I think that Peter Leithart is absolutely right: the contribution of women theologians is essential for the future health of the Church. The fact that many forms of theology have developed with little feminine involvement may well necessitate some painful adjustments in the future. I have thought about the importance of women theologians before, although I can’t remember commenting on it on my blog. The contribution of women theologians in evangelicalism has largely been limited to certain areas like hymnody. However, the Church needs women to be involved in all areas of its theological task.
One might wonder what women theologians might contribute to theology that is distinct from that which men contribute. If the Spirit is the archetype of the feminine we should not be surprised if women theologians, and male theologians sensitized by their concerns, will have a greater appreciation of the Spirit’s role. Many forms of traditional evangelical theology suffer from an underrealization of the significance of pnuematology. This can be seen in a number of areas. A good example can be seen in the doctrine of justification, which in its evangelical forms often has little role for the Holy Spirit to play and is narrowly legal. However, the Scripture teaches us that the work of the Spirit is one of the reasons why there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1-4). Perhaps a greater realization of the manner in which justification is an ontological change will result from this.
I would also imagine that the involvement of women in theology might have something to do with the rise of narrative theology, ecumenical movements and a renewed focus on the Church over individualistic understandings of salvation.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Alastair's Adversaria 
My only thought is that I’ve seen more examples of bad women theologians than good ones. I’m happy that there are women theologians, but I hope they do better work in the future.
Yes, I agree. However, I would imagine that this may have something to do with the fact that female involvement in theology has not been encouraged in many conservative circles. As a result most of the women theologians out there represent movements that most Christians who are committed to Scripture would have seriously problems with. This, of course, isn’t a problem with women theologians per se.
Probably so.
Yes, I think this may be true. When I was about to graduate from college and trying to figure out what to do next, I thought “if I were a man, I’d definitely go to seminary.” At the time, seminary just didn’t seem to me like a place women were encouraged to go since in our circles women aren’t pastors. I was able to take a short seminary course over the summer, and I definitely felt that it was a boys club (although I was not outrightly discriminated against by any means).
Dennis Hou has some comments on this post here.
If my wife was a theologian, she would spend less time talking about the Holy Spirit and more time saying, “Submit to God’s will as revealed in the scriptures. Listen, and obey.” Which is, of course, the sort of thing that a person who is very sensitive to the Holy Spirit would be expected to say, I suppose . . .
Hmm. It’s kind of like Martin Luther King, who is accused of being a liberal theologian, but was barred from attending conservative, orthodox seminaries because of systemic racism.