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Christian Denominations and Sects

George Fox University

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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen Jan 2024

Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen

Doctor of Ministry

The thesis of this research is that the continued survival and influence of the Black Church hinges on the level of access and sustainability of women in senior leadership roles, emphasizing the historically protected position of senior pastor. It has become urgently necessary to move the needle beyond engaging in the perpetual debate about the role of women in ministry, and towards solutions that address the unique issues of this contemporary era. This era is characterized by a collision of the rise in women occupying senior leadership roles, increases in social justice concerns, and the unanticipated post-pandemic ramifications that have …


Obedience To The Inward Oracle: An Analysis Of Some Early Quaker Women's Publications, Julie Sutherland Nov 2014

Obedience To The Inward Oracle: An Analysis Of Some Early Quaker Women's Publications, Julie Sutherland

Quaker Studies

An undeniable tension exists in human nature between conscience and external authority. This dichotomy was no less existent in seventeenth-century England, when George Fox began preaching about the inward voice-or Christ's light-as a greater authority than any external entity. His thoughts were radical (anachronistic; fanatical or enthusiastic would be the seventeenth-century terms) because they challenged the hierarchical framework of Early Modern England. The notion of obeying internal authority was particularly 'radical' for Quaker women, whose gender offered them little opportunity to challenge the roles society imposed on them; by challenging external authority these women were bringing into question societal norms …


Broken-Hearted Mothers: Gender And Community In Joan Whitrow Et Al., The Work Of God In A Dying Maid (1677), Naomi Baker Nov 2014

Broken-Hearted Mothers: Gender And Community In Joan Whitrow Et Al., The Work Of God In A Dying Maid (1677), Naomi Baker

Quaker Studies

This article discusses an early modern autobiographical text in which several female Quaker authors narrate the circumstances surrounding the death of Susanna Whitrow. The Work of God in a Dying Maid (1677) represents the Quaker community as a largely autonomous group of mothers and daughters, set against negative and disruptive male influences. In its adoption of clear gender boundaries, the text reflects the new emphasis on gender binaries within Quakerism in the 1670s. As well as exemplifying the ambiguous position of women within the movement at this later stage, Whitrow et al. renegotiate wider contemporary representations of women, especially mothers, …


'Will The Last (Woman) Friend To Leave Please Ensure That The Light Remains Shining?', Bill Chadkirk Oct 2014

'Will The Last (Woman) Friend To Leave Please Ensure That The Light Remains Shining?', Bill Chadkirk

Quaker Studies

This paper analyses trends in membership of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, the number of members per Meeting and the changes in the gender balance of membership. It identifies polynomial equations to curves that match the data very closely. An accelerating decline in membership commencing in 1990 is identified. Trends are extrapolated to determine an end-point in 2032. The paper makes clear that as this date approaches the relationship between the data and trend is liable to breakdown.


Women In The Quaker Community: The Richardson Family Of Newcastle, C.1815-60, Jonathan Mood Oct 2014

Women In The Quaker Community: The Richardson Family Of Newcastle, C.1815-60, Jonathan Mood

Quaker Studies

The town of Newcastle in the early nineteenth century offered many diverse forms of entertainment and socialising for middle class men and women. Although the religious beliefs of Quakers excluded them from sharing in many of these activities, their faith offered them unique opportunities to participate in, lead, and challenge middle class lifestyle. Through examining the domestic, religious, and charitable conduct of the women of the Richardson family it can be seen how their understanding of society was mediated through religious beliefs that allowed them to challenge the role of the typical middle class woman.


'Gaining A Voice': An Interpretation Of Quaker Women's Writing 1740-1850, Sheila Wright Oct 2014

'Gaining A Voice': An Interpretation Of Quaker Women's Writing 1740-1850, Sheila Wright

Quaker Studies

The aim of this paper is to suggest way s in which Quaker women Ministers, in a period of considerable doctrinal and secular change, used their journal writings as a tool to maintain their position within the Society of Friends. Expanding on previous work on Quaker women's spiritual autobiography, it suggests that these writings were not only written for spiritual purposes but also had a temporal dimension, providing women with an authorized 'voice' through which to express their concerns. The paper explores how in these writings Quaker women represented themselves, their work and their struggles when confronted with a male …


'Vain Unsettled Fashions': The Early Durham Friends And Popular Culture C. 1660-1725, Erin Bell Oct 2014

'Vain Unsettled Fashions': The Early Durham Friends And Popular Culture C. 1660-1725, Erin Bell

Quaker Studies

Participation in popular, or worldly, culture was a moot point for the early Friends. Although they were not encouraged to do so many still took part in aspects of male or female culture, but experienced tension between Quaker and 'carnal' ideals of behaviour. Female Friends were expected to limit their clothing according to the edicts of their Yearly Meeting, although female culture treated clothing as a medium of exchange and' gifting clothing was central to female social life. This proved difficult for women such as Sarah Kirkby (d.1692) of Auckland, a fabric seller, who traded with non-Quakers and could not …