| Through the extensive use of church records, this thesis explores the leadership of Black women in the establishment of a Baltimore Christian church. A Black feminist paradigm is used to interpret the history of this institution because the paradigm encompasses the ethnic history of African Americans as well as the issue of gender equality within the Black community. The paradigm asserts that males as well as females can be feminists, and that Black men are historically sensitive to the struggles of women for gender equality. Thus the early history of Douglas Memorial Community Church, as a congregation founded by a woman and led by a pastor who recognized the ministerial gifts of women, is well suited for this paradigm.; Founded in 1925 by Mary E. Jones, the church was originally named Cosmopolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Jones, who was president of the Trustee Aid Society of the Bethel AME Church, scheduled a meeting with Bethel dissidents, and requested that Rev. Frederick Douglas serve as pastor. In 1938, the church was renamed Douglas Memorial Community Church.; My thesis will explore the contributions of women to the founding and organization of the congregation during the Douglas pastorate, 1925–48. I argue that women were tremendously empowered under Douglas' pastorate. He penned the Black Community Church movement creed that woman could serve as pastors. This doctrinal statement was quite radical since traditionally the office of pastor is reserved for men. |
