Womanism in the ministry: Narratives of African-American woman clergy

Is it possible to identify womanist themes in the lives of African American women? Using womanist and narrative methodology, the dissertation investigator answers this question by researching and studying the lives of seven African American women clergy. The women of the narrative study were selected because of the diversity of pastoral leadership roles in the African American Church. The starting point for womanist inquiry is the rich experience of African American women. Womanist inquiry refers to any scholarly attempt to research or answer questions regarding the nature of the social universe from the perspective of Black women. Walker's (1983) definition of womanism has been used in seminaries and theological programs to critique Black women's treatment of racism, classism, and sexism. This author will use the terms womanism and womanist inquiry in a manner that is consistent with Walker's definition and those who came after her and expanded it.