“WEAVING WOMEN BIBLICAL INSTITUTE” INSTRUCTORS—REV. DR. JERMAINE MCKINLEY, REV. DR. JUDITH MOORE, MINISTER TAWANDA RODRIGUEZ. (PHOTO BY GENEA L. WEBB)
by Genea L. Webb
For New Pittsburgh Courier
The courage, faith and strength that Eve, Tamar, Abijah, Hagar, Abigail, Delilah, Achsah, Zeleophehad, Huldah and Rahab demonstrated will be thoroughly examined through women-led online courses.
Reverend Dr. Judith Campbell Moore is the founder and CEO of the Weaving Women Biblical Institute. Reverend Moore entered the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2003 and has been studying women of the Bible from afar ever since. She believes that by seeing the stories of these women with fresh, new insight, students who take the courses will ultimately see themselves and be able to apply the principles leaned to their own lives.
“We are accustomed to hearing parts of stories,” Rev. Moore told the Courier. “We will be expanding our knowledge of the Biblical text and delving into the purpose each woman had and how she used faith and courage to overcome adversity.”
The genesis for the Weaving Women Biblical Institute is based on her book, “Read It Again.” She hopes to create ambassadors and advocates who can shed light on how women’s roles connect to a person’s faith and responsibilities.
Weaving Women Biblical Institute, which was created in 2023, sits under the umbrella of Rev. Moore’s Sisters Saving Ourselves Now/Black Women’s Roundtable initiative, which works to help Black women in urban areas.
REV. DR. JUDITH MOORE
Reverend Moore wants to be clear that she is not trying to rewrite the Bible; rather flesh out the women’s stories. “We’re looking to make it exciting. We want a good, solid foundation and we want to get people to understand these women. I want people to say, ‘oh, I didn’t see it that way,’” Rev. Moore said.
In addition to herself, Rev. Moore has recruited two other women thus far to serve as course instructors. The virtual, online courses begin on May 5. Each class costs $15.
In the past months, Weaving Women Biblical Institute has held in-person courses at Bethel AME Church in Monroeville, Bethel AME Church in Tarentum, and most recently, the Penn Hills library. Another in-person course will be held in Clairton on May 17. Reverend Moore told the Courier that the goal of Weaving Women Biblical Institute is to “bring the women of the Bible to local theater.” With that in mind, Rev. Moore will be spearheading a theatrical performance featuring the women of the Bible in June.
“I’ve always had a love for women and ministry,” said Minister Tawanda Rodriguez, who also serves as the Weaving Women Biblical Institute’s program coordinator. “I want women to walk away feeling empowered. They can trust God and have a better understanding of themselves as powerful, amazing and loving. We all have a purpose and a reason for being. I want to help them find their calling.”
Also involved in the Weaving Women Biblical Institute is Rev. Dr. Jermaine McKinley. One her favorite female characters in the Bible is Tamar. Reverend McKinley wants to help students understand the difference between the two Tamars of the ancient script.
“I’d like for students to look at things in a historical perspective, the situation in life and from the perspective of when the stories were written and who wrote them,” Rev. McKinley told the Courier. “I want students to see how women were treated and realize the time period these stories were written in. Read between the lines to find out what’s really going on. Most of the women in the Bible were unnamed. If the women were mentioned, they had to be super-duper important. They couldn’t be left out.”
“We’re looking for ways to create a collective effort with other folks who are interested,” Rev. Moore said. “Come join us and learn more about how we as Black women can relate and learn and be empowered in the journey. It’s a unique way for women to know their self worth.”
(Editor’s note: For more information on the courses or to sign up, email drjudithcmoore@gmail.com.)
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