Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Todd Schultz

Keywords

Black clergywomen, strong black woman, marginalization, church leadership

Disciplines

Psychology | Religion

Abstract

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the psychological impact race and gender have on Black clergywomen serving in leadership positions in the church. The current research explored how Black clergywomen perceive race and gender in the Black church, how race and gender influence Black women when pursuing senior clergy positions, and how strength and resilience impact Black women who serve in church leadership positions. The theories guiding this study were the Black Feminist Theory, Intersectionality, and the Strong Black Woman Theory. In the early 1980s Black women activists such as Patricia Hill Collins and Kimberlé Crenshaw were significant in advancing the Black Feminist Theory (Lewis & Williams, 2023). The commitment of the theorists was to advocate for a class of people who face oppression, racism, sexism (Sterling, 2015). The current study highlighted how the barriers shape leadership styles in the chosen population. The data were collected using interviews, focus groups, and reflective journaling to capture the experiences of the participants.

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