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Priscilla Pope-Levison, research professor of practical theology at Southern Methodist University, is the author of Turn the Pulpit Loose: Two Centuries of American Women Evangelists and Building the Old Time Religion: Women Evangelists in the Progressive Era. She is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wesleyan Theological Society.
""Protestant equivalents to Catholic religious orders for women have rarely received the attention they deserve. In this book Priscilla Pope-Levison's diligent, wide-ranging research opens up the remarkable story of Methodist deaconesses--active in many countries from the late nineteenth century well into the twentieth, continuing today especially in African American churches, effective in a wide range of ministries, and particularly inspirational in teaching, evangelism, and social outreach among the urban poor. The book's revelations should be as important for encouraging similar services today as for rescuing a largely forgotten history."" --Mark Noll, co-author of Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity ""The author has lifted up for religion scholars and adherents an overlooked international arena of sacralized outreach that transcended Methodist denominational boundaries. This global movement of Methodist women revived the Wesleyan warrant to relieve the suffering of the marginalized and provided a basis for pan-Methodist ministries."" --Dennis C. Dickerson, Reverend James M. Lawson Chair of History Emeritus, Vanderbilt University ""This book is a true achievement, a useful and inspiring compilation of historical analysis, primary sources, international perspective, and a thoughtful and practical look forward. It is a great learning tool for the classroom but also something more. The deaconess movement's commitment to simple living, rigorous theological education, and humanitarian service is a model we still need, today perhaps more than ever."" --Peggy Bendroth, author of Fundamentalism and Gender, 1875 to the Present ""Priscilla Pope-Levison has written a ground-breaking study on the Methodist deaconess movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Steeped in primary sources, this work reveals the international scope of a women's religious movement often overlooked by scholars. A must-read for anyone interested in women's religious history and Methodist studies, this book will serve both scholars and students alike as an indispensable resource for years to come."" --Christopher Evans, Professor of the History of Christianity and Methodist Studies, Boston University School of Theology ""This book tells a captivating story of the much unknown deaconess movement worldwide, especially in the Wesleyan/Methodist context. The depth and years of research honor the legacy of trailblazing women who overcame roadblocks and questions of their authority to live out their call to ministry through service. It is a testimony of how their faith, God-given gifts, persistence, and leadership impacted the church and the world, past and present."" --Sally Vonner, General Secretary and CEO, United Women in Faith
