Paving the way for Asian American women in leadership: A qualitative study on the experiences of Asian American women clergy

Abstract

As cultures continue to change, ministry and missiology also inevitably change. One area of development has been the redefining of gender roles in ministry; these changes have created more opportunities for women to pursue leadership positions within the church. More specifically, more opportunities have risen for Asian American women to pursue leadership positions within the church. However, as Asian American women pursue their callings and vocations within the church, they are faced with cultural tensions, such as gender stigmas and hierarchical cultural norms. Should this issue not be investigated, the lack of support for Asian American church leaders will be perpetuated, and Asian American women may continue to feel ill-equipped when entering ministerial leadership positions. The present study explored the stories of 11 Asian American women clergy who overcame challenges and navigated church tensions to fulfill the Lord’s call upon their lives.