A SACRED INVITATION TO TRANSFORMATION: Womanism and the Work of Justice

by Lisa Dunson

The 2025 Annual Gathering (AG2025) of the Alliance of Baptists will center us in the bold, transformative theme: “I Met God and She’s a Black Woman: Womanism and Traditions of Resistance.” This theme is an invitation to meet the Divine through the lens of Womanism, reimagining how we see God, justice, and community. As we journey toward this sacred gathering, I invite you to reflect with me on how Womanist Theology calls us to new ways of being, belonging, and bearing witness to God’s liberative love.

Alice Walker first introduced the term “womanism” in her 1983 book, In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens. She defined a Womanist as someone who “loves herself. Regardless,” and is devoted to “the survival and wholeness of an entire people.” Womanism, at its heart, centers the experiences, wisdom, and leadership of Black women while affirming the interconnectedness and sacred worth of all humanity. It is a theological and spiritual framework rooted in the lived realities of Black women, celebrating their resilience and resistance in the face of oppression.

This year’s theme challenges us to meet God beyond the boundaries of patriarchy, white supremacy, and narrow theological confines. Womanism honors Black women’s humanity and spirituality, inviting the church into a justice-centered vision of community and flourishing. Pioneers like Dr. Wil Gafney, Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, and Dr. Delores Williams have illuminated this path, calling the church to confront systems of injustice and to embody God’s expansive, liberative love.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Wil Gafney, is a leading voice in Womanist biblical scholarship. Through her groundbreaking work, Womanist Midrash, Dr. Gafney reminds us that “a womanist reading of the scriptures prioritizes the marginalized, the silenced, the oppressed, particularly women and especially Black women.” Her work unveils a God who stands with the oppressed and affirms the dignity of all people. Alongside Dr. Gafney, our conference speakers, Dr. Christena Cleveland, Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Rev. Dr. Leah Grundset Davis, and Rev. Dr. Danielle Dufoe, will guide us into deeper understandings of how Womanist Theology reshapes our faith and our communities.

Our theme also draws inspiration from Dr. Cleveland’s profound book, God Is a Black Woman, which invites us into a radical reimagining of the Divine. For centuries, Western Christianity has upheld images of God shaped by white, patriarchal, and colonial narratives. This theme proclaims that God is present among those society has devalued. Black women, as bearers of God’s image, embody a faith rooted in resilience, resistance, and justice. As Dr. Gafney writes, “A womanist God is not a god who reigns from a distance but one who walks with us, weeps with us, and works with us for liberation.”

Womanism is also deeply rooted in traditions of resistance, from the spirituals of enslaved women to the activism of leaders like Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Rev. Dr. Prathia Hall. This resistance honors a God who stands with the oppressed and works through our struggles to bring justice and wholeness. By centering these rich traditions, this year’s theme affirms the Alliance’s commitment to being a justice-oriented faith community.

Yet, I know this theme may raise questions for some. White people and men may wonder: “Where do I fit into this conversation? How do I connect with this theme? Is there a place for me at this Gathering?” Let me assure you: the answer is an unequivocal yes, and here are three reasons why this theme matters to everyone:

1. Womanism is inclusive: While it centers Black women’s experiences, it recognizes liberation as a collective endeavor and calls all of us into the communal work of justice and healing.
2. It challenges biases: Engaging with Womanism challenges us to confront biases and assumptions about God, faith, and community. For white people, this may mean confronting how whiteness shapes their faith and understanding of Christianity and being open to learning from the experiences of Black women. For men, it’s an invitation to examine how patriarchy distorts and limits both women and their relationships with God and others.
3. It demands humility: As Dr. Gafney reminds us, approaching scripture and theology with humility means being willing to learn from perspectives different from our own.

The 21st-century church stands at a pivotal crossroads, and whether we fully realize it or not, this theme holds profound significance for the church today. As a faith community, we are called to embody God’s inclusive and liberative love in a world that is both fragile and fractured. This sacred work demands that we confront the ways theology has upheld systems of oppression and open ourselves and our organization(s) to transformation through the wisdom of Black women and other marginalized voices. Centering the theme, “I Met God and She’s a Black Woman,” the Alliance reaffirms its commitment to justice, equity, and liberation. Black women’s stories testify to God’s sustaining power and remind us that faith rooted in justice can withstand oppression and emerge with hope.

As we prepare to gather in March, we are invited to listen deeply to Black women theologians, activists, and writers who reveal God’s liberating power. Womanism is not limited to academic discourse; it is a lived practice of community and justice. At the Gathering, we will embody these principles through worship, dialogue, and a shared commitment to equity and transformation. Together, we will confront how racism, sexism, and other oppressions shape our institutions and commit to creating spaces where Black women’s voices are not only centered but celebrated.

To those encountering Womanism for the first time, I invite you to come with open hearts and curious minds. To the Womanists among us, I welcome you to this sacred space where your voices and experiences will be lifted. And to everyone joining, whether in person or virtually, be prepared to be challenged, inspired, and transformed. My prayer is that we leave this Gathering not only empowered but also better equipped to carry forward the work of justice, drawing strength from the ‘wisdom and resilience’ of those who have paved the way and those who continue to forge the path ahead of us.

As Dr. Gafney reminds us, “God is still speaking, and God is speaking through the voices of Black women.” May we have ears to hear, hearts to respond, and the courage to act.

See you in Washington, D.C., March 28–30, 2025!