Prominent African-American religious leaders to hold Womanist Symposium Jan. 14

San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union will present a Womanist Symposium Saturday, Jan. 14, at McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley as part of the Black Church/Africana Certificate Program.

Open to everyone, the symposium is tailored to seminary students, those considering theological education and clergy women. Workshops are designed to empower, encourage, energize and equip ministerial leaders in the 21^st century, especially African-American women.

The Black Church/Africana Certificate Program is under the direction of Rev. Dr. James Noel, Professor of American Religion and H. Eugene Farlough, Jr. Chair at SFTS. The symposium convener is Rev. Dr. Martha Taylor, adjunct professor for the SFTS Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity programs, and principal owner of Ministry Christian Training.

“Given the realities of sexism in a post modern world and the continued undermining of a womanist theology, this symposium acknowledges that leadership roles in ministry are often fraught with subtle and overt politics of exclusion and the realism of marginalization based on sexism,” Taylor said. “The old traditional ecclesiastical institution is becoming an endangered and extinct institution if the culture continues to imprison the gifts and creativity of seminary trained women while preserving sexism, homophobia and other primitive practices.” 

The list of symposium committee members and speakers includes prominent African-American religious leaders from throughout the Bay Area.

Rev. Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble, assistant minister at Imani Community Church in Oakland, is adjunct professor at American Baptist Seminary of the West. Her workshop is entitled “Leadership Skills to Navigate Politics, People, and Places.” This workshop draws attention to the importance of understanding leadership strengths necessary to address sexism, isolation, fear and anger.

Rev. Dr. Brenda Guess and Rev. Dr. Albirda Rose Eberhardt will lead the workshop “Write the Vision and Make It Plain!” Guess is chancellor of the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple in Oakland. Eberhardt is Professor of Dance Emerita at San Francisco State University. Their workshop will focus on infusing womanist values and concerns to help participants discover how to access, develop and implement God’s vision for their lives.

Rev. Dr. Donna E. Allen, founder and pastor of New Revelation Community Church in Oakland, is adjunct professor at Pacific School of Religion and American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley. Allen will address “Preaching in a Womanist Voice.” This workshop is an overview for attendees to be intentional in incorporating womanist concerns in preaching.

Womanist Symposium

When:     Saturday, Jan. 14, 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Where:    McGee Avenue Baptist Church

               1640 Stuart Street

               Berkeley, CA 94703