What Manner Of Woman - A Short Documentary Film

Black women are crucial to the black church and society, embodying the essence of freedom. They manage the church behind the scenes and on Sundays, making the institution thrive. Without black women, the black church would not exist as it does, and their strength and perseverance are foundational. If all black women left the church, it would fundamentally change, proving their deep infusion and energization of the institution. Women's voices are vital in ministry and are the lifeblood of the black church, religious experience, and community.

The 1980s marked a period of self-definition for black women at the intersection of academia and the black church. In 1983, Alice Walker coined the term 'womanist,' which was a pivotal moment for women called to religious teaching and ministry. This concept emerged from the absence of black women's voices and scholarship, making these women feel invisible and unheard. Through meeting other women in various institutions, the importance of their collective voice became clear. Womanist theology challenged existing Black Liberation Theology, which primarily focused on the male experience, by integrating the perspectives of women like Katie Cannon, Jacqueline Grant, Delores Williams, and Joann Terrell.

A womanist tradition introduces critical listening and challenges existing norms, particularly for those who assume constant affirmation. The term 'womanist' originates from Southern black expressions like 'acting womanish,' referring to bold, sassy, and courageous girls who broke boundaries to achieve their goals. Womanism provided black women with a language to name their experiences in a society that often devalues their knowledge and represents them as substandard. Though introduced in the 1980s, its meaning encapsulates the historical experiences of black women who, like biblical figures, were marginalized yet charted their own course to redefine black female identity and their divine image.

Figures like Katie Cannon and Delores Williams inspired a generation to embrace theology. Womanism teaches that change and healing must come from within the community. In multiracial and multicultural congregations, a womanist sensibility helps to reframe the gospel and fosters conversations about race, ethnicity, and class, embodying Alice Walker's inclusive definition of loving all people. Womanism emphasizes 'hermeneutics' – understanding one's perspective – highlighting that a black woman's viewpoint is distinct and essential for a full understanding of the world and God's spirit. Excluding women, who represent over half of the African American community, is to exclude humanity itself.

The speaker recounts calling a woman as their first assistant pastor, only to face skepticism from another woman in the church who questioned if she was a 'real minister.' This highlighted that internalized opposition to women in leadership is common. Women often wrestle with their own doubts when called to preach, and the first line of defense against them is often other women who challenge their rightful place. However, the true opposition is patriarchy. Womanism helps to reframe language, promoting communal understanding and challenging oppressive narratives. Witnessing women lead in church, from the Deacon board to the pulpit, opened the speaker's eyes to God’s call for women of all ages and marital statuses, giving them strength to stay the course.

Womanism describes women who are bold, courageous, unapologetic, peculiar, prophetic, passionate, and prolific. They stand on principles, articulate the wisdom of black women, and pave the way for future generations. Entering the church with a heart for prayer, the speaker sees this as womanist work, aiming to change people and the world. A womanist is wise, radical yet traditional, self-loving yet engaged, objective yet communal, redemptive yet critical. Womanism is crucial for the black church, and perhaps for America, to embrace the shared humanity of all people, created equally by God. The black church needs black women leading, manifesting their gifts, and supported with more opportunities, funds, and scholarship in ministry. Womanism's mission is to make the church whole, bringing liberation and ensuring no one is left behind, emphasizing the importance of lived experience in understanding God and shaping ethics in congregational life.