that discuss the powerful role theological mysticism and holiness movements have in influencing leaders, communities, and culture; articles about what Christian mystic teachings are relevant to the suffering we see today; or any other pieces relevant to this theme. We welcome authors of all backgrounds, cultures, denominations, and socioeconomic levels—both women and men. Together we will meditate on the rich heritage of the Christian mystics both contemporary and ancient. What are they saying to us today?

Article submission/query deadline: August 1, 2026

34.1 Spring 2027 | Broken Promises: Unveiling the “Prosperity Gospel” in Complementarian Theology

There is a growing—though by no means new—belief that any problems with the complementarian model of hierarchy and submission is due to our sinful inability to lead (men) and follow (women) in a godly way. The prevailing idea seems to be that “if men lead well and women submit correctly, all will be right with the world.” Countless pre-marital counseling curricula and marriage books go into detail explaining the importance of husband and wife taking on their new roles. The implicit promise of a happy, healthy marriage leaves many earnest couples at a loss when things don’t go as expected: they followed the formula, so why didn’t it “work”? How do we understand the countless healthy marriages that seem to be complementarian in name only, where husband and wife act mutually in their daily decisions and practice?

In this issue of Mutuality, we will be exploring the promises embedded in complementarian theology. Do they create biblical expectations or set us up for disappointment? Do the problems with hierarchy rest in our inability to live up to our calling, or are they a sign that the problem lies with hierarchy itself? Share your reflections on these questions, meditate on what God has actually promised us, or dig into the impact of the prosperity gospel on our expectations for our lives. We welcome authors of all backgrounds, cultures, denominations, and socioeconomic levels—both women and men. Together let’s examine how we can think about our relationships and how to best serve our brothers and sisters who are earnestly seeking to have God-honoring marriages.

Article submission/query deadline: November 15, 2026

34.2 Summer 2027 | Not For Sale

34.4 Winter 2027 | In His Image

Article submission/query deadline: August 1, 2027

Submissions will not be reviewed until after the submission deadline.