The Gathering, A Womanist Church. Irie Lynne Session

The Gathering, A Womanist Church

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“What would happen if we had womanist churches? This question is best answered by those who are practicing womanist ecclesiology on the ground and critically reflecting on it from an organic, womanist theological perspective. The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies is the first book on womanist ecclesiology. Written by Black women co-pastors and partners in ministry of the first womanist church, this book fills a void in constructive ecclesiology. The authors systematically answer theological and ministry questions such as: ‘What is a womanist church?’ ‘Why are womanist churches necessary?’ ‘Why now?’ ‘How does one go about creating a womanist church?’ and ‘What difference does a womanist church make to church and society?’ The Gathering is committed to a non-patriarchal, non-misogynist, and non-sexist ecclesiology. The authors demonstrate that it is possible to embody co-equality in all aspects of ecclesial structure, from its co-pastors and partners in ministry to the community in order to empower all people. If you have been wondering if womanist ecclesiology is more than a vague concept, here you will find stories of womanist church as a living reality. The authors share their scholarly knowledge and experiences of womanist church, biblical exegesis, sermons, and litanies to demonstrate that womanist church is a living reality and that the time for womanist churches to multiply is now. This book is a keeper for all who aspire to an ecclesiology that takes seriously Black women’s lives, Black women’s wisdom, and Black women’s church leadership in a world of crucifixion in which embodied, resurrected souls have the last word.”

—Dr. Karen Baker-Fletcher

Professor of Systematic Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

“Like the first-century women disciples of Jesus in the early Christian house churches, the co-pastors of The Gathering, a womanist community of faith in Dallas, Texas, have revolutionized practical ecclesiology by rejecting the institutional misogyny and sexism of the traditional church. This thought-provoking and inspiring resource details the genesis and development of The Gathering; presents research findings of other womanist-centered, cutting-edge religious organizations; and outlines the practical steps in establishing a womanist-based ministry. The authors demonstrate convincingly that Christian ministries steeped in the experiences of Black women embody the physical manifestation of liberation and womanist theological scholarship. Further, they show that womanist ecclesiology leads to the spiritual healing and transformation of those oppressed and downtrodden by white supremacist, hetero-patriarchal capitalist society. The Gathering, A Womanist Church portends the hope and future of Christianity for such troubling and challenging times as these.”

—Rev. Dr. Tamara E. Lewis

Assistant Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

“When you try something really hard, and you feel God’s windy Spirit at your back, and it works, you want to shout it to the whole world: ‘Look what God will do! Alleluia!’ The women of The Gathering, with the Spirit’s help, have done something really hard, and so beautiful. This book is their alleluia, and all of us with ears to hear are blessed by it. Shout it from the mountaintops, sisters!”

—Rev. Dr. Katie Hays

Lead Evangelist, Galileo Church, Fort Worth, Texas, and author of We Were Spiritual Refugees: A Story to Help You Believe in Church

The Gathering, A Womanist Church

Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies

Irie Lynne Session Kamilah Hall Sharp and Jann Aldredge-Clanton

Foreword by Frederick D. Haynes, III

Preface by Phillis Isabella Sheppard

The Gathering, A Womanist Church

Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies

Copyright © 2020 Irie Lynne Session, Kamilah Hall Sharp, and Jann Aldredge-Clanton. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Wipf & Stock

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

Eugene, OR 97401

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paperback isbn: 978-1-7252-7462-4

hardcover isbn: 978-1-7252-7463-1

ebook isbn: 978-1-7252-7464-8

Manufactured in the U.S.A. 06/25/20

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Foreword

I am convinced that if Jesus of Nazareth showed up in the flesh in most churches, he would be turned off and turned away, unwelcome and unrecognized. Many churches that gather in the name of Jesus would discover that he would reject their praise, disrupt their worship agenda, turn over the offering tables, and demolish the pulpit. Jesus would reject the praise of any church that neglects to do the work of justice and interrupt any worship experience that neglects the needs of the hurting, just as the prophet Amos declared and as Jesus demonstrated in the Gospel narratives. The temple cleansing of those who economically exploited the poor is a preview of what the sable-skinned Savior from the streets would do to the offerings of super-sized churches that major in maintenance of their massive facilities but minor in ministry to the marginalized. In one of the Gospel narratives, Jesus welcomes and heals those who weren’t supposed to be in the precincts of the temple after he chases the money changers out of the temple. Jesus would be offended by the theology espoused in the pulpit that is sanctioned by empire, ignores the poor, engages in toxic masculinity, and is informed by a top-down hermeneutic that is in bed with injustice while being more capitalist than Christian.

As Jesus searched for a church, I would gladly tell Jesus about a church that has taken his mission and ministry seriously. I would insist that Jesus go to a church where he would feel at home. I would excitedly invite Jesus to attend The Gathering. The Gathering is a womanist church in Dallas, Texas, doing the hard work of creating a beloved Christian community while they impact and transform the community. Jesus feels at home at The Gathering because he identifies so strongly with their liberating and empowering theology that informs their loving ecclesiology. I could see Jesus inspired by the compassionate and welcoming climate that characterizes The Gathering. Jesus would appreciate and applaud the egalitarian leadership of bold, brilliant, and dynamic Black women who embody and fight to dismantle hierarchy and work in harmony with Jesus at the center of their word, worship, and work. I could see Jesus being blessed and even shouting during the sermons because they are informed by womanism. The Gathering tells us that “womanism is rooted in Black women’s experiences of struggle, resistance to oppression, survival, and community building.” Jesus identifies with womanism because of his own struggle as a dark-skinned Palestinian under empire, resistance to oppression, survival, and determination to build the beloved community. Since “womanism

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