Stephanie M. Crumpton's contribution to womanist pastoral theology is invaluable, and her attention to the narratives of Black women's lived experience is exquisite and carefully conveyed. Her selective appropriation of psychoanalytic theories in the service of expanding the field's attention to culture and the dynamics of interpersonal and cultural forms of violence is a work very much needed. I am excited that A Womanist Pastoral Theology Against Intimate and Cultural Violence will be available for classes in pastoral theology but also for classes preparing pastoral counselors. It is a sophisticated work and will be appreciated by scholars and graduates grappling with the intersection of race, culture, and psychology. - Phillis Isabella Sheppard, Associate Professor, Religion, Culture and Psychology, Vanderbilt Divinity School, USA
Violence always occurs at the intersection of personal, cultural, and religious horizons. Crumpton gives an excellent analysis of how these horizons create vulnerability for Black women facing violence. Her book is a model of pastoral tools that must be a part of pastoral care with all genders, races, classes, and cultural locations. I recommend this book to all religious leaders who shape communities of care, healing, and salvation in their communities. - James Newton Poling, Professor Emeritus, Pastoral Theology and Counseling, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA
Stephanie M. Crumpton has given us an excellent example of the workings of pastoral theology. She courageously engages in an intricate weaving of historic social and cultural studies, psychological analysis, and womanist theology, in confronting the endemic and pervasive issue of violence against women. Grounded in the real life narratives of Black women, this book provides tools for healing and the care of persons individually and communally. - Emmanuel Y. Lartey, L. Bevel Jones Professor, Pastoral Theology, Care and Counseling, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, USA