“Butler narrates a complex story . . . with economy and focus. . . . [She] commands her subject.” — Journal of American History
“A creative denominational history skillfully framed in the context of African American religious and social history. . . . A welcomed addition to the growing literature on African American Pentecostal traditions, and it promises to be a staple for years to come.” — Journal of Southern History
“Recommended.” — CHOICE
“Aptly demonstrat[ed]. . . . Anthea Butler examines female leadership in the Women’s Department of the Church of God in Christ and the significance of church mothers in the historically African American denomination.” — The Journal of Southern Religion
“Butler’s book is an indispensable read. . . .[A] well-written and closely argued volume.” — Florida Historical Quarterly
“Probing, insightful, and highly informative, and provides multifaceted portrayals of the roles and perspectives of COGIC women. . . . An excellent scholarly resource, and will likely serve as the foundation for a number of other related studies.” — Pneuma
“Butler’s enlightening narrative of [black 'church mothers'] deserves wide reading.” — Journal of the American Academy of Religion
“Expertly presents the tales of these leaders. . . . Rich in scholarly detail, yet accessible to a wide audience, Butler’s book refines and furthers not one, but many pertinent discussions surrounding the various groups in this admirable study.” — H-Net
“Women in the Church of God in Christ has rich stories to tell about a group that has received far less attention than it deserves, and Butler is quite adept at bringing the characters to life in clear and lively prose. Her study is bound to reshape important arenas of investigation in American women’s religious history.” — R. Marie Griffith, author of Born Again Bodies: Flesh and Spirit in American Christianity
“With this book Anthea Butler has made a major contribution to our understanding of the history of Pentecostalism and to the religious history of African American women. This is a pathbreaking work.” — Albert Raboteau, author of Slave Religion: The “Invisible Institution” in the Antebellum South
