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Women's History

Throughout March Sweet Magnolia emphasized the outstanding contributions of brilliant+beautiful+brave Black women. 
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March is Women's History Month, with the theme "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion." This theme recognizes women nationwide who believe that bias and discrimination should be eliminated from our lives and institutions to achieve a positive and fairer future. Women from all backgrounds know that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice. Many of them feel the need to speak up and work harder for fairness in our institutions and social interactions.

 

We celebrate women who promote inclusion and diversity and exclude no one in our quest for freedom and opportunity. We know that people can change with the help of families, teachers, and friends and that young people, in particular, need to learn the value of hearing from different voices and perspectives as they grow up.

 

Today, equity, diversity, and inclusion are powerful driving forces that greatly impact our country. Women are at the forefront of reevaluating the status quo in their roles as members of families, civic and community groups, businesses, and legislative bodies. They look fresh at harmful social policies and behaviors that often subtly determine our future. In response, women in communities nationwide are helping to develop innovative programs and projects within corporations, the military, federal agencies, and educational organizations to address these injustices.

 

It takes courage for women to advocate for practical goals like equity, diversity, and inclusion when established forces aim to misinterpret, exploit, or discredit them. We honor women from the past and present who have taken the lead to show the importance of change and to establish firmer safeguards, practices, and legislation reflecting these values. After centuries of discrimination, we proudly celebrate women who work for basic inclusion, equality, and fairness.

Celebrating Women's History

This year we reflected upon the contributions of Amelia Isadora Platts Boynton Robinson (August 18, 1911 – August 26, 2015); Justice Leah Ward Sears; Terrica Redfield Ganzy,  Ella Josephine Baker  (1903 – 1986), and Fannie Lou Hamer as examples ofbrilliant+beauitful+brave local and global women whose life's work improved the human condition. 

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ABOUT THE COVERS | Throughout Women's History Month, the Church programs feature the work of Tamara Natalie Madden (1975 –2017). Professor Madden was a Jamaican-born mother, mixed-media artist, and art and visual culture professor at Spelman College in Atlanta. On November 4, 2017, she died at her home in Snellville, Georgia, only two weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was 42.  Learn more.

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Annual Teaching on Hagar

Each year, Pastor Francys Johnson leads a powerful teaching and preaching centered on Hagar, the Mother of Faith—an often-overlooked yet extraordinary figure in the Old Testament. As Abraham’s second wife and the mother of Ishmael, Hagar's story is one of resilience, divine intervention, and faith in the face of adversity.

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Cast into the desert by Abraham and Sarah yet protected by God, Hagar’s journey resonates deeply with the struggles of African-American women. Pastor Johnson draws from the rich tradition of womanist theology, incorporating insights from scholars such as Delores Williams, Wil Gafney, and Mitzi J. Smith to explore Hagar’s significance beyond conventional interpretations.

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The Annual Sermon on Hagar is a powerful preaching and teaching experience that offers fresh perspectives and spiritual renewal as the community celebrates Brilliant, Beautiful, and Brave Women.

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2024 Sermon Series: The One Thing I Know for Sure - Prayer Works

The series focused on the power of prayer as a transformative conversation with God. Across faith traditions, prayer takes many forms—worship, petition, praise, thanksgiving, and confession—each reflecting our understanding of God’s character.

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One of the key messages from this series was “Praying with My Feet,” a concept often attributed to Frederick Douglass. This idea emphasizes that prayer is not only spoken but lived—our actions, when aligned with faith, become a spiritual practice. Just as Hagar’s desperate cry in the wilderness moved God to respond, we, too, are called to pray in both word and deed.

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Hagar’s story reminds us that God sees us, even in our lowest moments, and responds with grace and provision.

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2023 Sermon Series: Hagar Through the Lens of Chaka Khan

The 2023 series took inspiration from the music of Chaka Khan, framing Hagar’s experience through the lens of empowerment and survival:

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  • Part I: "I’m Every Woman" (Genesis 16:13) – Recognizing the strength and complexity of Hagar’s identity.

  • Part II: "Tell Me Something Good" (Genesis 17:20-25) – Acknowledging God’s promises, even amid hardship.

  • Part III: "Through the Fire" (Genesis 21:8-20) – Witnessing Hagar’s perseverance as she finds her way back to Egypt with renewed agency and faith.

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Hagar’s story is often misrepresented or overlooked. She endured abuse, affliction, and abandonment, yet her faith sustained her. Echoing the words of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Hagar was “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” In the end, Hagar survives. She reclaims her agency and sees firsthand that God is faithful to His promises.

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This annual teaching continues to offer new insights, deep reflection, and an invitation to encounter God through Hagar’s journey. Join us next year as we explore the lessons of faith, resilience, and divine presence in unexpected places.

We are cognizant of the longstanding and problematic stereotype: Black women must be strong. Black women must be resilient. Black women must prioritize others over themselves.  The stereotype of the “strong Black woman” creates an unrealistic idea that Black women need less support than others and has death-dealing consequences. 
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Beyond the important emphasis on Women during March, this Church is taking the following affirmative actions throughout the year:

  1. Ensure gender equity across all areas of Leadership of the Church. This Church was the first Church in the area to ordain women as ministers and deacons. Consistent with that action, this Church:

    • seeks opportunities to promote the inclusion of women in non-traditional positions across the life of the Church;

    • utilize and pay women equally to men; and

    • resist discrimination in denominational practices.

  2. Address historical and contemporary issues of sexism and misogyny through preaching, teaching, and ministry which centers the experience and perspectives of Black women. Consistent with this action, this Church:

    • utilizes Black women to preach, teach, and minister.

    • includes womanist and other liberation sources in all applicable preaching and teaching.

    • educates the congregation on womanist preachers, theologians, and other liberation scholars. ​

  3. Recognize the contributions of brilliant+beauitful+brave local and global women whose life's work improved the human condition. Consistent with this action, this Church:

    • budgets for ministry programs supporting women and children.

    • affirms the contributions of local and global women throughout the year across the life of the Church.

    • supports other community initiatives aimed at supporting women and children.

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