Clothed With Christ: A Theological Perspective on Women and Power by Gusti Linnea Newquist

When I became a church professional in my early 20s, my brilliant seamstress of a mother made two business suits for me. One was dark pinkish-red with a skirt hemline just below the knees. She called it my “power suit.” The other was velvety beige with a long skirt and a beautiful quilted jacket. She called it my “soft power suit.”

My mother knew that clothes were powerful. She knew the energy of the pink suit was electric and would inspire the same kind of energy in me, empowering me to speak my truth boldly. She knew she literally was sewing the strength and the encouragement of her own powerful motherly love into the very fabric of my physical identity as she labored over this garment. She also knew the vibrant colors and eye-catching style of the pink suit would draw appropriate attention from my colleagues as I was trying to make my mark in the early days of my career. That was what she meant by “power”—it was personal and it was political.

But my mother also knew that power isn’t always bold, proud or vibrant. She knew that the softer, more comforting color and texture of the beige suit were an equally powerful complement to the pink one. She knew the energy of this second suit was reflective and meditative and would inspire me to adopt a similar posture. She knew my colleagues would be drawn to the quilted jacket and that it would be an invitation for meaningful conversation. She knew this, too, would help me make a mark in the early days of my career, especially in the church. She knew that it would invite people into a shared relationship of reflective power in a completely different way than the pink suit would.

Owning and balancing both traditonal power and "soft power" is a difficult feat. In the full text of this article, learn how Gusti found ways to balance the two, and how our baptismal promises help create this balance.

Read the full article by calling 866/802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the September/October 2011 issue (HZN-11-240; $4 plus shipping).

Gusti Newquist is interim pastor at Madison Square Presbyterian Church in San Antonia, Texas.

Illustration: Baptistm by He Qi.

Other Articles Online This Issue

Clothed with Christ: A Theological Perspective on Women and Power
PW's PW: Presbyterian Women's Powerful Witness
Championing Women's Rights Globally
Koinonia: A Form of Advocacy and Much More
Witnessing to the Promise—Participant Reflections on the 2011 Commission on the Status of Women
Our Quiet Power (Devotion)
Partnering with Sisters in Zimbabwe (What One PW Is Doing)
Freedom and Justice Through a T-shirt (Supporting Mission)
Growing into Power (Faithful Parenting)


Owning and balancing both traditonal power and "soft power" is a difficult feat. In the full text of this article, learn how Gusti found ways to balance the two, and how our baptismal promises help create this balance. Read the full article by calling 866/802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the September/ October 2011 issue (HZN-11-240; $4 plus shipping).	Clothed With Christ: A Theological Perspective on Women and Power by Gusti Linnea Newquist When I became a church professional in my early 20s, my brilliant seamstress of a mother made two business suits for me. One was dark pinkish-red with a skirt hemline just below the knees. She called it my “power suit.” The other was velvety beige with a long skirt and a beautiful quilted jacket. She called it my “soft power suit.” My mother knew that clothes were powerful. She knew the energy of the pink suit was electric and would inspire the same kind of energy in me, empowering me to speak my truth boldly. She knew she literally was sewing the strength and the encouragement of her own powerful motherly love into the very fabric of my physical identity as she labored over this garment. She also knew the vibrant colors and eye-catching style of the pink suit would draw appropriate attention from my colleagues as I was trying to make my mark in the early days of my career. That was what she meant by “power”—it was personal and it was political. But my mother also knew that power isn’t always bold, proud or vibrant. She knew that the softer, more comforting color and texture of the beige suit were an equally powerful complement to the pink one. She knew the energy of this second suit was reflective and meditative and would inspire me to adopt a similar posture. She knew my colleagues would be drawn to the quilted jacket and that it would be an invitation for meaningful conversation. She knew this, too, would help me make a mark in the early days of my career, especially in the church. She knew that it would invite people into a shared relationship of reflective power in a completely different way than the pink suit would. Owning and balancing both traditonal power and "soft power" is a difficult feat. In the full text of this article, learn how Gusti found ways to balance the two, and how our baptismal promises help create this balance. Read the full article by calling 866/802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the September/October 2011 issue (HZN-11-240; $4 plus shipping). Gusti Newquist is interim pastor at Madison Square Presbyterian Church in San Antonia, Texas. Illustration: Baptistm by He Qi. Other Articles Online This Issue Clothed with Christ: A Theological Perspective on Women and Power PW's PW: Presbyterian Women's Powerful Witness Championing Women's Rights Globally Koinonia: A Form of Advocacy and Much More Witnessing to the Promise—Participant Reflections on the 2011 Commission on the Status of Women Our Quiet Power (Devotion) Partnering with Sisters in Zimbabwe (What One PW Is Doing) Freedom and Justice Through a T-shirt (Supporting Mission) Growing into Power (Faithful Parenting)	Current Issue SEPT/OCT 2011 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue to Horizons or call (866) 802-3635 the September/ October 2011 issue, HZN-11-240 ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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