Pentacostal Women: Chosen for an Exalted Destiny

Abstract

Anide •THEOLOGY TODAY Theology Today r% . . , . . . 68(4)404--tl2 Pentacostal Women: ©TheAuthor(s)2oi2 Reprints and pernnissJons: Yoi^ SI w% F Yd l^on 5agepub.co.uk/i0urnaisPermissi0ns.nav iwr dii EA.ctii.cu Abstract Tbis essay maintains tbat women v/ithin the Pentecostal tradition are being socialized to languish rather than flourisb, Tbrougb an examination ofthe parallel stories of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Catherine Bootb, founder of tbe Salvation Army, tbe study explores the "call narrative" of tbe Pentecostal female minister and tbe accompanying need for affirmation from the community, Tbe essay explores tbis narrative within tbe context of tbe ecclesial community and its failure to create an environment where women may flourisb, Tbis failure on tbe Cburcb's part bas contributed to its own languishing. Recently, one of my seminary students set up an appointment with me. Let's call her Miriam. She had emailed to say that she wanted to talk about her program at the seminary. Miriam attends seminary part-time, is a wife and mother and is pastor of a church of about 70 people. Before being appointed as pastor she served as an evangelist for her denomination in the state of Tennessee. Her father, a long-term pastor, has been very affirming of her ministry. Having the necessary years of experience in ministry and having completed a couple of years of undergraduate work, she was able to be admitted to seminary as a "Special Student, " a category allowed by accrediting agencies for up to 10 percent of any program offered at the master's level. In a classical Pentecostal denomination, a seminary has no trouble meeting that percentage! In fact, there is often a waiting list of male ministers who've not completed an undergraduate degree. We had talked on several occasions and she had taken my "Women in Pentecostalism" seminar. In that class, I had been impressed with her curiosity, her preparedness for class, breadth of knowledge of material even beyond

Gender and Race in Ministry Leadership: Experiences of Black Clergywomen

“…The debate among clergymen has often focused on clergywomen as weak leaders in church ministry (Frame and Shehan 2005). Due to prejudice of clergymen, clergywomen continue to face restrictions of religious responsibilities (Alexander 2012); lack of assistance, training, and mentoring in ministry leadership (Leslie 2013), and the limitation of leadership positions such as senior pastors, elders and ministers (Newkirk and Cooper 2013).…”

Gender and Race in Ministry Leadership: Experiences of Black Clergywomen

“…The debate among clergymen has often focused around clergywomen as weak leaders in church ministry (Frame & Shehan, 2005). Due to prejudice of clergymen, clergywomen continue to face restrictions of religious responsibilities (Alexander, 2012); lack of assistance, training, and mentoring in ministry leadership (Leslie, 2013); and the limitation of leadership positions such as senior pastors, elders and ministers (Newkirk & Cooper, 2013).…”