-
Essay / Analysis of the Black Church in the African American Community...
Unfortunately, throughout the ages, women have been unfairly held back in their ability to lead churches from the pulpit. Historically speaking, this problem is pervasive in almost every church, whether black or white. Issues of sexism and women's rights in the black community often take a back seat to racial issues. It was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Injustice anywhere poses a threat to justice everywhere.” » Injustices also occur in the Church. Discrimination based on gender bias from the pulpit is a huge injustice to women, especially black women. The success of churches past and present is largely due to the efforts of women who constitute more than the majority of most church congregations. Yet the responsibility of leading these same faithful is reserved for one man. What a travesty. The chapter eluded women in leadership positions in Christian churches under titles such as exhorters, evangelists and missionaries, but that does not do justice to the crucial work that African American women do in the Church. Unfortunately for the Black Church, many Black women have chosen to seek ministry opportunities in white denominations because they have demonstrated more progressive attitudes in accepting women as leaders within the Church setting. Women have proven to play a vital role in the Church and more or less constitute the backbone of the body of believers whom they serve.,