Many African-American women find it difficult to lead ABC-USA churches due to lack of support for their gender. Some male clergy, often in leadership roles, seem, when given a choice, to prefer a male over a woman in pastoral leadership. Attitudes within search committees and within congregations have negatively influenced the decision of whether to ordain a "called" woman into a position as pastor. Such resistance has caused some African-American clergywomen to become "bitter" as they struggle with strained relationships, frustrations, isolation, loneliness, and a poor professional self-image.

My Doctor of Ministry project serves as a blueprint for allowing women embittered by the difficulties they discover in being accepted into called ministry to express these feelings in a safe setting, and for engaging and encouraging American Baptist, African-American women clergy to mentor other African-American women who are pursuing ordination. The conclusions from my project-thesis could help the ABC-USA Women in Ministry initiatives in these matters move forward with the development of an effective mentoring program that addresses the concerns of women of color.

Mentoring in an ABC-USA context can be an experience that will: 1) clarify the need for mentoring; 2) support mentors and protégés; 3) reinforce the biblical message; 4) clarify American Baptist beliefs and congregational culture; 5) strengthen American Baptist ordination practices; 6) establish clear mentoring covenants between mentors and those qualified to be ordained or on the path to ordination, and; 7) increase the number of women pastors of color in the ABC-USA churches. The formation of stronger collegial relationships in ministry would be an added benefit. Thus, the results of effective mentoring could move African-American clergywomen to shift their attitudes from "bitter to better."