Maryann Hawkins

Women Clergy of the Church of God: Through the Lens of Leadership Emergence Theory Maryann Hawkins

Women who have responded to God's call to ministry share common processes in their emergence into and development in leadership. Leadership Emergence Theory was first articulated by J. Robert Clinton, in studies which focused on Christian men. For those denominations (Wesleyan-Holiness) that ordain women to pastoral ministry the question is whether the patterns of leadership emergence are the same for women. This research addresses that very question. The context for research was the Church of God in North America, looking not only at Caucasians, but African-Americas and Latina-Americans. There are many processes that all leaders share: male or female; brown, black or white. There are also many processes in the development of leaders that are particular to sex and race. It is important for those preparing Christian leaders to understand both the similarities and the differences.