Women's Spirituality and Education in the Black Church

2017 | Gender Studies

The purpose of this book is to examine the role of spirituality in the life experiences of black women who embody a spirituality of teaching as well as a call to social justice. Specifically, this book will explore how spirituality has informed educational practices that have inspired black women's empowerment, social activism, and personal/communal transformation. The primary concern will be to examine insights for pedagogy within a triple-heritage model of Christian education grounded in a spirituality of teaching. In this regard, the book will build upon my ongoing research of a triple-heritage model of Christian education, which draws upon key aspects of the African American heritage (e.g., spirituals, storytelling, dance, proverbs, metaphor, etc.) as viable sources for teaching the triple-heritage (African, African American, and Christian) of African Americans. Although this book will focus primarily on African and African American cultural traditions, it will also invite persons from other cultural traditions to explore the interconnections of women's spirituality and Christian education in their own cultural contexts.

Moreover, the book will suggest a multidimensional triple-heritage approach that can inform contemporary Christian education. My aim is to offer a process for Christian educators (in both the church and academy) not only to explore African American Christian education, but also to engage in a broader dialogue across diverse cultures and traditions.

Yolanda Y. Smith (Author)