She Preached the Word: Women’s Ordination in Modern America
by Benjamin Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin
Oxford University Press, 2018
PURCHASE: Oxford University Press | Amazon
“She Preached the Word is a landmark study of women’s ordination in contemporary American congregations. In this groundbreaking work, Benjamin Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin draw upon a novel collection of survey data and personal narrative interviews to answer several important questions, including: Who supports women’s ordination in their congregations? What are the most common reasons for and against women’s ordination? What effect do female clergy have on young women and girls, particularly in terms of their psychological, economic, and religious empowerment later in life? How do women clergy affect levels of congregational attendance and engagement among members? What explains the persistent gender gap in America’s clergy? Knoll and Bolin find that female clergy indeed matter, but not always in the ways that might be expected. They show, for example, that while female clergy have important effects on women in the pews, they have stronger effects on theological and political liberals. Throughout this book, Knoll and Bolin discuss how the persistent gender gap in the wider economic, social, and political spheres will likely continue so long as women are underrepresented in America’s pulpits. Accessible to scholars and general readers alike, She Preached the Word is a timely and important contribution to our understanding of the intersection of gender, religion, and politics in contemporary American society.”
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction: The Need for a New Perspective
Chapter 2. Women’s Ordination in America: A Contemporary Overview
Chapter 3. Support and Skepticism Regarding Women’s Ordination
Chapter 4. Who Supports Women’s Ordination in America?
Chapter 5. A Second Look at Views on Women’s Ordination
Chapter 6. Clergywomen and Young Girls: The Importance of Role Models
Chapter 7. The Effect of Clergywomen: Religious Representation
Chapter 8. The Effect of Clergywomen: Religious Empowerment and Mobilization
Chapter 9. Conclusion: Clergywomen Matter
Reviews:
“This book is a much-needed addition. In their thoughtfully argued and meticulously researched work, the authors offer a look at the social realities and political ramifications of the continuing influx of women into the ministry. At a time when women’s opportunities for political leadership are expanding in general, this book is a welcome contribution.” — Laura R. Olson, Professor of Political Science, Clemson University
“She Preached the Word is a wide-ranging, creative book that contributes in multiple ways to knowledge about female religious leadership. Its findings about how female clergy affect people in congregations-especially the women and girls-are especially original and compelling. This important book is a must-read for anyone who cares about gender equity in American religion, and who wants to know more about why it matters.” — Mark Chaves, Professor of Sociology, Religious Studies, and Divinity, Duke University
“A needed re-examination of the issue of women’s ordination after the elapse of several decades. Drawing upon literature not previously brought to the topic and placing their analysis and discussion within the context of initial research findings, this clearly written study utilizes a combination of different methodological approaches to examine both the factors shaping church-goers’ support for women’s ordination as well as the effects female clergy have on the religious attitudes and behavior of those in the pews.” — Corwin E. Smidt, Calvin College
Coverage:
- Oxford University Press Blog: “Ten things to know about women’s ordination in the United States”
- Cross-posted by Gay Catholic Priests blog.
- Religion in Public: “Who supports women’s ordination in America? It’s not who you might think.“
- Religion in Public: “Research suggests that support for women’s ordination may be lower than it appears, especially among women“
- Religion in Public: “Do American Catholics favor women’s ordination? Perhaps not as many as surveys suggest.“
- Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post: “Catholics’ Support for Female Priests May Be Exaggerated, Researchers Say“
- Religion in Public: “Can more lay leadership roles for women compensate for male-only clergy? A qualified ‘yes’“
- Flunking Sainthood blog, Religion News Service: “New research shows that women’s ordination boosts trust and commitment among some American worshipers”
- Cross-posted by the Houston Chronicle.
- Alyssa Fisher in Forward.com: “Ordaining Women Religious Leaders Boosts Commitment Among American Worshipers“
- Religion in Public: “Here’s one way to increase women’s representation in politics: ordain more women as pastors and priests“
- Mormon Matters Podcast: “Women’s Ordination and Congregational Leadership: Exploring New Research“
- A Thoughtful Faith Podcast: “When a Woman Leads the Church: Women’s Ordination in the USA“
- Flunking Sainthood blog, Religion News Service: “It’s good for girls to have clergywomen, study shows”
- Cross-posted by Red Letter Christians.
- Cross-posted by Sight Magazine.
- Cross-posted by Church News Ireland.
- Cross-posted by Evangelizadoras de los apóstoles.
- Rosalind Hughes for Episcopal Cafe: “Clergy women are good for girls“
- Sarabeth Caplin for Patheos.com, Friendly Atheist Blog: “Girls Who Go to Church Fare Better in Life When They See Women in the Pulpit“
- Kira Schlesinger for Ministry Matters: “Girls Need Clergywomen“
- Short summary by Chris Gehrz, The Pietist Schoolman Blog, June 30, 2018.
- Rosalind C Hughes, Over the Water blog: “Nevertheless, she preached“, July 24, 2018.
- Brad Ulgenes, Helena, Montana Independent Record: “Women in ministry“, August 4, 2018.
- John Longhurst in Winnepeg Free Press: “Women leaders improves girls’ self-esteem“, August 18, 2018.
- Alfredo Boyd in Bedford Journal: “Catholics‘ Support for Female Priests May Be Exaggerated, Researchers Say“, August 3, 2018.
- Annette Bourland Huizenga in Saying Grace blog: “You Never Know“, August 29, 2018.
- Melissa Bills in Young Women Clergy International: “The Stone Cast Upon the Water“, September 6, 2018.
- Shannon Sullivan in Young Women Clergy International: “Not Just the Future but the Present“, September 11, 2018.
- Potstirrer Podcast: “Episode 37: She Preached the Word Interview with Benjamin Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin“, September 23, 2018.
- Raylene Hinz-Penner in Mennonite World Review: “Book review: ‘The Pastor Wears a Skirt’“, November 5, 2018.
- Steve Gardner in Authentic Theology blog: “Church of Christ Practice Harms Girls Long-Term, Suggests 2018 Study“, November 28, 2018.
- Emily Zimbrick-Rogers, Reading Religion of the American Academy of Religion: Book Review: “She Preached the Word: Women’s Ordination in Modern America”, November 30, 2018.
- Christina Colón, Sojourners Magazine: “The Power of the Pulpit: Review of ‘She Preached the Word: Women’s Ordination in Modern America’ by Benjamin R. Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin.“, January 2019.
- Cindy Long, Centre College News: “Student, faculty collaborative research results in publication of “She Preached the Word”“, January 22, 2019.
- Women and the Church: A Report on the Developments in Women’s Ministry in 2019, January 2020.
- Meghan Tschanz, Faith and Feminism Podcast: Episode 65: Why we need more women’s leadership in the Church, January 2020.
Benjamin Knoll is the John Marshall Harlan Associate Professor of Politics at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Iowa and specializes in public opinion and voting behavior, with a specialization in religion, race, ethnicity, and politics.
Cammie Jo Bolin is a recent graduate of Centre College and currently a Ph.D. student in political science at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Her research interests include gender and politics, representation, and religion and politics.