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Lauren W. Reliford “You’ve never heard of womanist theology?!” My colleague Rev. Moya Harris looked at me with a mix of excitement and incredulity. This wasn’t unusual: Through I attended parochial schools and Catholic colleges, I’m a relative newbie to the wider world of faith-based organizations and advocacy — and thus my work frequently involves googling the names of theologians, denominations, and Christian leaders I’ve never heard of before. I love this environment of continued learning, but when I learned about womanist theology, I realized I had been missing a key element of my faith: the liberatory and healing nature of God. Womanism examines the lived experience of Black women who are subject to oppression that intersects with their race, class, and gender. Black poet and novelist Alice Walker is credited with coining the term “womanism.” In her 1983 collection of essays, letters, and speeches, In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens, Walker offers a four-part definition that focuses on spirituality, creativity, oppression of Black women, and respect. She begins by explaining that a womanist is “A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children” adding that it can also include “a woman who loves other women, sexually and/or non-sexually. Appreciates and prefers women’s culture … Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female.” She famously concludes her definition by stating: “Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.” For Walker, womanism offered a more robust analysis of sociopolitical and cultural issues than feminism, which focused mainly on class and gender and missed the lived oppression for women of color. Walker’s womanism also powerfully focuses on the historical experiences of Black women, from enslavement to segregation and Jim Crow to recent struggles against racism, stereotyping, and poverty, creating a link from the past to present that continues to capture the hearts and minds of future womanists.
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This Easter, be a steward of the earth to protect all of God’s creation. We are all God’s creation. Our actions have an impact on the health of our community, shared home, and planet. Caring for our climate means caring for our neighbors and one another – just as the Lord intended. This Easter, answer the call and be a steward of the earth. Easter Retreat at Trinity Retreat Center Reflect throughout Holy Week, moving intentionally in liturgy, community, and prayer from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday, followed by a festive brunch on Easter Day. Come join in a participatory, immersive experience celebrating the circle of life and Christian faith: from life, to death, to resurrection, to larger life! Deep South Investors Tour: June 5-10 Join Faith and Money Network on a six-day tour through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, to experience how our country’s legacy of racial inequity persists today in major systems from home ownership to education to banking — and how Hope Credit Union and its investors are working for change. Use your faith to spread awareness about climate change Anita's village in Malawi has seen the urgent impact of climate change. Follow her journey to the US in The Ants and the Grasshopper, as she uses her faith to connect with American farmers across social divides, inspiring them to take action. Join fellow faith-led climate activists with our toolkit. |
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