Thesis Research
Voices from the Front Lines: The Experiences of African American Women in Nondenominational Ministry and How They Negotiate Power
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the experiences of African American women in nondenominational churches, and how they negotiate power within the historically male-dominated church structure. Although the nondenominational church movement is growing rapidly, little scholarship exists that seeks to understand women ministers in general and even less about African American women in nondenominational ministries in particular. The issue of power within the context of gender relations in the Black church remains a contentious landscape where patriarchal structures are maintained as a community standard for African Americans as a group, and then internalized and recreated at the personal level. By examining Black women’s religious involvement in nondenominational church structures, this research seeks to place Black women at the center of analysis to reveal the many ways leadership is practiced and to redefine power using their situated knowledge and experiences. Findings from this research reveal that despite the fact that clergywomen in nondenominational churches still encounter religious sexism, they have been successful in establishing their own churches and breaking gender barriers within the church. Thus, nondenominational ministries are either a potential site for a paradigm shift toward empowerment to end sexism for African American women in ministry (and potentially Black women as a whole), or a site to perpetuate patriarchal oppression.
The internship experience was both challenging and exciting. I participated in a number of activities, performed various tasks and learned valuable skills.;
List of Accomplishments;
- Latino Empowerment Conference Committee Member- Created event program, performed administrative duties such as writing business correspondence for guest speakers and emails to necessary faculty and staff, hosted event, performed informal interviews/conversations and data collection.
- Applied Sociology Component- I shadowed my site supervisor Dr. Martinez, on two projects that she was involved in; Champions for Health in the Community and The Texas State Cancer Advocacy Movement for College (CAMCO). Both of these organizations were involved directly with the community and sought to provide social change.
- Teaching Assistant- I attended, observed and assisted Dr. Martinez during her Multicultural Relations class.
Pictures from the Latino Empowerment Conference .
