First of all, ugh. My advisor, big sis, soror -- Khalia Williams def has me boo hooing on this episode LOL!

What you will hear throughout this episode is the many ways that Dr. Williams has methodically challenged my views surrounding wealth, wellness, and worth for Black women. Upon entering seminary, I had no idea what womanist theology was—Dr. Williams quickly changed that. Her class introduced several womanist and feminist texts that shifted my perspective on women, the Bible, and religion. We were often asked in class during discussions: “Who is God and how is God active?”

The relational dynamic of this podcast conversation is personal and sensitive because Dr. Williams truly helped me to shape my womanist lens. Though I am continuing to expand my ideological groundings around how womanism will inform my work, I am grateful that Dr. Williams cultivated a sacred space through her class and even through our podcast conversation.

I am so glad that Black women will walk away from this episode experiencing the same transformation that I received through Dr. William’s womanist/feminist worship class. My hope is that you will listen to Episode 6 and make the decision to go within yourself to search and explore how God is active in every single aspect of your life while also exploring worship, embodiment, liberation, liturgy, and freedom for women in the safe way that Dr. William’s creates for her students.

Learn more about girl+god at girlplusgod.com

Episode 5 features leading ethnographer the Dean of the Harvard Divinity School, Dr. Marla Frederick as we discuss race, class, religion and liberation for Black women. In class (at Candler School of Theology) Dr. Frederick challenged my views around race, class, human behavior, religion, and the Black lived experience.

Dr. Frederick’s approach to Black women and religion stemmed from her curiosity of the relationship between Black women and church and how we reconcile our time between Sunday’s, which is the title of her best-selling book. Dr. Frederick’s work pushed me to explore the themes of my life and religion that I was not yet familiar with before her class because I did not yet have language to express frustrations.

Though this conversation was academic and focused on her text: Between Sundays,’ it was still important for me to acknowledge the ways that I brought my authentic self to her classroom—even when she pushed back on—my research, and my understanding of her ethnography. From this episode, I hope that you will hear Dr. Frederick’s expression of God as an everyday self-discovery that deserves life outside of the four walls of the church on Sunday.

Learn more at girlplusgod.com

Episode 4 is all about deconstruction and theology for every Black woman. How do we identify our own beliefs and put them into practice when we are oftentimes victims of harmful tradition and our surroundings?

Candice and I discuss her latest book Red Lip Theology where she states that “Womanist theology gave me the language to best articulate Black women’s relationship with God, and it gave me permission to honor and explore my own unconventional spirituality, but it did not give me my ethics or sense of purpose.” I believe that Red Lip Theology is a gift to every Black church girl seeking to know herself. The ground-breaking essay collection features Benbow’s theological tension surrounding issues like sexism, racism, and more throughout the church and the academy. Benbow uses her own personal narrative of family and relationships to connect with Black Christian millennial women in ways that have not been done before in the womanist theological context.

Black women will walk away from this episode empowered to explore how God is active in the world through an honest exploration of our personal faith and lived experiences as Black women while also giving God all the frustration and pain that comes with that—without worrying about judgement.

Follow Candice on social at @candicebenbow

Learn more at girlplusgod.com