Exploring the Psychosocial and Psycho-spiritual Dynamics of Singleness Among African American Christian Women in Midlife

Exploring the Psychosocial and Psycho-spiritual Dynamics of Singleness Among African American Christian Women in Midlife examines the complexities and realities of singleness in individual familial and communal contexts. These realities that are emotional psychological spiritual sexual and social are narrated by three African American women who have reached a critical midlife juncture and they give first-hand accounts of what it means to be Black single and Christian in the 21st century. This book provides a much-needed discourse on single African American women and the challenging social mythical sexual and religious perceptions that are endemic to this specific population of women. Moreover Exploring the Psychosocial and Psycho-spiritual Dynamics of Singleness Among African American Christian Women in Midlife gives insight and voice to the many pastoral concerns of single African American Christian women in the Black church and is purposeful in helping them navigate to a place of health and wholeness. In [this book] Dr. Christina Hicks addresses a topic that has been quietly discussed among Black women but until now largely ignored as a topic of serious research. Drawing from solid theological methodology and well-chosen psychological theory and grounded in her in-depth interviews with women Hicks makes an important new contribution to the field of pastoral theology. This will be a much appreciated guide for pastoral care and counseling with a neglected but significant population of Africa American women as well as their pastors partners families and friends. --Pamela Cooper-White Union Theological Seminary Hicks interrogates myths and cultural images that are used to denigrate single African American Christian Women (SAACW). Hicks breaks open the pain inflicted upon SAACW within the Black church by analyzing their firsthand accounts. As a pastoral theologian she speaks compassionately to SAACW to embrace their single sexual spiritual selves. Concluding with a model for ministry based in a Mary and Martha ethics of pastoral care this book speaks to scholars and the church. --Marcia Y. Riggs Columbia Theological Seminary In a genuinely pastoral theological move Hicks swims against the tide by paying careful attention and giving voice to Black middle-aged single Christian women. The result is an exceedingly valuable and highly informative first in the literature on pastoral care of marginalized groups of people. Everyone who cares about all people in the church needs to read this book. --Emmanuel Y. Lartey Candler School of Theology Emory University Christina Hicks received her ThD in Pastoral Counseling from Emory University Candler School of Theology and her MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ and has extensive clinical training from the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Christina has served as a womens ministry leader and assistant pastor for over ten years. She has taught courses in the areas of counseling psychology pastoral care and biblical studies as an adjunct professor at Beulah Heights University.