From Affirmation to Equity
The Spiral of Congregational Empowerment for Women in Baptist Congregations
Datos Bibliográficos
| ID | 20249695 |
|---|---|
| Autores | HEATHER E DEAL (0000-0003-4033-8287, Binghamton University), John Willis Ward (0000-0002-7072-6486, Belmont University, autor de correspondencia), Gaynor Yancey (0000-0002-8562-1468, Baylor University) |
| Año | 2025 |
| Volumen | 16 |
| Número | 11 |
| Páginas | 1376 |
| Fecha de publicación | 2025-10-29 |
| Peer Reviewed | Sí |
| Open Access | Sí |
| Tipo | ARTICLE |
| Revista | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Identificadores de la revista | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Editorial | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16111376 |
| OpenAlex | W4415673013 |
| Idioma | EN |
| Referencias citadas | 4 |
Patriarchy has long structured Christian life and practice. In many Baptist settings, even formal affirmations of women in leadership leave a gap between stated commitments and women’s lived experience. This study investigates how Baptist congregations cultivate empowering environments for women by tracing the interplay of beliefs, practices, and processes through which theology is enacted in congregational life. Drawing on feminist theology and lived-religion perspectives, and using constructivist grounded theory, we conducted nine semi-structured interviews with 15 women clergy across seven U.S. Baptist congregations. Analysis proceeded through iterative initial, focused, and theoretical coding with attention to reflexivity and trustworthiness. Findings highlight four interlocking dynamics: structural shifts in leadership and policy that institutionalize gender equity; cultural and theological intentionality in worship and congregational routines; relational practices of support and education; and the persistence of microaggressions and benevolent sexism that complicate progress. Synthesizing these themes, we adapt Cornwall’s cyclical account of empowerment and Carr’s feminist praxis into a Spiral of Congregational Empowerment for Women comprising six phases (see Discussion). This study contributes to feminist theology, congregational studies, and the sociology of religion and offers practical implications for congregations and ministerial formation to align worship, policy, culture and accountability for sustained gender equity
Empowerment · Ethnography · Feminism · Feminist theology · Grounded theory · Praxis · Reflexivity · Worship · Christian Theology and Mission · Religion, Society, and Development · Theological Perspectives and Practices
| Velocidad de citación | historical |
|---|---|
| Altamente citado | No |