Southern Methodist women and social justice : interracial activism in the long twentieth century / edited by Janet Allured and M. Kathryn Armistead.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Allured, Janet, editor.

Armistead, M. Kathryn, 1952- editor.

Series:

Southern dissent.

Southern Dissent Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Methodist Episcopal Church, South--Biography.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Methodist women--Southern States--History--Biography.

Methodist women.

Women--Southern States--History--Biography.

Women.

Women in church work--Southern States--Methodist Church--History--20th century--Biography.

Women in church work.

Women civil rights workers--Southern States--History--20th century--Biography.

Women civil rights workers.

African American women--Southern States--History--20th century--Biography.

African American women.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (385 pages)

Edition:

1st.

Place of Publication:

Gainesville, FL : University Press of Florida, [2025]

Summary:

"Highlighting the contributions of Methodist women in advocating for progressive reform from 1900 to the present This book tells the stories of nine southern Methodist women, who, inspired by their faith, carried forward the spirit of progressivism. They fought for racial equality, challenged white male supremacy, and addressed class oppression. The white and Black women featured here responded to local human rights violations with compassion, advocating for expanded and more diverse private and public services in the United States. Motivated by a modernist interpretation of the Gospel authorized by the tenets of Methodism, these women expanded notions of southern identity and womanhood. Their actions supported the Black freedom struggle and promoted women's rights, gaining momentum after the 1939 rise of the Women's Society of Christian Service-the largest Protestant women's organization in the country. Grounded in research from church archives and interviews, this book shows how Methodist traditions provided spiritual, theological, and doctrinal support for social justice work among laywomen and female clergy. With Methodism as a case in point, this book expands the historical narrative of twentieth-century reform movements to include the South's progressive religious traditions. Contributors: Chelsea Elizabeth Hodge | Fran Wescott | Janet Lynn Allured | Randall M. Miller | Jeanette Stokes | M. Kathryn Armistead | Stanley Harrold | Rachel Sauls | Helen R. Neinast | Jennifer Copeland | Katie W. Powell A volume in the series Southern Dissent, edited by Stanley Harrold and Randall M. Miller "-- Provided by publisher.

"This book tells the stories of nine southern Methodist women, who, inspired by their faith, advocated for progressive reform by fighting for racial equality, challenging white male supremacy, and addressing class oppression"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction / Janet Allured and M. Kathryn Armistead

Part 1. Pioneering Laywomen

Legacy of a Spiritual Ancestor: Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) / Katie W. Powell

"The Complete Exercise of Active Citizenship" and the Political Power of Methodist Home Missionary Women: Bertha Payne Newell (1867-1953) / Chelsea Elizabeth Hodge

To Redeem the World? A Southern Christian's Struggle to Transform the South, the Nation, and the World: Thelma Stevens (1902-1990) / Janet Allured

African American Methodist, Southerner, Womanist: Theressa Hoover (1925-2013) / Janet Allured

Missionary, Champion of the Oppressed, Religious Feminist: Peggy Marie Billings (1928-2019) / Janet Allured

Part 2. Trailblazing Clergywomen

Make Plain the Vision? First African American Woman Bishop in the United States: Leontine T. C. Kelly (1920-2012) / Helen R. Neinast

Cracks in the Veneer? The Use of Power in Places Where the Powerful Least Expect It: Helen Gray Crotwell (1925-2006) / Jennifer E. Copeland

Trailblazer and First Woman Bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church: Charlene Kammerer (1948- ) / Jeanette Stokes and Fran Wescott

Roots and Resistance: Carol Burnett (1956- ) / Rachel Sauls

Epilogue: Where Do We Go from Here? / Janet Allured

Appendix: Historic Purpose Statements; United Women in Faith and Predecessors

Chronology: Selective Timeline of Methodism in the United States

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-8130-7149-6

0-8130-7373-1

0-8130-7099-6

OCLC:

1478251434