Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, a veteran pastor and civil rights leader, addresses the role of women in ministry and theological leadership in his new book Never Lost. In a dedicated section titled "Womanist Theology and the Role of Women in Leadership," Richardson challenges the Church to examine how exclusionary practices weaken its witness and limit its capacity to lead faithfully in complex times.
"For the Black Church to remain a sanctuary of hope and a catalyst for justice," Richardson writes, "it must also deepen its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. This involves intentionally creating spaces where all voices are valued, and all members feel seen and heard." The book frames women's leadership as essential to the spiritual health, moral credibility, and future viability of the Church, arguing that inclusive leadership is not a concession to cultural pressure but a faithful expression of the Gospel's call to justice, dignity, and shared responsibility.
Richardson's contribution is distinguished by the consistency with which he has lived his theological argument. For more than fifty years as pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York, he has intentionally elevated women into positions of authority, leadership, and influence. In his earlier memoir, Witness to Grace, Richardson reflects candidly on dismantling long-standing gender barriers within church governance, including the decision to ordain women fully and restructure leadership systems that had historically limited their roles.
"Unfortunately, many Black churches perpetuate a legacy of female exclusion from ordained leadership in the church, reflective of the broader culture," Richardson wrote in Witness to Grace. In another passage, he draws a direct moral connection between racial and gender injustice, stating, "Sexism is the identical twin of racism. We must reject the many faces of the same demon." This perspective positions the issue as fundamental to the Church's integrity rather than a peripheral theological debate.
For theological seminaries, faculty, and students engaged in the formation of future church leaders, Never Lost offers a substantive and pastoral resource that bridges academic theology and lived ministry. It provides theological education with a timely opportunity to consider how leaders—women and men alike—are shaped to serve with conviction, courage, and integrity in a changing cultural landscape. The book's release comes at a critical moment for religious institutions navigating questions of inclusion and relevance.
Never Lost, set for release on February 3, 2026, from Wharton Curtis Press, is currently available for preorder at https://NeverLostBook.com. The work represents a significant intervention in ongoing conversations about leadership, justice, and the future of faith communities, particularly within the Black Church tradition where these discussions carry profound historical and cultural weight.
