“Not by The Commission of Men’s Hands”: Contested Significance of COGIC Women's Pastoral Ordination

• In Event: 50461 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 2: Religious Organizations & Religion in Place

Abstract

The Church of God In Christ (COGIC) is the second largest Pentecostal denomination with a membership of over 3 million in the United States and 6 million worldwide. COGIC is also one of the foundational Christian denominations that sociologists recognize as the “Black Church.” Presently, the COGIC does not officially permit women’s ordination to be a pastor. But some COGIC women are currently serving as pastors. Previous Black church studies have relied on historical analysis and clergy interviews to focus on the persistence of COGIC women’s leadership despite continual contestation against their occupation of authoritative roles. I rely on Black feminist theories and methodologies to construct a contemporary analysis of the perceptions and meaning making of COGIC women pastors from lay members, clergy and former members of the COGIC. Using data from 7 focus group sessions and one in-depth interview with a COGIC pastor, this case study presents evidence of the current state of gender politics in the COGIC. Two emergent themes are: (a) the legitimation of women’s authority to pastor is anchored by proximity to men, based on gender status beliefs, and (b) Black women’s gender, racial and faith identities force them into “double dutching” within the confounding systems that shape their church experiences as they actively retain the culture and significance of the Black church, while pushing it forward. A case study on the COGIC allows for a robust examination of the intersections of gender, race, religion, organizational affiliation and ideological influence.

Author

• Vanessa D Verner, Texas A&M University-College Station