In this research project titled “In God’s Image: Black Womanhood and Effective Leadership,” I asked, "How have Black clergywomen utilized a positive paradigm of Black womanhood to construct an effective leadership style?" The goal of this qualitative study was to discover a correlation between Black clergywomen possessing an affirming understanding of their womanhood, in particular Black womanhood, and their ability to lead effectively as Black clergywomen who serve in the Black Church. Using womanist approach, I argued that there is a correlation between Black clergywomen having a positive paradigm of Black womanhood and leading effectively as Black clergywomen within the occasionally oppressive and restrictive context of the Black Church. For the data collection, I conducted semi-structured interviews and participant observation with three Black clergywomen who serve within the Black Church in the city of Atlanta, GA. I interviewed and observed my participants by visiting their religious settings. Through content analysis of collected data, I discovered that my participants have positive self-defining narratives of Black womanhood and lead effectively as Black clergywomen with a collaborative leadership style.
