Gender Bias Alleged in Abyssinian Baptist Church Pastor Selection

Eboni Marshall Turman, a former pastor at the prominent Abyssinian Baptist Church, has filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination after being passed over for the senior pastor position despite her qualifications and experience.

The Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, renowned as a flagship of the Black church in America, is facing a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by former pastor Eboni Marshall Turman. Turman, who aspired to become the church's first female senior pastor, alleges that sexism played a crucial role in her not being selected for the position.

Background of Abyssinian Baptist Church

Over its 215-year history, the Abyssinian Baptist Church has witnessed influential leadership, including the political rise of Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., who served as pastor from 1937 to 1972 and later in Congress for 26 years. The church has attracted countless believers, including Eboni Marshall Turman, who rose through the ranks and became the youngest pastor ordained in Abyssinian's history in 2007.

Marshall Turman's Journey and Discrimination Allegations

After the passing of longtime senior pastor Calvin O. Butts III in 2022, Marshall Turman, then a professor at Yale Divinity School, applied for the vacant position. Despite her qualifications and support from committee members who considered her the obvious choice, she was not even selected as a finalist. Turman believes that sexism was the primary factor behind this decision and has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Abyssinian and its search committee.

Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed on December 29, 2023, specifically names the search committee chair, Valerie S. Grant, accusing her of inappropriate behavior during the interview process. Marshall Turman alleges that Grant asked her questions and pressed issues that were not brought up with her male counterparts. The complaint states that gender discrimination motivated the decision not to hire her, with discussions about this openly taking place during committee meetings.

Church's Response and Defense

The Abyssinian Baptist Church and Valerie S. Grant, who also serves as a board member of Morehouse College in Atlanta, have refuted the discrimination accusations. Abyssinian spokesperson LaToya Evans stated that while Marshall Turman and others were considered due to their impressive backgrounds, she fell short of some key requirements for the role. Grant described the search process as rigorous, with Marshall Turman being one of 11 candidates who advanced from a pool of 47 applicants. She asserts that Marshall Turman did not receive enough votes to progress to the next round.

Challenges for Women in Black Churches

The Black church has historically been a challenging environment for women aspiring to pastoral leadership due to varying beliefs on whether women can have authority over men. This issue has caused deep divisions within denominations and congregations across Christian America. Marshall Turman, who researches gender politics in Black churches, has focused her work on interrogating theological erasure and violence against Black women in these institutions.

Remaining Finalists and Marshall Turman's Qualifications

The remaining Abyssinian finalists for the senior pastor position are all men. Marshall Turman believed she had a strong chance of filling the role based on positive feedback from committee members and her close relationship with Calvin Butts, who considered her his best and smartest assistant. She holds a Master of Divinity and doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and has experience on the Abyssinian staff as a minister for Christian education.

Allegations of Secrecy and Gender Bias

After not making it to the final round, Marshall Turman took to Facebook to express her concerns about the hiring process. She alleged that it was tainted by secrecy and gender bias, claiming that Abyssinian deacons worked with Morehouse supporters and committee leadership to eliminate female applicants systematically. She emphasized that gender bias has no place in the church and is illegal in New York City.

Contenders for Senior Pastor Position

Among the remaining contenders for the senior pastor position are Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, formerly of Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, and Derrick Harkins, who recently worked for Marcia Fudge at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development.

Historical Context and Ongoing Issues

The treatment of women in the Abyssinian Baptist Church has been a long-standing issue among its members, as detailed in the book "Witness: Two Hundred Years of African American Faith and Practice at the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, New York." Marshall Turman's own research and experiences have highlighted the challenges faced by Black women in the church, where their labor is essential but their voices are often marginalized.