Date of Award
1-26-2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Heritage Studies, Ph.D.
First Advisor
Brady Banta
Committee Members
Deborah Traylor; Lauri Umansky
Call Number
LD251 .A566d 2016 B69
Abstract
Sanctified churches in Mississippi County, consistent with others throughout the South, trace their origin back to slavery where African men and women secretly gathered and, through their efforts, evolved the invisible institution comprised of blended European and African beliefs and practices. As this entity expanded, so did the need for additional organizations that supported socio-economic and educational development of the race. Hence, from the invisible church emerged African American denominations with some meeting in homes or abandoned commercial properties starting a trend of what is now considered Sanctified storefront churches. Over time, areas like Mississippi County, Arkansas have experienced an increased number of storefronts and independent congregations and decreases in mainline groups like Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals. Consequently, this may pose a problem for the black church in that history reveals mainline bodies are responsible for social, economic, political, and educational developments in the black community. W.E.B. DuBois says the black church is the social center of African American life, one of great power. With the church holding such significance in the lives of African Americans and mainline denominations being a major source of the institution's strength, the survival of the institution is very important. The church showed it strength throughout major challenges such as the Civil Rights Movement as congregations stood strong batting for equal rights and fighting injustice. With a history of unity in times of crisis, one issue has sparked nationwide attention and threatened the institution's foundation: female dissatisfaction over clergy roles. Controversy over clergy qualifications that exclude female preachers has caused some women to abandon these organizations to start their own churches. Considering the importance of the church to the black community, this could possibly create a problem with women being the majority in the church and viewed by many as the "backbone" of the organization and responsible for the institution's success. This dissertation explores gender roles and the challenges faced by women who pursue the field of clergy despite opposition.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Boyd, Gloria Robinson, "Gender Dynamics in Sanctified Storefront Churches: A Study of the Roles and Challenges of Female Pastors in Mississippi County, Arkansas" (2017). Student Theses and Dissertations. 592.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/592
