Resources from the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition on Women in Ministry

Special thanks to the Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy for making these and other resources available. 

Cloud of Witnesses: Portraits of Women Ministers in the Wesleyan/Holiness Movement 
edited by Gloria J. Bell

This is a 40 page booklet containing short biographies of seven women who were critical to the formation and history of the Wesleyan/Holiness Movement. Exhorters, abolitionists, writers, preachers and musicians - each woman unique in her own way.
Read the full text online here.
Cloud of Witnesses_Full Text.pdf
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Women in Ministry - The Wesleyan Church: A Brief History 
by Mari Gonlag

This document is a two and a half page summary of the rise of women in the Wesleyan movement, from 1830 to present day, including women's rights, the ordination of women and hardships that arose in the mid-20th century.  
Read the full text online here.
Women in Ministry_Full Text
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Evangelical Roots of Feminism 
by Donald Dayton

Written in 1975, Donald Dayton argues that "evangelical soil is a natural one for the growth of feminism." Discussions include Evangelical Revival, Pre-Civil War American Revivalism and Post-Civil War developments. 
Read the full text online here.
Evangelical Roots_Full Text
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Ezer Cenegdo: A Power Like Him, Facing Him As Equal
by Joseph Coleson

Coleson uses scholarly study and shared insights throughout the Wesleyan/Holiness Movement to show that Genesis 1 and 2 are a display of God's design of equality between genders. Major themes are "The Order of Creation", "The Order of the Fall" and "The Order of Redemption". 
Read the full text online here.
Ezer Cenegdo_Full Text
File Size: 390 kb
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God's Call: From Infilling to Outpouring
Sermons by Wesleyan/Holiness Women Preachers
edited by Margaret Dunn

This publication is a collection of four sermons given at the second international Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy Conference in April of 1996.
Read the full text online here.
God's Call_Full Text
File Size: 11927 kb
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Inclusive Language Handbook: A Practical Guide to Using Inclusive Language
by Don Thorsen and Vickie Becker

From the Foreword: "This book provides a theological rationale for the use of inclusive language when talking about people and offers suggestions on incorporating inclusive language in our speaking and our writing."
Read the full text online here.
Inclusive Language_Full Text
File Size: 6668 kb
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Reclaiming the Wesleyan/Holiness Heritage of Women Clergy: Sermons, A Case Study and Resources
by Randy Huber and John E. Stanley

This publication is a 1999 collection of several earlier works, including eleven sermons by Pastor Randy Huber that initiated bylaw changes at the Chapel Hill Church of God York Springs, PA to allow women to serve as pastoral leaders and on the Board of Elders. Of special interest is a section that compiles the official statements on women in ministry made by the major Wesleyan denominations. 
Read the full text online here.
Reclaiming the Heritage_Full Text
File Size: 438 kb
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Satisfied: Women Hymn Writers of the 19th Century Wesleyan/Holiness Movement
by Keith Schwanz

This article contains the stories of nine women who had a powerful impact on the Wesleyan movement through songs about sanctification. 
Read the full text online here.
Satisfied_Full Text
File Size: 10010 kb
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The Ordination of Antoinette Brown: The Transformation From 'Decency and Order' From Barrier to Bridge
by Donna Giver Johnston

This is the story of Antoinette Louisa Brown, a "pioneer on the frontier of women's ordination" in the faith. Her story is representative of the struggles of woman in the 19th century to attain equality in society and in the pulpit. 
Read the full text online here.
Ordination_Full Text
File Size: 206 kb
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Why Wesleyans Favor Women in Ministry
by Ken Schenck

Five scripturally based reasons for supporting Women in Ministry, written by Ken Schenck on behalf of the Department of Education & Ministry of The Wesleyan Church.
Read the full text online here.
Wesleyan Favor Women_Full Text
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Woman's Right to Preach the Gospel
by Rev. Luther Lee

Rev. Luther Lee was one of the preeminent leaders of the Wesleyan movement during the mid 19th century. This sermon was preached by Lee at the Ordination Ceremony of Antoinette Brown in Wayne County, NY in 1853.
Read the full text online here.
Woman's Right to Preach_Full Text
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Women in Ministry: Challenging the Cultural Obstacles
by Lee M. Haines

As a Wesleyan, Lee Haines identifies nine obstacles that are facing women in ministry today as well as methods that leaders in the church (especially male leaders0 can use to disarm these obstacles. 
Read the full text online here.
Cultural Obstacles_Full Text
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A Position Statement on Women in the Ministry in the Wesleyan Church
prepared by the Task Force on Women in the Ministry

This document is an official statement of the Wesleyan Church reaffirming their commitment to women in leadership, including ordained ministry, as presented by the Task Force on Women in the Ministry appointed by the General Board of the Wesleyan Church.(date unknown)
Read the full text online here.
Position Statement_Full Text
File Size: 28 kb
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Declaration of Sentiments of the first Women's Rights Convention of 1848

This is the Declaration of Sentiments of the first Women's Rights Convention of 1848 and the resolutions adopted by those who were in attendance at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Fall.
Read the full text online here.
Declaration of Sentiments_Full Text
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Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy: A Preliminary Bibliography
compiled by Susie C. Stanley

This somewhat dated (1994), "preliminary" bibliography on women in ministry in the Wesleyan/Holiness heritage was prepared by one of the leading scholars in Wesleyan studies, Susie Stanley. It is an excellent resource for students. 
Read the full text online here.
Biblio Women Clergy_Full Text
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