ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CREATING PATHWAYS TO LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY COMMITTEE IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEPARTMENT BY SHANNON E. POLK FLINT, MICHIGAN MAY 2017 Copyright © 2017 by Shannon E. Polk All rights reserved iii CONTENTS CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................x LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 The Context ....................................................................................................................3 The Opportunity .............................................................................................................6 The Purpose ...................................................................................................................8 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................8 Description of the Proposed Project ............................................................................10 Scope of the Project ...............................................................................................10 Phases of the Project ..............................................................................................11 Research ...........................................................................................................11 Planning ...........................................................................................................13 Implementation ................................................................................................13 Evaluation ........................................................................................................14 Writing .............................................................................................................14 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2: BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................16 Introduction ..................................................................................................................16 Women in Religious Leadership ..................................................................................17 iv Old Testament ........................................................................................................17 Deborah ............................................................................................................18 Huldah ..............................................................................................................19 New Testament ......................................................................................................20 Female Leaders in the Book of Acts ................................................................20 Female Leaders of Romans 16 .........................................................................22 Euodia and Syntyche ........................................................................................27 The Elect Lady .................................................................................................28 Female Leaders in Post-Apostolic Writings ..........................................................29 “Otherness” in Scripture ..............................................................................................33 Examples of Otherness ..........................................................................................34 Gentiles ............................................................................................................34 Foreigners ........................................................................................................36 Widows ............................................................................................................40 Infirmed ............................................................................................................44 Slaves ...............................................................................................................46 Ethnologically-identified People .....................................................................49 Racial and Gender Equality as a Gospel Imperative ...................................................54 Equality and Inclusion in the Gospels ...................................................................54 Equality and Inclusion in the Book of Acts ...........................................................55 Acts 2:17 ..........................................................................................................55 Acts 6 ...............................................................................................................56 Acts 10 .............................................................................................................57 Acts 15 .............................................................................................................59 Diversity and Inclusion in Galatians 3:28 ..............................................................60 v Diversity and Inclusion in Revelation 5:9-10 ........................................................61 Impartiality toward Women and Others ................................................................62 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................64 CHAPTER 3: GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................65 Introduction ..................................................................................................................65 Necessary Components for Successful Ministry Leadership as a Woman of Color ..................................................................................................66 Identifying Perceived and Actual Barriers to Leadership ......................................66 Ministry Leadership Skills .....................................................................................73 Financial and Business Acumen ............................................................................78 Workplace Networks .............................................................................................79 Education and Executive Presence ........................................................................81 Family and Personal Support .................................................................................84 Mentorship and Sponsorship..................................................................................87 Cross-cultural Competencies .................................................................................90 Preaching Cross-culturally .....................................................................................91 Leading Teams Cross-culturally ............................................................................93 Working in Mixed Gender Teams .........................................................................96 Conclusion .............................................................................................................98 Possible Pathways to Leadership for Women of Color ...............................................99 Inclusive Succession Planning ...............................................................................99 Church Planting ...................................................................................................102 Inclusive Hiring Practices ..........................................................................................104 Conclusion .................................................................................................................112 CHAPTER 4: DESCRIPTION OF FIELD PROJECT ....................................................114 Introduction ................................................................................................................114 vi Preparation of the Project ...........................................................................................114 Pre-Interviews ......................................................................................................115 Obtaining Statistics and Recruiting Participants ..................................................116 Qualitative Approach ...........................................................................................117 Design of Questions .............................................................................................118 Subjects ................................................................................................................118 Post-Research Webinar ........................................................................................119 Execution of the Project .............................................................................................120 Results of the Project