Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA) has been promoting Christian engagement with, analysis of, and understanding for major social, cultural and public policy issues since 1978. The issue of evangelical feminism has been no exception. ESA’s founding document, The Chicago Declaration (1973), states: “We acknowledge that we have encouraged men to prideful domination and women to irresponsible passivity. So we call both men and women to mutual submission and active discipleship.”

Two years after the project’s funding was first granted, Kim Gegner continued her research on biblical feminism in the Black church. Tracing the history, traditions and ordination patterns of black denominations, the resulting 50-page document would answer questions such as:

• What is the current state of Biblical feminism in the African-American church?
• What is the state of Biblical feminism today?
• Have there been any advances in Black mainline denominations?
• Have there been any advances in Black Holiness/Pentecostal denominations?
• Have there been any advances for Black clergywomen within white church structures?
• What opportunities are there in independent Black churches?