African American Clergy Women in Community with "the Self": A womanist pastoral theological study exploring self-literacy and self-relationship utilizing concepts from neuroscience and indigenous spirituality Öffentlichkeit

Abstract

Through the lens of Womanist pastoral theology, selected neuroscientific perspectives and indigenous spirituality, this research explores African American clergy women's health, self-literacy, and self-relationship in correlation to early foundational messages that were received about the body. An examination of the impact of these messages, the early models and influences that informed such messages and the engaged healing practices used to address them were analyzed and appropriated to inform the development of a useful pastoral psychological framework for constructive embodied thought and healing approaches for African American clergy women.

These messages and experiences are examined using the following: Object Relations psychotherapeutic models, particularly related to identity formation and developmental phases; Clinical Pastoral Education methodology, the Action-Reflection-Action model of learning and developing greater self-literacy as a spiritual leader who cares for others; and socio cultural contextual analysis that illumines the "situatedness" and complexity of any experience to be explored. In addition, the dialectical nature of faith and theology draws upon, in this case, the oral tradition and narratives that prefer African American clergy women's voices.

Analysis from research participant responses uncovers the lived experiences of African American clergy women as persons acquainted with their bodies, but unfamiliar with it in significant ways, until negative health outcomes force attention that may have been absent over time. A survey instrument crafted for qualitative interviews yielded findings that support an argument for inclusion of body intelligence and body knowledge in this conversation on health. It holds crucial information for decisions about how African American clergy women engage their health and well-being as well as approaches to spiritual care that make up her "community of the self;" a term adopted to highlight the necessity of the African American clergy woman to tend to the "I," not in exclusion of community, but in embrace of the collective voices of the past, present, family and community that already reside within her. This ‘I' calls for a radical regard for the self, inclusive of the body, mind and spirit in constant communication. Neuroscience in this work, supports the notion that communication is consistent between parts of the body at the cellular level. Consequently, intentionality was found to be key when exploring options for healthy practices that nurture the "I" while still attending work of the spiritual care of others.

In summary, this dissertation reinforces and focuses on the importance of cries from the body, the messages it yields and the necessity of this voice to be heard more clearly and considered equally profound within psychological, socio-cultural and theological discussions about the health and well-being of African American clergy women.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CHAPTER

 I. INTRODUCTION

   Conceptualizing the Question 4

   Literature Review 14

 II. RESEARCH DESIGN 23

   Methodology 23

   Design 25

   Qualitative Interview Survey Instrument 28

   Introduction of Participants 33

AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY WOMEN SPEAK

 III. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY 37

 IV. CHALLENGES AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY WOMEN FACE IN MINISTRY 54

 V. EARLY MODELS, INFLUENCES AND HEALTH CORRELATIONS EXPLORED 66

AFRICAN AMERICN WOMEN CARING FOR THE ‘COMMUNITY OF THE SELF’

 VI. HEALING APPROACHES 82

   A. COMMUNITY OF THE SELF DEFINED 84

   B. A PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK DESIGN 90

   C. WHAT SELECTED NEUROSCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES AND SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY OFFER A CONVERSATION ON HEALING PRACTICE 98

   D. DIVERSE HEALING PRACTICES 105

   E. A WOMANIST CONSTRUCTIVE EMBODIED FRAMEWORK MODEL FOR HEALING - “FIERCELY” 118

   F. A WOMANIST THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION – THE CANAANITE WOMAN ARCHETYPE 130

CONCLUSION 140

IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY 147

APPENDIXES 148

BIBLIOGRAPHY 173

About this Dissertation

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Pastoral Counseling
Degree	ThD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Pastoral Counseling Biology, Neuroscience Theology
Stichwort	Gender Studies, Embodiment Spirituality, Neurosciene, African American Clergy Women, Self-Literacy, Healing Body Mapping, Self-Awareness, Object Relations Theory, Womanist Theology, Liberation, Ritual, Indigenous Healing Practices,
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Lartey, Emmanuel Y, Emory University
Committee Members	McCrary, Carolyn, Interdenominational Theological Center Edward, Wimberly, Interdenominational Theological Center Scheib, Karen D, Emory University

Zuletzt geändert

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	African American Clergy Women in Community with "the Self": A womanist pastoral theological study exploring self-literacy and self-relationship utilizing concepts from neuroscience and indigenous spirituality ()	2025-03-24 11:25:00 -0400	Press to Select an action

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Diss - ACKNOWLEDGEMNTS.docx ()	2018-08-28 15:50:00 -0400	Press to Select an action Download