Women of Principle

Last month, I launched a series of interviews with women in leadership. This week, I will feature two principled women leaders, Attorney Angela Givens-Williams and Pastor Sue Hyland. Both Attorney Givens-Williams and Pastor Hyland interact and work with individuals from all walks of life, saved and unsaved, just and unjust. Yet, in all circumstances, they allow God to use their gifts and the power He has given them to empower, help, and serve others.

 Attorney Angela Givens-Williams is the epitome of a quiet, moving force, which is what myself and others find inspiring about her. She is quiet in spirit, but her wisdom and consideration for the word of God and His principles give her the authority to walk in her purpose and propel others while doing so. Angela is an active member of her church and in the community. She was the 2018 recipient of the Robert E. Hauberg Award for Distinguished Public Service, an award given for going above and beyond the call of duty in public service that significantly impacts the community.  Angela serves as the Chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, where she handles affirmative and defense cases on behalf of the United States and supervises 8-10 people in her division.

Pastor Sue Hyland has been running for the Lord since she was a young girl, preaching her first sermon at the age of 11 in front of nearly 1,000 people. She is truly a woman of essence, the embodiment of wisdom, truth, and purpose. Sue serves as the pastor of Bentley Chapel United Methodist Church and Court Street United Method Church, but she is more than the pastor. Sue is a servant. She and her members serve dinner on Wednesday nights. Sue also leads exercise classes, promoting spiritual and health wellness.

 In the interviews, Attorney Givens- Williams and Pastor Hyland share who they are, their experiences working in male-dominated fields, their thoughts on parenting, how they take care of themselves, and share advice for women.

Attorney Angela Givens-Williams

Who is Angela Givens-Williams?

I am a Christian. I am married to Robert and the mother to Gracie and Law. I grew up in a small town in Mississippi, which you would call the boondocks. I learned at a young age to work hard. I spent summers working in someone’s yard, helping tend to the garden. My family did not have a lot of money, but we had each other and togetherness.

I am one of eight children and the first of my parents’ children to go to a four-year college and graduate. My siblings later attended college.  I received my undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College and graduated from George Washington University School of Law. 

Professional Challenges: When I asked her about the challenges of being a Black woman attorney, Attorney Givens-Williams noted the following challenges: the need to feel you have to constantly prove yourself, being doubted, and having limited professional connections. Also, counteracting the idea of tokenism, that you are only there because you are Black. She shared, “I have been mistaken for a court reporter, paralegal, all sorts of things.”

On Raising Kids: I make sure they study the bible, are grounded and learn what they are supposed to know as human beings. I tell my friends that one of my biggest concentrations is making sure they are good human beings. I try to foster their interests and also spend time reading and talking with them.

On Self-Care: I am low maintenance. Self-care for me is peace and quiet. The simplest things bring me joy, such as sitting in my yard and listening to birds.

On Work-Life Balance: I just do my work. My weekend goal is to be free of work and spend time with the kids.

Advice to Women: Nobody is perfect. Don’t beat yourself up. Give yourself grace that you should be giving others. If you have trouble forgiving somebody, write their name down and pray for them. I promise you it works. I recently completed an activity on forgiveness. I had to write down the names of people I want to forgive. One of the names I wrote down was my own. Often, we cannot grow because we hold ourselves too accountable for our mistakes. Let go of mistakes so that you can progress.

Pastor Sue Hyland

Who is Sue Hyland?

I am a child of God first and then a child of my parents, a sister, and a friend. I am very proud to be from the family that I am from. I am proud of how my parents raised me, being open-minded, accepting, always willing to listen, and very independent and headstrong.

Being a pastor is part of who I am. I feel like God created me with gifts and graces to be a pastor. People have told me that I would be a minister since I was a young girl, but I was like, “No.” I went to college and graduated with a degree in elementary education, but I have never worked as a teacher. The summer after I graduated, my parents kept asking me when I was going to apply for a teaching job, but I kept putting it off, “Yeah, I am going to apply.” But I was more interested in youth ministry. I wanted to be a full-time youth minister. I finally told them at dinner one night. With their blessings and support, I started applying for jobs and later moved to Memphis where I worked as a youth director until the Bishop’s cabinet called me about my current assignment.

Professional Challenges: There are not many challenges related to women's role as a pastor in Methodist Churches. However, I recently was at a virtual meeting with male pastors, and one of the pastors asked whether or not women should be a pastor.  As the only woman sitting at the table, I was like, here we go. I felt like I was getting beat up in the back alley by a bunch of men speaking to me about whether or not I was called. I had to defend myself, taking the men back to the moment God called me.

On Raising Kids: I do not have kids, but I think teaching kids to serve is one of the most important things we can do for them. You know, inviting them on Wednesday afternoons to help around the church, to help with serving meals, or to serve as an usher on Sundays. Any way we can get them to look outside of themselves, I think, is essential.

 On Self-Care: I take advantage of the Sabbath day, which for me is Friday. I schedule my nail appointments, read, and try to rest. Sometimes I drive to my family's farm taking in the scenery and quietness.

On Work-Life Balance: You are asking a pastor about work-life balance. I try to reserve Fridays for myself, not taking any work call or texts. I also try not to go to work. I live three doors from the church, so I try not to go to the church. I really try to honor that, but that means Saturday is a possibility that I may be working all day.

 Advice to Women:  I think, as women in general, we don't give ourselves enough credit, and we talk ourselves down way before we ever talk ourselves up. I believe we need to begin looking at ourselves like other people look at us, you know, what I mean. Regarding ministry, the first step is so scary. But I mean, if God is calling you, then God will sustain you in those steps. Take that first step, believe in yourself, and believe in the gifts and the graces that God has given you.

Women of principle stand in faith and focus on God even when met with opposition and others feel they should not be seated at the table. I pray that the interviews with Attorney Givens-Williams and Pastor Sue Hyland inspired you and will help you to unleash your potential and walk in the authority God has given you.