"Storied Witness: The Theology of Black Women Preachers in 19th-Century America"—by Kate Hanch
I’ve been meaning to post about this book for a couple months now but either the time didn’t seem right or other things got in the way. But I don’t want to delay any longer because folks need to know about this book.
The
author, Kate Hanch, is a friend and
pastor in town (so please forgive me for using her first name rather than her
surname in what follows), and I’ve benefited from pretty regular theological
conversations with her for a number of years now. She always brings figures and
ideas to the conversation that I haven’t encountered before, or haven’t encountered
intensively enough before, and I always walk away feeling that my intellectual
horizon has expanded. I can only hope she feels the same way.
This
book lifts up the lives and witness of three black women preachers from 19th-century
American: Zilpha Elaw, Julia Foote, and Sojourner Truth. Of these women, Truth
was the only one I had even heard of before meeting Kate, and I’m glad to have
had the chance to learn from her about Elaw and Foote, as well as learning a
lot more about Truth! Here is one excerpt that focuses on the
interconnectedness of the pastoral and the prophetic in these figures (from pp.
150–51; bold is mine):
“Elaw, Foote, and Truth perceive
the prophetic in the vein of the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. They cite
these prophets numerous times in their sermons and autobiographies. Hebrew
prophets saw themselves as called by God, sent to speak the Word to their
communities. Their messages could be directives, pronouncements of judgment or
wrath, or even comforting words. … In the Hebrew Scriptures, prophets were not
lone individuals but members of the larger community who were accountable to
the society. The twentieth-century Jewish Mystic Abraham Heschel perceives the
prophetic as siding with the downtrodden, expressing both anger and sympathy: ‘Prophecy
is the voice that God has lent to the silent agony, a voice to the plundered.’ The
three women, in different ways, body this voice of God to their communities.
They all document their experiences of racism and sexism. Sojourner Truth, for
example, spoke of the exploitation of her enslaved Black siblings. They make
the silent agony visible in their sermons and memoirs.
Elaw,
Foote, and Truth functioned pastorally in that they offered care and support to
their audiences and communities, helping people draw closer to God. The
sixth-century theologian Gregory the Great, who wrote the first pastoral care
manual, describes a good pastor as one who is ‘a near neighbor to every one in
sympathy, and exalted above all in contemplation.’ For Gregory, a pastor must
both possess good integrity and love of their neighbors. Gregory’s description
of a pastor infers that Jesus Christ is the ultimate pastor, who, like a shepherd,
cares for his flock by speaking the truth. Jesus as the Good Shepherd loves and
protects his flock. Elaw, Foote, and Truth bodied this pastoral presence as
well: speaking a prophetic word to oppressors meant promoting the well-being
of the downtrodden. The pastoral and prophetic necessarily interconnect
for all women.”
This
book is easy to read but highlights and shares profound, reorienting thoughts
from Elaw, Foote, Truth, and Kate as well. I have recommended it both to fellow
scholars and to church folks. On the latter note, it can be profitably read in
church book clubs or adult education / spiritual formation contexts. And Kate
has also prepared a discussion guide—just
reach out to her and she will be happy to send it.
I
hope you’ll pick up a copy of this book. It will be well worth your time.
But you don’t have to just take my word for it. Here are some testimonials from
other folks as well:
For today's recent book in the history of christianity, we are featuring @katehanch's "Storied Witness: The Theology of Black Women Preachers in 19th-Century America."
— Church History (@ASChurchHistory) January 13, 2023
Check it out at @Fortresspress: https://t.co/otTJyYBVV9 pic.twitter.com/TnRCBz30Lj
New Book by NABPR Member and series editor @katehanch
— #NABPR (@nabpr1) December 15, 2022
"Storied Witness: The Theology of Black Women Preachers in 19th-Century America" #acrel #amrel #nabpr #sblaar22 https://t.co/aBrYd8YIds
While you are resting up today enjoy the newest episode of Black Coffee and Theology with @robertjmonson as he talks with @katehanch about her new book! pic.twitter.com/Wnlxr0Y4e8
— Three Black Men Podcast (@3BlackMen) October 23, 2022
Y’all look at what @katehanch sent me. Kate is a wonderful person and has been such a joy to interact with.
— Robert the Low Vibrational Contemplative (@robertjmonson) October 18, 2022
Congrats doc! I am so happy this offering is in the world finally and can’t wait to read pic.twitter.com/iGqITkjfZx
We see you @katehanch! Congrats!! pic.twitter.com/QSK5AoZkQE
— Andre E. Johnson (@aejohnsonphd) October 3, 2022
==================================Weekend plans! #ZilphaElaw @katehanch pic.twitter.com/XlInOg5vT8
— Kimberly Blockett (@profblockett) September 30, 2022
Follow @WTravisMcMaken
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