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Veteran Pastor Challenges Church on Women in Leadership in New Book

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson's new book "Never Lost" challenges the Black Church on women in ministry, arguing inclusive leadership is essential for its future. Available for preorder.

This news matters because it addresses a persistent and deeply consequential issue within one of America's most influential social and moral institutions: the Black Church. The exclusion of women from full leadership roles not only limits the talents and callings of half its membership but also weakens the Church's moral authority and practical effectiveness in addressing societal injustices, which often intersect with gender. Dr. Richardson, a figure of immense credibility with over fifty years of pastoral leadership and civil rights activism, is not merely theorizing; he is reporting from the front lines of successful, inclusive ministry. His argument that the Church's future viability depends on this inclusivity challenges readers, both within and outside religious communities, to reflect on how systemic biases in any institution diminish its potential for good. For individuals, this impacts personal faith journeys, community health, and the broader pursuit of social justice, suggesting that true progress requires confronting internal contradictions as well as external challenges.