Black Women and Religious Cultures 2.2

Practices of investigation and diagnosis are present in our minds because there is the lingering reality of a worldwide pandemic. Medical researchers and institutions continue to investigate antidotes, extents and limits of safety protocols, and appropriate steps for determining how to, in a currently evolving situation, overcome challenges of the coronavirus. Beyond medical personnel, politicians and pundits also are offering solutions to this scientific challenge. Assessing realities we face to determine the way forward....

This study examines a debate that sparked a national conversation between two divergent women’s groups in Ghana—Pepper Dem Ministries (PDM) and Sugar Dem Ghana (SDG). Before reporting findings from taking their discourses on the definition of a woman to the streets of Madina and Legon, the paper briefly summarizes feminist perspectives in the West and notes homogeneity and heterogeneity of women’s experiences around the globe. It zooms in on feminism in Africa and Ghana, examining the definition of a woman in traditional Ghanaian culture, popular music, literature, knowledge production, media, and religion. The author argues that there are multiple feminisms with relatively contextual variations in defining a woman, yet all geared towards making society masculine as the debate revolves around patriarchy, i.e., “peppering” and “sugaring” men at the expense of focus on women. Findings indicate that PDM and SDG neo-feminist groups diverge fundamentally in the primary focus of their activism. They also differ in their commitment to advocating for all women by prioritizing an intersectional approach in their engagement. Participants from the Madina Market and the University of Ghana at Legon supported both groups. For some PDM seems too “strong” and is tagged as Western in orientation and elitist as educated folks mainly support it. In contrast, a mixed-bag of the participants appear to accept SDG. Pro-SDG supporters consider their model as the norm in Ghana. Keywords: Neo-feminism, gender roles, Africa, Ghana, culture, perspectives [Black Women and Religious Cultures 2020, vol.2, no.2, pp. 1-23] Published by University of Minnesota Press ©Black Women and Religious Cultures. All rights reserved. | DOI: 10.53407/bwrc2.2.2021.100.09

This essay affirms the value of experientially based leadership formation in Doctor of Ministry theological education as a hallmark of developing religious leadership for the African American context. It suggests envisioning leadership practicum goals so students gain intercultural competencies for all ministry contexts. The essay argues it is possible to increase cultural and ethnic literacy, personal formation and development, attitude and values clarification, multiethnic and multicultural social competence, basic ministry skills proficiency, educational equity and excellence, and empowerment for intercultural engagement through focused competency goals. It encourages experiences of cultural disorientation as the context in which students best learn the need to affirm ethnic identity, to be inclusive, to appreciate diversity, and to overcome fear of human diversity. Stated differently, through intentional comprehension of commonalities of human community, DMin students journey more rapidly toward intercultural competence. Keywords: Doctor of Ministry, Intercultural Competencies, Ministry Context, Leadership Formation [Black Women and Religious Cultures 2020, vol.2, no.2] Published by University of Minnesota Press ©Black Women and Religious Cultures. All rights reserved. | DOI: 10.53407/bwrc2.2.2021.100.08