Shouting for the Lord: The Power of Women's Speech in the Pentecostal Religious Service

Race, Religion, and Worship: Are Contemporary African‐American Worship Practices Distinct?

“…9 9 Women are more likely to participate in ecstatic, participatory worship than men (Lawless 1983). …”

“…8 Because Pentecostal religion has expanded beyond denominational boundaries into other denominations and religious traditions, a measure of whether a congregation adheres to Pentecostal practices is used instead of denominational affiliation(Smidt et al 1999). 9 Women are more likely to participate in ecstatic, participatory worship than men(Lawless 1983).10 The geographic roots of ecstatic, participatory worship are in the South(Herskovits 1970;Marty 1984). The revivalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries were most successful in the South, particularly in rural areas(Marty 1984).…”

Introduction

“…Much has been gained by unveiling the ‘forgotten’ or ‘muted’ stories of women. The folklorist Lawless’ (, ) analysis of women's speeches in a North American Pentecostal church gives for instance important insights gained by analysing women's practices in church (see also Bonnemère this volume). Through their testimonials, women create an arena for creative performance and communication, in spite of not being allowed the formal preacher roles in church.…”