What Are United Pentecostal Church International
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons WHAT ARE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN PASTORS EXPERIENCING: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY By Cynthia A. Miller Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Liberty University March 2015 WHAT ARE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN PASTORS EXPERIENCING: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Liberty University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Cynthia Ann Miller © Copyright, 2015 Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia March, 2015 Dissertation Committee Approval: ____________________________________ Lisa Sosin, Ph.D., Chair Date ____________________________________ Denise Daniel, Ph.D. Date ____________________________________ Jeanne Brooks, Ph.D. Date ii DEDICATION PAGE This work is dedicated to the participants of this research study. Women who made themselves vulnerable, who gave of their time, shared their stories and personal experiences in order to further the role of women in ministry. You stand in the company of New Testament women of faith, women such as Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla, our ministerial sisters. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to give honor to my heavenly Father for His unfathomable love and abundant grace. Without Him, the One who called me, this study would have been left undone. Truly He is the Author and Finisher. Next, I want to thank my family for their unwavering support over the years of educational pursuit. You have been my emotional support, strength, and joy on this journey. Stan, thank you for your love and for the push to keep going when I wanted to quit. For my sons, Jonathan and Nathan, you consistently provided hugs, laughter, and loyal support. For my daughters-in-love, Francy and Gina, while you provided hugs, laughter, and support — you also provided practical helps too numerous to mention. Truly you are treasures in my life. For my daughter and grandchildren, thank you for your patience and understanding when I was in the Ph.D. cave and unavailable. I am looking forward to more family time. I also want to thank my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, Bubb and all the Bubbettes, friends, and my church family for your continuing prayers and for sticking with me during this busy season of life. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” In addition, I want to specifically mention those colleagues who have made this journey rewarding. Dr. David Bernard, thank you for your deep concern for the clergywomen of the UPCI and your interest in seeing this study accomplished. Dr. James Littles, thank you for caring about this study and my experience in the process. Your frequent checks to see: “how are you doing? and “how is it going?” meant so much to me. Dr. Jeffrey Brickle, thank you for regularly crossing the hall to check on me. Your humor filled my office with laughter and your empathic understanding of the process was encouraging. Last, to my friend and colleague, Marjorie iv Truman, words seem inadequate. You saw the potential in this study from the beginning. In every conversation you challenged me, broadened my thinking, and sustained this weary traveler with thirst quenching words of encouragement. Thank you for everything. You are a friend par excellence. Upward and onward! Last, but certainly not least, I would like to recognize the team of women who walked this journey with me. I am most grateful for my committee chair, Dr. Lisa Sosin, who patiently kept me on the straight and narrow of the dissertation path. I am indebted to my committee members, Dr. Denise Daniel and Dr. Jeanne Brooks, for their advice, critiques, and encouraging comments with every reading in the revision process. I appreciate the time each of you invested in this study. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication …………………………………………………………………… iii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………... iv Table of Contents …………………………………………………………….. vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION………………………………………… 1 Overview …………………………………………………………………….. 1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 2 Background of the Problem ………………………………………………….. 4 Purpose of the Study …………………………………………………………. 6 Research Question …………………………………………………………… 7 Assumptions and Limitations ………………………………………………... 7 Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………….. 8 Significance of the Study …………………………………………………….. 9 The Researcher ………………………………………………………………. 10 Summary ……………………………………………………………………... 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………………… 11 Introduction …………………………………………………………………… 11 The Experiences of Women as a Numerical Minority in Traditional Male Professions……………………………………………….. 13 The Impact of Gender ………………………………………………… 14 Coping Strategies for Women as a Numerical Minority ……………… 16 vi The Experiences of Women in Traditionally Male Religious Organizations…………………………………………………………………… 18 Role Identity and Models ……………………………………………… 19 Calling …………………………………………………………………. 22 Women-Led Churches …………………………………………………. 24 Impact of Marriage on Clergy …………………………………………. 25 The Roles of Personal and Professional Support ……………………… 26 The Experience of Women Clergy in Pentecostal Organizations ……………... 29 The Historical Role of Women in the Pentecostal Movement ………… 29 Impact of Women as Pentecostal Organizational Structures Formalized …………………………………………………. 31 Women in the Oneness Pentecostal Movement………………………... 32 The Experiences of Women Pastors Within the UPCI ………………………… 34 Comparisons Between UPCI and Mainline Protestant Clergywomen … 34 The Relationship Between the Literature and the Present Study………………. 36 Summary……………………………………………………………………….. 46 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS……………………………………………..... 38 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 38 Research Design The Phenomenological Inquiry ………………………………………… 38 The Phenomenological Framework ……………………………………. 39 Why a Phenomenological Inquiry ……………………………………... 41 Research Question ……………………………………………………………… 42 vii Research Participants …………………………………………………………… 42 Selection of Participants ……………………………………………………….. 43 Informed Consent ……………………………………………………………… 44 Data Collection Procedures ……………………………………………………. 46 Data Analysis …………………………………………………………………... 48 Trustworthiness ………………………………………………………………… 49 Summary ……………………………………………………………………….. 51 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS ………………………………………………… 53 Restatement of the Purpose of the Study ………………………………………. 53 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 53 Background Description of Participants ………………………………………. 54 Biographical Profile of Participants …………………………………………… 58 Melanie ………………………………………………………………… 58 Janaah …………………………………………………………………… 59 Ann ……………………………………………………………………… 60 Hope …………………………………………………………………….. 60 Cordelia ………………………………………………………………… 61 JoAnne …………………………………………………………………. 62 Marie …………………………………………………………………… 63 Sharla …………………………………………………………………… 64 Findings from Interviews with Participants ……………………………………. 66 Research Question ……………………………………………………………… 66 viii Explication of Themes …………………………………………………………. 67 Theme One: Sacred Call ……………………………………………….. 68 Theme Two: Identity Roles and Gender ……………………………….. 79 Theme Three: Denominational Experience (Numerical Minority) …….. 90 Theme Four: Personal Support and Professional Development………… 111 Findings from Peer Reviewers …………………………………………………. 125 Triangulation of Findings ………………………………………………………. 129 Summary ……………………………………………………………………….. 130 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ……………………………………………… 133 Significance Engaging the Literature………………………………………… 134 Sacred Call …………………………………………………………… 134 Embrace a Female Distinctiveness in Ministry ……………………… 136 Personal Definition of Success ………………………………………. 140 Strong Network of Support …………………………………………… 142 Pursue Professional Development ……………………………………. 144 Implications for Clergywomen ……………………………………………….. 147 Implications for Denomination ……………………………………………….. 147 Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research ……………………… 149 Relocating the Researcher in Light of the Findings …………………………… 151 Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………… 151 Final Summary ………………………………………………………………… 152 ix REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………… 154 Appendixes Appendix A: Ministerial Statistical Information ……………………… 162 Appendix B: IRB Approval Letter ……………………………………. 163 Appendix C: UPCI Permission Letter …………………………………. 164 Appendix D: Telephone Recruitment and Screening Script …………... 165 Appendix E: Informed Consent Form ………………………………… 166 Appendix F: Demographic Survey …………………………………… 171 Appendix G: Journal Instructions …………………………………….. 172 Appendix H: Interview Guide ………………………………………… 173 x List of Tables Table 4.1: General Demographic Summary of Female Participants …………… 56 Table 4.2: Education Background of Female Participants ……………………… 56 Table 4.3: Summary of Children and Family of Female Participants ………….. 57 Table 4.4: Additional Ministerial Experiences of Female Participants ………… 57 Table 4.5: Summary of Findings for Research Question ……………………….. 67 Table 4.6: Summary of Theme One: Sacred Call ……………………………… 79 Table 4.7: Summary of Theme Two: Identity Roles and Gender Expectations .. 90 Table 4:8: Summary of Theme Three: Denominational Experiences (Numerical Minority) ………………………………………………. 110 Table 4.9: Summary of Theme Four: Personal Support (includes Spouse, Friends and Counselor) and Professional Development (includes Role Models, Mentors, Male Leaders & Pastors, and Denomination)…. …………………………………… 125 Table