Gender exclusion and sexism persist in the life of the modem day church. Nevertheless, modem day women in ministry are “going against the grain” by appropriating models of traditional authority, symbols of patriarchy, asserting human agency and embracing emerging theologies, such as womanist theology, in ways that promote and support significant leadership roles for women in ministry. Historically, African American women, as they have responded to and embraced the call to ministry, have continued in the tradition of the Black Women’s Club movement of the nineteenth century. Even within mainline denominations, certain churches still do not embrace and accept women and their call to ordained ministry. Some sizable churches regardless of ethnic and cultural make-up appear to be more open to calling women as Assistant and Associate Pastors rather than Senior Pastors. Patriarchy, seemingly justified by Scripture, has been and still is an influence. However, Scripture interprets Scripture and radically different and active roles of women in ministry in the church are offered in Scripture. Even still, pushing beyond racism, sexism and gender exclusion, African American women remain in solidarity as they explore sectarian, non-sectarian and non-traditional ways to empower themselves and others. The organizations and activities in which these modem day “Sojourner Truth” women participate not only encourage women to respond and find new ways of doing ministry for all of humanity, but they engender and offer hope for all women exploring, responding to and considering the call to the ministry of leadership within and outside the church. Personally, as a participant and an observer, I examined and reviewed an emerging present day ecumenical “Gathering” or organization of African American women in ministry on Long Island, New York that in solidarity, strengths, roles, responsibilities and contributions continues outside of the church in the tradition of the Black Women’s Club Movement.
