10 Inspiring Women Religious Leaders

Editor's Note: For thousands of years, women have participated in religious observance and worked to support religious institutions -- often in greater numbers than men. Unfortunately, women in leadership roles have too often been discouraged, resisted or prohibited in all religious traditions. In recent years, women have risen to the top of major religious denominations as well as becoming household names as religious teachers. These ten women leaders are groundbreaking in different ways; and approach the religious project from very different perspectives. Yet all have much to teach us as they, and thousands of other women religious leaders, lead the way towards greater gender equality in religion and in all areas of the human experience.

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• Dr. Ingrid Mattson

  Dr. Ingrid Mattson is Professor of Islamic Studies, founder of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program and director of the <a href="http://macdonald.hartsem.edu/" target="_hplink">Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary</a> in Hartford, CT. She earned her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999. From 2006-2010 she served as President of the <a href="http://www.isna.net/" target="_hplink">Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)</a>; she previously served two terms as Vice-President. She is the first woman elected to those positions. Dr. Mattson was born in Canada, where she studied Philosophy and Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo, Ontario (B.A. '87). From 1987-1988 she lived in Pakistan where she developed and implemented a midwife-training program for Afghan refugee women.

• Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori

  The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected <a href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/presiding-bishop.htm" target="_hplink">Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church</a> in June 2006. She serves as Chief Pastor and Primate to the Episcopal Church's members in 16 countries and 110 dioceses. She joins with other principal bishops of the 38 member Provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion, seeking to make common cause for global good and reconciliation. Over the course of her nine-year term, Bishop Jefferts Schori is responsible for initiating and developing policy for the Episcopal Church and speaks on behalf of this Church regarding the policies, strategies, and programs authorized by General Convention. She has been vocal about the Episcopal Church's mission priorities, including the <a href="http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/" target="_hplink">United Nation Millennium Development Goals</a>, issues of domestic poverty, climate change, and care for the earth, as well as the ongoing need to contextualize the gospel.

• Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins

  Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins serves as General Minister and President of the <a href="http://www.disciples.org/" target="_hplink">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada</a>. As General Minister, she is general pastor of the 700,000-member denomination, responsible for representing the wholeness of the church, for reconciling differences, and for helping the church retain its clarity of mission and identity. As General President, she is the chief executive officer for the denomination, responsible for overseeing the work of the church's various structures. She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Phillips Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from the Yale Divinity School, and a Bachelor's Degree in French and Economics from Butler University.

• Sharon Salzberg

  Sharon Salzberg has been a student of Buddhism since 1971, and has led meditation classes and retreats worldwide since 1974. She teaches both intensive awareness practice (insight meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion in a non-sectarian, inclusive framework. She is a co-founder of the <a href="http://www.dharma.org/" target="_hplink">Insight Meditation Society</a> in Barre, Massachusetts and <a href="http://www.dharma.org/bcbs/index.html" target="_hplink">The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies</a>. Her newest book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Real-Happiness-Meditation-28-Day-Program/dp/0761159258" target="_hplink"><em>Real Happiness, The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program</em></a> was published in January 2011. She is also the author of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Force-Kindness-Change-Your-Compassion/dp/1591793556" target="_hplink">The Force of Kindness</a></em>, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Trusting-Your-Deepest-Experience/dp/1573223409" target="_hplink">Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience</a></em>, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lovingkindness-Revolutionary-Happiness-Shambhala-Classics/dp/157062903X" target="_hplink">Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wide-World-Sharon-Salzberg/dp/1570624283" target="_hplink">A Heart as Wide as the World</a></em>, and co-author with Joseph Goldstein of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wide-World-Sharon-Salzberg/dp/1570624283" target="_hplink">Insight Meditation: a Step-by-Step Course on How to Meditate</a></em>.

• Ruth Messinger

  Ruth Messinger is the president and executive director of <a href="http://ajws.org/" target="_hplink">American Jewish World Service (AJWS)</a>, an international development organization providing support to more than 200 grassroots social change projects in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Ms. Messinger is also a visiting professor at Hunter College, teaching urban policy and politics. Prior to assuming her position at AJWS in 1998, Ms. Messinger was in public service in New York City for 20 years. She served 12 years in the New York City Council and eight years as Manhattan borough president. She was the first woman to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for major in 1997. Among her numerous accolades, Ms. Messinger has been named one of the 50 most influential Jews of the year by the <em>Forward</em> for the last five years. Ms. Messinger graduated from Radcliffe College and received a Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 1964.

• Rev. Joyce Meyer

  Rev. Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Through <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/" target="_hplink">Joyce Meyer Ministries</a>, she teaches on hundreds of subjects and has authored over 80 books, which have been translated into over 80 different languages. More than 12 million of her books have been distributed around the world, and in 2007 more than 3.2 million copies were sold. Joyce holds a PhD in theology from Life Christian University in Tampa, Florida; an honorary doctorate in divinity from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and an honorary doctorate in sacred theology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Rev. Dr. Suzan Cook

  The Rev. Dr. Suzan D. Johnson Cook is a United States Ambassador-at-Large for <a href="http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/" target="_hplink">International Religious Freedom</a>, pastor, author, and presidential advisor. She has had a distinguished career in public service, having served as a White House fellow on the Domestic Policy Council and worked with a Cabinet Secretary. She participated in the historic Obama Presidential inauguration at the National Cathedral. Rev. Suzan Cooks is also the president and CEO of Charisma Speakers Inc. She was a television producer with NBC and ABC and also served with CBS. She is the author of three bestsellers, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moving-Up-Sujays-Turning-Getting/dp/0385524293" target="_hplink">Moving Up</a></em>, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Like-Youre-Blessed-Encouragement/dp/038551719X" target="_hplink">Live Like You're Blessed</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Like-Youre-Blessed-Encouragement/dp/038551719X" target="_hplink">Sister Strength</a></em>.

• Sister Carol Keehan

  Sister Carol Keehan is the ninth president and chief executive officer of the <a href="http://www.chausa.org/" target="_hplink">Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)</a>. She assumed her duties as of October 2005. Sister Carol has worked in administrative and governance positions at hospitals sponsored by the Daughters of Charity for more than 35 years. Sister Carol has held influential roles in the government of a variety of health care, insurance, and educational organizations. She is a representative to the International Federal of Catholic Health Care Associations (AISAC) of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care and serves on the board of <a href="http://crs.org/" target="_hplink">Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore</a>.

• Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

  Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum serves as the spiritual leader of <a href="http://www.cbst.org/" target="_hplink">Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST)</a> also known as the LGBT synagogue, and is regarded as one of the most important rabbis in America. Under her leadership, CBST has become an important voice in Judaism, in the worldwide discourse on the nature of religious community, and in the movement to secure basic civil rights for gay people everywhere. Prior to joining CBST, Rabbi Kleinbaum was Director of Congregational Relations at the <a href="http://rac.org/index.cfm?" target="_hplink">Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism</a> in Washington, DC, from 1990-92. Rabbi Kleinbaum is a recipient of the Jewish Fund for Justice Woman of Valor Award. She is a graduate of the Frisch Yeshiva High School and Barnard College and was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

• Anju Bhargava

  Anju Bhargava is the only Hindu American appointed to President Obama's <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp" target="_hplink">Inaugural Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships</a> and was the only Indian-American to serve in the Community Builder Fellowship, President Clinton's White House initiative. She is the Found<a href="http://www.hinduamericanseva.org/" target="_hplink">er of Hindu American Seva Charities</a>, which is now becoming a national movement for Hindu faith-based community service programs addressing social issues. A Vedantic teacher, she strives to combine philosophy and practice from a contemporary view and is active in interfaith collaboration. She was a founding member of the New Jersey Corporate Diversity Network, is the President of Asian Indian Women in America (AIWA) and a Trustee of <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/" target="_hplink">Council for a Parliament of World Religions</a>.

Comments

[CrystalStella]

09:56 AM on 08/23/2011

I'm a bit disappointed that Karen Armstrong wasn't on the list, but I really enjoyed reading these bios.

[Chris Early]

06:30 PM on 08/22/2011

Bishop Minerva Carcaño, anyone?

[Chris Tiedeman]

07:32 AM on 08/24/2011

As UMC clergy wishing I lived in Arizona, she should have totally been on this list. Her activism and strength in the face of an office overwhelmingly filled with vanilla-acting moderates is beyond inspiring!

[an Hindu American]

02:30 PM on 08/19/2011

In addition, let me add that someone like Anju Bhargava is a PRE-REQUISITE for Hindu-Americans to FIRST realize WHO THEY ARE and the forgotten land they come from that has given them a rich culture, liberal-minded, heritage and traditional values and principles. She is doing the grassroot level work for people to first realize their roots. By creating such a base she is leading the Hindu-AMERICAN community to rediscover their roots and by doing that she is helping the community become that Karma Yogi, Jnana Yogi, Bhakti Yogi, Raja Yogis of our time. She is laying the foundation for the Hindu YOUTH to pursue Vedanta and study Vedanta.

If any of you live in American and are a Hindu and see the fruits of her actions, I think you will come to agree with my point. If you are not a Hindu living in America, then I suggest you live here and be a part of this society to actually know what is going on.

Namaste!

[an Hindu American]

02:30 PM on 08/19/2011

Anju Bhargava is one of the few Hindu-Americans I am aware of that has brought the voice of Hindus in America to the national stage. As a Karma Yogi, she has done much for our community and continues to march on towards bringing the Hindu community a voice. I have never seen anyone make attempts like she has to unite the Hindu community. Might I also remind you that she was on the President's Advisory Council for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In the true American sense, she is a Religious Leader because she has been chosen by the President along with other faiths to be on the Council.

One does not have to wear a Saffron Robe or have several Rudrakshas on their arms to show that they are religious leaders. In hinduism as long as we are working for the community, uniting the community, and leading others to their own self-realization of who they are and what they are, we are doing our Dharma.

[an Hindu American]

02:30 PM on 08/19/2011

To all the comments regarding why Anju Bhargava is a "religious" leader:

I think all of you are forgetting the difference between Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma, and the Abrahamic Traditions. In Hinduism, anyone can be a spiritual/religious leader because we see divinity within everyone and everything. A spiritual/religious leader in Hinduism can follow many paths, one of which is Karma Yoga. Anjuji is a Karma yogi. I think to include someone like her among the "religious" leaders of the Abrahamic traditions was a mistake because it shows the lack of understanding Huffington Post has on what constitutes a Religious leader in the Hindu Tradition. A karma yogi, a jnana yogi, a bhakti yogi, a raja yogi are all religious/spiritual leaders in the Hindu society, they all achieve Anandamaya-Satchitananda or Bliss. Many of you are forgetting that one of THE MAIN principles of Hinduism teaches that divinity resides in all of us. And that the divine is a manifestation in the human form doing the work of Dharma.

[Sanjay Tripathi]

11:27 PM on 08/18/2011

I have not heard about Anju Bhargava as religious leader. Do not know from where HuffPost thought that she should represent Hindus. She seems to be more of a political person than religious one. So, choosing someone from that background is not fair not only with her but with Hindu community in general. It would be interesting to see what were the criterion used to pick her specifically as I can't digest this. Pls explain the selection criterion.

[an Hindu American]

02:10 PM on 08/19/2011

Sanjay Tripathi, she is the ONLY HINDU-AMERICAN ever to make this kind of a list. She is a community leader trying to bring the voices of Hindu-Americans to the national stage. For too long we have been only concerned about our life, our kids, our family, our money, and nothing but those things. Never have we stood up for who we are and voiced ourselves in a country thats a melting pot of all religions. From what I know about you Mr. Tripathi, you are from India and you reside in India as well and might I add you only see from a Hindu perspective. You do not know the life of a Hindu-American and the challenges we face here in America in regards to raising our children with the culture, principles and hindu values that you take for granted in India.

[Sanjay Tripathi]

09:30 PM on 08/19/2011

I'll be very short in your response. I'm a Hindu American, live in US, have been spending quite a bit of time in the Hindu community but have no name. And, I am not the only one who does this for our Hindu community without a name. There are so many unsung heroes who guides us. What I am saying that we need to be extremely careful in promoting someone who would take care of Hindu interests and it's not being done here and that's intentional, IMO. People who're being picked to represent us DO NOT represent Hindu interest. It's very complex issue and can't be discussed in these comments section. I understand that Hindu voice needs to be raised but this voice specially will not really be what you and me are looking for when time will come to stand by those tough decisions. I am a bit surprised as to why you're promoting a careerist in this important role.

Do not settle with lower quality specially after knowing that as it can come to haunt you later.

[an Hindu American]

02:10 PM on 08/19/2011

continued...

In our culture, a Guru is anyone who removes the shadows of darkness and ignorance and enlightens of all of us. In my opinion, Anju Bhargava should be making many more "top 10" lists rather than just this one. For some reason people thing Hinduism is a new religion, they need to realize that it is the oldest ancient living religion still standing as the world's third largest religion. To come from a background of such rich heritage, culture, diversity, liberal-thinking roots is something that has had no voice till now.

In addition, I need to remind you that not everyone who grabs a sacred text and voices one faith is a "religious" leader. Hinduism has taught us that divinity resides in all of us and that those who are bringing the society together and reinstating Dharma in the lives of everyone receive the highest honors. I wouldn't call Sri Krishna Bhagwan or Sri Rama Chandra Religious leaders, I call them Divine/Spiritual leaders who brought societies together and reinstated Dharma in lives of many and led many to realize their own divinity. Anju Bhargava, to have made this list, is one of those divine leaders in our Hindu community who is doing all she can to raise the Hindu voice that is long due.

[Andy Omega]

05:57 PM on 08/18/2011

They are not inspirational, they are all patriarchal religions they are supporting. That just makes them stupid.

[SayBlade]

06:42 PM on 08/19/2011

Funny, eh?

That is the very same tone used by male fundies to put women in their places on religious forums. I didn't expect it to come from Atheists, too.

[Anahita1]

01:29 PM on 08/18/2011

contd:

I applaud Ms. Bhargava's efforts. However, those who’d like to wear the mantle of leadership, should have the unequivocal support of those they purport to lead shouldn’t they. Word on the Hindu street is that she, while well-meaning for the most part, has capitulated on issues that are most urgent and pressing to Hindus. Call it a case of not being able or willing to put first things first. Hardly a sign of leadership is it? But this would make her a perfect Hindu representative for the strident fundamentalist Christian voices that beat down on our community and ideal for inter-faith panels that mouth platitudes but never rock the Judeo-Christian dominated inter-faith boat.

Earlier, I'd recommended Amma, a truly beloved and exemplary Hindu leader. HuffPost said she wasn’t a contender because she isn’t a Hindu American. I would disagree in that characterization. Amma’s charitable work is done worldwide and her following in the US huge. She has hundreds of thousands of American disciples with many ashrams around the country. She probably spends as much time here as she does in India and to overlook the scope of her work over her residency seems only to add to the puzzling nature of your selection. Can you really say that Ms. Bhargava’s work has had greater impact than Amma’s right here in the US?

I hope to get a response. Otherwise , it displays the same contempt for your Hindu audience that your initial selection unfortunately demonstrated.

[Anahita1]

01:25 PM on 08/18/2011

To: The Editor, Religion Section, Huffington Post

It is with deep disappointment that I observe that you have failed to respond to the questions that I posed regarding the selection of the above list. In my original comments, I asked: How did Anju Bhargava, among all other Hindus come to be selected by Huffington Post as the Hindu on the “10 Inspiring Religious Leaders” list.

The arbitrary selection, as observed too by other commentators, smacks of a game that we Indians are all too familiar with. Call it the spectre of our colonial past if you will – our White overseers, picking and choosing their stooges, who then armed with that stamp of approval, presume to lord over/”lead” the rest of us who of course were never consulted on choosing those leaders in the first place. I’ll admit that we Indians are also complicit. We do take more seriously those who receive such imprimateurs. But then, those who make such decisions and indeed the reason they make them, already know this well (and too, all our other exploitable weaknesses). And so, I ask again, who were the other Hindu contenders? Who nominated them? What qualifications and accomplishments did they have to demonstrate? and who finally decided? These should be easy enough questions to answer. What process did HuffPost follow to come to be the arbiter of Hindu leadership? With the fairly large Hindu audience that you have, did you ever think to invite nominations from your readers?

[Pradip Gangopadhyay]

11:53 PM on 08/17/2011

I can recommend another Hindu woman. She is the Austrian born Elizabeth Usha Harding. Usha has founded a Kali temple in Laguna Beach about 60 miles south of Los Angeles. She has also written a book, "Kali, the Divine Mother of Dakshineshwar". She is not a monk and can not be called a religious leader. However, the very fact that she has founded a Hindu temple and written a book would seem to make her a strong candidate. One can know about her Kali Temple at the web site: www.kalimandir.org.

[JayBachand]

04:24 PM on 08/17/2011

"10 Inspiring Rationalist Women."

http://contemplativenontheist.blogspot.com/

[SayBlade]

06:44 PM on 08/19/2011

And what section of the paper do you propose that a feature on these women would go?

[Pradip Gangopadhyay]

11:12 AM on 08/17/2011

I was pleased to see one Hindu woman in this list. I have read Anju Bhargava's blogs and have liked them. I, however, find it hard to accept that she is a Hindu religious leader and that she is a Vedantic teacher. A Hindu religious leader and a Vedantic teacher has to have done at least two of the following:
(1) been initiated as a monk in a recognized Hindu religious order;
(2) written at least one commentary on Hindu scripture;
(3) written at least one book about Hinduism or Hindu scripture;
(4) done seva or service to others;
(5) recognized as a Guru by many people.

Condition (1) is mandatory to be a Hindu religious leader. Any one of the conditions (2) to (5) would do. I do not know if Ms. Bhargava satisfies any 2 of the 5 conditions.

I can propose a candidate as a Hindu religious leader. Her name is Pravrajika Vrajaprana. She is an Amercian born monk of the Ramakrishna Order in the USA (www.vedanta.org). She is a well respected author of Vedantic books. She has a track record of service. I would say that she satisfies the conditions to be a Hindu religious leader.

[SayBlade]

06:45 PM on 08/19/2011

Why does it have to be an American?

[Pradip Gangopadhyay]

11:42 PM on 08/19/2011

It is Huffpost that wants the lady concerned to be American.

[karigar]

07:38 PM on 08/19/2011

I second Dr G's recommendation. also his criteria are worthy.

[Feurio]

08:14 AM on 08/17/2011

Had I been a woman I would never join something which says I'm inferior by design.

[anneeger]

09:36 PM on 08/18/2011

This is why Ieft organized religion as soon as I realized it.

[Feurio]

10:08 PM on 08/18/2011

Good for you.

[Partha Desikan]

01:12 AM on 08/17/2011

The Editor introduces this blog with these final lines
"These ten women leaders are groundbreaking in different ways; and approach the religious project from very different perspectives. Yet all have much to teach us as they, and thousands of other women religious leaders, lead the way towards greater gender equality in religion and in all areas of the human experience."
Answering blogger Anahita's concern about the methods employed in the selection of these 10 women leaders and especially the Hindu one, blogger Jahnabi Barooah asks her, "Who are some Hindu American women that you would have added to this list?"
Jahnabi seems to have been asked by Huffpost to select the top five out of this list of ten and has given her choice selecting two Christians and three others including the only Hindu and only Muslim in her select list.
Some eight other bloggers have voted on the list of ten giving their approval ratings from 2 out of 10 to 10 out of 10.
All of which lets me think that this is a somewhat arbitrary list of ten American women (religious) leaders, who, along with probably a few thousand others, could be leading the way towards greater gender equality in religion and in all areas of the human experience.

[rwaller]

09:56 PM on 08/16/2011

JEFFERSON ON CHRISTIANITY AND SEPERATION

"I contemplate with soveriegn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

"Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting ‘Jesus Christ,’ so that it would read ‘A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;’ the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination."

"[E]veryone must act according to the dictates of his own reason, and mine tells me that civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States, and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents."

"I am really mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, a fact like this can become a subject to inquiry, and of criminal inquiry, too, as an offence against religion; that a question about the sale of a book can be carried before the civil magistrate. Is this then our freedom of religion?"