When Dr. Suzan “Sujay” Johnson-Cook answered her call to ministry, she and other Black women had plenty of influential clergymen who advised, supported and encouraged them along what was — and is — an overwhelmingly male institution. She remembers them with great affection.
“We had wonderful mentors in Dr. A.C.D. Vaughn, Dr. Gardner Taylor,” says Johnson-Cook, a pastor, author and former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. “And we just buried Rev. Dr. Robert Perry last week.”
Still, “there were no women to guide us,” she says. “So we literally blazed trails.”
Now, as the role of women in ministry continues to expand globally, Johnson-Cook has forged yet another path. She is the founder of Women in Ministry International (WIMIN), an organization dedicated to empowering and mentoring female faith leaders as well as encouraging and inspiring the next generation of women at the pulpit.
Along with support, leadership development, and self-care guidance, WIMIN will help “ensure that women in ministry have the resources, community, and encouragement they need to lead effectively,” says Johnson-Cook. “Too often, women in leadership roles are pouring into others without anyone pouring into them. We’re here to change that.”
Johnson Cook says they’re also intentional in supporting those called to non-traditional or non-parish ministries.
“So there are all kinds of chaplaincies that were not really open to Black women for a long time: in the corporate place, in the sports place, in the law enforcement space, and our members are exposed to all of this,” she says.
WIMIN operates under the umbrella of Women on the Worldstage (W.O.W.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the global voices of multicultural women leaders. One of its flagship events, The Total Package Conference, is set to take place April 3-5, 2025, at the Holiday Inn, Washington Capitol.
“This conference is all about equipping women with the tools they need — spiritually, emotionally, and professionally,” says Johnson-Cook, who served on the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Clinton administration. “It’s not just about ministry; it’s about leadership in every aspect of life.”
And, she says, it’s about taking care of themselves and each other.
“So many of us had to work in isolation and in small congregations with little resources. And so many either burnt out or quit or just got so discouraged or died,” says Johnson-Cook, New York City’s first female police chaplain. “There’s a whole generation that started with me that died because they didn’t have any support systems. And I’m convinced that my legacy is to elevate, celebrate, and make sure women are given the proper chance.”
During the April international conference, there will be breakout sessions for training as well as small-group discussions so women can foster connections and establish bonds with one another. Women who’ve participated for the last four years, Johnson-Cook says, will serve as session leaders for the newcomers.
”We’re tithing our time and our talent,” she says. “We hope they will not be a rocky thorny ground, but will be received and that trees will grow to provide shade for future generations.”
Rev. Lisa Jenkins, a long-time member of WIMIN, praised the organization’s impact.
“I’ve attended The Total Package conference for years, and every time, I leave feeling recharged and ready to serve my congregation with new energy,” says Jenkins, who leads St. Matthew’s Baptist Church in Harlem. “Dr. Sujay, as we call her, has created something truly special for women in ministry.”
Through events like these, WIMIN continues to be a driving force for advocacy, education, and well-being among women faith leaders.
For more information, visit thewowfactor.live.
