Beauty Tips for Ministers

Gorgeous Pastor Portrait: Bishop Vashti McKenzie

February 9, 2010 on 8:14 pm | In PeaceBang Halo Of Praise | 8 Comments

This must be the most amazing ministerial portrait I have EVER seen.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2008/vashti_mckenzie/

Talk about knowing what image you want to project.
Talk about radiating dignity and beauty.
Talk about owning your femininity as a religious leader.

Wow. Just wow. Alert Reader Susan P. who sent me the link says, “This is what I want to look like when I grow up.”
Amen, sister.

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1. Oh wow! I love the name Vashti and she does seem like she could be an empress. She looks amazing. I feel like I need to reclaim some of what she projects. No hiding her light under a bushel goin’ on there.

   Comment by Strange Attractor — February 9, 2010 #

2. My religious hero! (aside from Rosemary of course)

   If I ever get to be a grown-up, I can only hope to have 1/10th of her class.

   I’m hoping to meet her one day.

   Comment by Kim Hampton — February 9, 2010 #

3. Heard her preach years ago in Texas…absolutely magnificent. “Regal” indeed.

   Comment by Precentor — February 10, 2010 #

4. Really? You don’t think the look is a little too over the top. She’s beautiful and regal and conveys great confidence. But in my mind she looks more like an opera diva than spiritual leader. In something much simpler, her real beauty and confidence would have come through in an even more powerful way. [Interesting perspective. I see what you mean. I think her ministry context (bishop) makes all the glamour feel appropriate to me, especially since male bishops have a lot of pomp in their vestments. And if she really IS a big personality and an elegant, striking beauty and can incarnate that in an authentic way, I still think that's way better than trying to create a "smaller" or less striking persona. I feel like she is GRAND and that if I met with her for counseling she would still be GRAND but also real and caring and warm. Authenticity is so much of this. Do you know what I mean? Like, "if you really are ALL THAT, go ahead and be ALL THAT." It's a great question, though, and thanks for bringing it up. - PB]

   Comment by AWP — February 10, 2010 #

5. I heard her preach at Marsh Chapel when I was in seminary. She is a force of nature.

   Comment by Barbara K — February 10, 2010 #

6. I am a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church the historic denomination to which Bishop McKenzie belongs. Imagine my delight in seeing one of our three women bishops featured in Speaking of Faith! Thank you, Peacebang for highlighting the feature! As to Bishop McKenzie’s vestments, she is appropriately dressed as a bishop in the A.M.E. Church. All bishops wear the purple vestment, denoting their office. All ministers in our tradition have an expected mode of dress at different levels of ministry. As an ordained deacon, I am expected to wear black (suit, dress, robe when serving in the pulpit). Elders are a little more free to wear what they would like, however, black is understood to be our ministerial uniform. Our Presiding Elders (supervisors) wear royal blue robes. So, no, she is not overdone-she is done just as her constituency expects her to be. She is a powerful woman of God, a preacher extraordinaire, a ground breaker, history maker and a leader. What she is projecting is authentic and appropriate. And yes, she is ALL THAT!!!! ;o)

   Comment by Monique — February 10, 2010 #

7. It is kinda scary to me. She looks nice and all but kinda intimidating. Kinda….replacing “old pale white male ministers sitting on a church thrown” look.

   Comment by Hun — February 11, 2010 #

8. The woman is absolutely fierce. Love her. I heard this interview when it first aired and I have not forgotten it.

   Comment by Kym — February 23, 2010 #

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