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The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.

Wil Gafney

The Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. is a biblical scholar whose work focuses on translation of the scriptures for congregations and lay readers, womanist and feminist biblical interpretation and, women who prophesied in ancient Israel and the ancient Afro-Asiatic world. She is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church and translator of its biblical selections; the first two volumes, Year A and W (a stand-alone volume) were published in 2021. Volume B was published in July 2023 and C in July 2024. She is the author of Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to Women of the Torah and of the Throne, a commentary on Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah in the Wisdom series; Daughters of Miriam: Women Prophets in Ancient Israel; and co-editor of The Peoples’ Bible and The Peoples’ Companion to the Bible. The second volume of Womanist Midrash focusing on women in the Former Prophets: Joshua Judges, Samuel and Kings is expected in October 2024.

Dr. Gafney is an Episcopal priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and licensed in the Diocese of Texas and, a former Army chaplain and congregational pastor in the AME Zion Church. A former member of the Dorshei Derekh Reconstructionist Minyan of the Germantown Jewish Center in Philadelphia, she has co-taught courses with and for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Seminary in Wyncote, PA. Her lectures and sermons are widely sought after in academic and Jewish and Christian congregational spaces in the US and in the UK. She is a public facing religious scholar, preacher, teacher, activist and, an amateur watercolorist.

Read Dr. Gafney’s Bio | High Resolution Image

Wil’s Latest Post

The Widow’s Cry

4 August The Widows Cry Proper 13: Ruth 1:15–22; Psalm 44:1–4, 8, 17, 23–26; Acts 6:1–6; Luke 18:1–8 (AWL)     May God who is Majesty, Mercy, and Mystery speak words of life, love, and liberation through these words. Amen. Come, let us talk story. The story I will tell you is not my story but it is all of…

Wil’s Latest Books

NEW! A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year C | Preorder Now

A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church CThe final installment in the critically acclaimed lectionary series that focuses on women’s stories. 

In this third volume of a three-volume lectionary, widely praised womanist bible scholar and priest Wilda Gafney selects scripture readings that emphasize women’s stories. Focusing especially on the Gospel of Luke, Year C of A Women’s Lectionary features Gafney’s fresh, inclusive, and thought-provoking translations of every reading, alongside commentary on each reading. Designed for liturgical use or scriptural study, this resource offers a new perspective on the Bible and the liturgical year.

“Gafney’s paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come.” —National Catholic Reporter

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, when completed, will be a three-year lectionary. Order Year C from Amazon. This title will be released  released July 2, 2024.

Follow this link for a complete Lectionary in a single year in a single volume.

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year A | Order Now

A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church - A

What would it look like if women built a lectionary focusing on women’s stories?

What does it look like to tell the good news through the stories of women who are often on the margins of scripture and often set up to represent bad news? How would a lectionary centering women’s stories, chosen with womanist and feminist commitments in mind, frame the presentation of the scriptures for proclamation and teaching?

The scriptures are androcentric, male-focused, as is the lectionary that is dependent upon them. As a result, many congregants know only the biblical men’s stories told in the Sunday lectionary read in their churches. A more expansive, more inclusive lectionary will remedy that by introducing readers and hearers of scripture to “women’s stories” in the scriptures.

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, when completed, will be a three-year lectionary. Order Year A from Amazon. This title released August 1, 2021.

Follow this link for a complete Lectionary in a single year in a single volume.

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year B | Order Now

Womanist Lectionary B cover

The second installment in the critically praised lectionary series that focuses on women’s stories.

In this second volume of the three-volume Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, widely praised womanist bible scholar and priest Wil Gafney selects scripture readings that emphasize women’s stories. Focusing especially on the Gospel of Mark, Year B of A Women’s Lectionary features Gafney’s fresh, inclusive, and thought-provoking translations of every reading, alongside commentary on each reading. Designed for liturgical use or scriptural study, this resource offers a new perspective on the Bible and the liturgical year.

“Gafney’s paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come.”
National Catholic Reporter

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, when completed, will be a three-year lectionary. Order Year B from Amazon. This title was released July 18, 2023.

Follow this link for a complete Lectionary in a single year in a single volume.

Womanist Midrash Cover

Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne! Details/Order 

Womanist Midrash, volume 2

Womanist Midrash, Volume 2: A Reintroduction to the Women of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings (release November 12, 2024) Details/Order 

Dr. Gafney’s commentary on Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Details/Order

Select Sermons

Collateral Damage

September 18, 2022
Collateral Damage: A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, Princeton
(sermon text)

After Roe: Freedom and Justice for Some

June 26, 2022
Third Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity Episcopal Church Fort Worth
(sermon text)

They Call Us Witches: The Not-A-Witch of Endor

October 3, 2023
Answering the Call for Human Thriving|HBCU Day, Brite Divinity School Chapel
(sermon text)

Saving Joseph and all the Queer Kids

August 13, 2023
Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sunday, Trinity Episcopal Church Fort Worth
(sermon text)