Thecla Speaks

If you grew up Mennonite, the word baptism grabs you quickly, as both a historical understanding and personal memory of an important time. Reading The Girl Who Baptized Herself: How a Lost Scripture About a Saint Named Thecla Reveals the Power of Knowing Our Worth by Meggan Watterson grabbed my attention, and I wondered about the heretical exposé I would find in its pages. But the book is about much more than the baptism I understood when I was baptized some sixty years ago, or the concept I currently hold. Instead, it is a factual historical piece about a woman lost in the scriptures that we read today. More than that, it is a thoughtful journey about women’s transforming power of going within oneself to find the love and freedom of being authentic. After reading the book, baptism holds a new perspective and definition for me.

The first chapter introduces the reader to scriptures rediscovered between 1895 and 1945 along the Nile in Nag Hammadi, Egypt in a text called The Acts of Paul and Thecla. It is important to the author that we know about this woman named Thecla, her story, and why it has been missing from the foundations of Christianity. It is important, because for women, our inner power has basically been defined for us through the lens of a male-dominated scripture and theology in the Christian church as we know it today. To know Thecla now gives women the opportunity to think differently about their identity and the power within. It offers women a new role model both inside and outside of church environments.

Watterson shares her personal story of seeking an identity that is true to herself. Trained as a theologian, she discovers that Christ’s ministry was about embracing questions of gender norms and accepting the radical essence of love. As she tells us Thecla's story, she gives us the means to go on a spiritual journey of seven stages of awakening that can change our lives, as it did Thecla’s and the author’s as well.  The book presents each of the seven stages as follows:

• First stage: the realization that something is happening that is life changing.

• Second stage: a new way of seeing what might be possible.

• Third stage: we have the courage to take action in our new way of seeing.

• Fourth stage: this new understanding of ourselves becomes a test to see if we can really let go of who we used to be.

• Fifth stage: at some point we are asked to experience a death of who we used to be and this will only make us stronger and more powerful.

• Sixth stage: we learn to be who we are meant to be and this becomes a personal treasure that needs protecting.

• Seventh stage: we return where we started, but as a new person.

These chapters are written with engaging concepts and fascinating stories. Thecla’s story, as recorded in the lost scriptures, is comprised of intrigue, mystery, violence, shame, redemption, and love.

The last chapter in the book is a compelling rendition of the power of love. From the early communities of the Jesus Movement to the author’s small group of women who came together to witness, support, and give love, we can see how love can be a form of resistance to evil empires, injustice, and inequalities in society. Thecla’s story can influence our lives today. The book concludes with a Reading Guide composed of excellent questions for a study group.

I want to end my review with some personal reflections on reading The Girl Who Baptized Herself. Having not been schooled in womanist theology, this book gave me a new appreciation and understanding of the Bible. From the historical conceptual knowledge to the author’s own viewpoints and beliefs, the book was a very interesting and a thoughtful read. 

Peggy Stein

Davis, CA

Retired Educator

First Mennonite Church of San Francisco