Date
11-11-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership (PhD)
Chair
Melody K. Smith
Keywords
African American Church, Scriptural Authority, Women, Female Leaders, Non-denominational Churches, Complementarianism, Stain Glass Ceiling, Egalitarianism, Senior Leadership, Women's Work
Disciplines
Christianity | Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Cothran, Earnestine Tyshell, "On Whose Authority? Discerning Selection of Female Leadership in the African American Non-Denominational Churches" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 9048.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/9048
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of senior church leaders and women pursuing senior leadership roles within African American non-denominational churches in North Carolina regarding the selection of women for senior leadership roles. This study examined the lived experiences of senior leaders and women who served or sought to serve in senior leadership roles within African American nondenominational churches in North Carolina. The problem emerged from a previous literature review as a replication study, “The Influence of Views Regarding Scriptural Authority on Female Leadership within The Independent Baptist African American Denomination” (McZeal, 2021). McZeal’s (2021) study highlighted the need to examine how similar theological dynamics operated across multiple denominational contexts. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to enhance the current understanding of female dynamics in church leadership, with a particular focus on African American non-denominational Christian churches. The study was guided by the S-E-R-V-E framework, a theological leadership model emphasizing service, empowerment, and spiritual calling, which provided a contemporary lens for examining ecclesial leadership practices and patterns (Muriithi, 2023, p. 1). The theory also addressed theological ambiguities surrounding leadership roles, which remained critical to clarifying church structure and authority (Tangen, 2023, p. 17). The study concluded that leadership should rely on calling, gifting, and effectiveness in ministry, not gender. Both male and female participants agreed that women called and gifted by God should have equal opportunities for senior leadership roles.
