She Preached Like a Man: The Journey and Resilience of Black Women in Pastoral and Ministerial Leadership

Abstract

This project examines the intersection of gender and religious leadership through the lens of a Black woman pastor whose theological understanding and ministerial practice are profoundly shaped by my lived experiences and historical context. Anchored in a pivotal moment—being told I “preached like a man” after delivering a revival sermon—the study interrogates the gendered expectations embedded in preaching and pastoral authority. This phrase, while complimentary, reveals implicit biases that equate power and effectiveness in the pulpit with masculinity. It exposes the broader tension Black women face as they navigate systemic sexism within ecclesial spaces that often marginalize our voices and contributions.This project engages the lived experiences of Black women clergy through qualitative interviews and an analytical framework grounded in Womanist theology. It considers the barriers identified by Smarr, Disbennett-Lee, and Hakim (2018), such as discrimination, patriarchal tradition, and financial inequity, while tracing how the challenges posed by these barriers are met with resilience, spiritual conviction, and communal support. Central to this examination are the works of pioneering leaders such as Bishop Vashti McKenzie, theologian Renita J. Weems, and ethicist Angela D. Sims, whose scholarship and witness offer both critique and vision for reimagining church leadership beyond patriarchal norms. This study calls on the Church to confront its complicity in perpetuating gender inequality and adopt a transformative ministry model that values the wisdom, authority, and theological insights of Black women. By amplifying their voices and examining the theological voids left by male-dominated liberation narratives—including those of the Civil Rights era—this dissertation seeks to equip the Church with resources to disrupt inherited biases and nurture a future in which female leadership is not exceptional but the norm.