Preacher Woman grabs attention from the first page with a beautifully written story. The narrative recounts a conference called 'Nevertheless She Preached' and the welcome at the conference welcomes readers to the book. As a woman preacher myself, my heart beat faster at the strength and depth of that welcome: it is offered, like a litany, to readers' different parts. There is an urgency of invitation here, which is difficult not to find compelling. * Naomi Nixon, Student Christian Movement, Birmingham, Modern Believing *
In a time when much of America's social critique has been shifting the focus from individuals to systems, Preacher Woman makes an important contribution to understanding gender inequalities in religious communities from a systemic vantage point and is an essential addition to the scholarly work on gender and religion. * Benjamin R. Knoll, Sociology of Religion *
an important study * Dwayne Howell, Homiletic *
A must-read for anyone in church leadership who desires to empower women. * CBE International (Christians for Biblical Equality) *
An excellent textbook option for undergraduate, graduate, and seminary courses focusing on gender and/or religion.... Preacher Woman makes an important contribution to understanding gender inequalities in religious communities from a systemic vantage point and is an essential addition to the scholarly work on gender and religion. * Sociology of Religion *
Shattering the stained-glass ceiling is now a closer reality with Lauve-Moon's Preacher Woman. This thorough and multi-disciplinary work is a much-needed mandate for churches to address the embedded sexist policies that continue to hold women back from leadership roles. It is this kind of research and forthright narration that might indeed break down systemic barriers and transform our ecclesial institutions toward true gender equity. * Karoline M. Lewis, Marbury E. Anderson Chair and Professor of Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN *
Preacher Woman goes a long way to explaining why women remain so under-represented in the pulpits even of a religious group that espouses gender equality. Lauve-Moon shows how the absence of role models, ostensibly gender-neutral hiring practices that are anything but, implicit and explicit biases, and subtle and not-so-subtle discouragements all play a role. Preacher Woman is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the barriers to true equal opportunity for female clergy. * Mark Chaves, Professor of Sociology, Religious Studies, and Divinity, Duke University *
