The Relational Power of God

“O’Donnell clearly outlines how the doctrine of the Trinity highlights the relational nature of God. The relationship of love and mutual respect that exists between the persons/members of the Trinity becomes the model for how humans should relate to one another and to creation—with deep love and profound respect—seeking the well-being of the other that seeks only for the other to flourish.”


—James Collins, rector, St Paul’s Anglican Church, Burwood





“Omnipotence as ‘God in control of everything’ issues in an intractable theodicy problem and an implicit sanction for power in the mode of domination and control. O’Donnell offers a coherent and compelling alternative shaped by panentheism, process relational thought, and Moltmann’s social Trinitarian theology. This book is more than a merely theoretical exploration. It has grounding in lived experience of human trauma and tragedy, which press the question: If God is in control, what kind of God is this?”


—Anna Case-Winters, McCormick Theological Seminary





“Is it the quality or the quantity of power that matters? O’Donnell offers an intelligent and compassionate view of God for a scientific age that questions God’s power as omnipotent. Rather, she gives us a view of divine power as it arises from God’s goodness and love—noncoercive, relational, and alluring. I highly recommend this book for its contribution to theology and to healthier human relations.”


—Heather Thomson, Charles Sturt University