CM: In what ways have you blazed the trail as a woman in ministry?
SG: I did not set out to blaze a trail. I think God kept me in the dark and ordered my steps. I simply answered my call to ministry, and later learned that I had blazed trails. I was the first woman to be ordained by Bishop Eddie Long, Pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Lithonia, Georgia. I was also the first woman to graduate from a well known Baptist seminary with a doctorate in ministry. In 1980, I attended a leadership conference at a well known ministry in Texas. I chose an expository preaching workshop, and did not realize that women were not allowed to attend. When asked to change my selection, I advised them that I paid for the workshop and would not change. I believe God allowed me to unknowingly walk into “closed” doors; thereby paving the way for other women to follow.
CM: What are some of the challenges you faced while studying at a traditional seminary?
SG: When I began my doctoral studies, people at the school kept asking, “Where is your husband?” I did not realize that my husband was expected to accompany me. When I enrolled in an expository preaching class. I was the first and only woman to take the class. My academic advisor for my dissertation told me that I had missed God. He said God would never call a woman to preach. So, I asked to have him replaced. I struggled all the way to the end, but God kept me.
CM: What advice would you give to women who face gender discrimination in ministry?
SG: The most important thing is to know that God called you. Women must ask themselves, “Am I called by God, people, or myself?” Once you are confident that you have been called by God, you will not look for the affirmation of people. Even the people closest to you may not believe that you are called. If you can settle the issue of your calling, then you will remain strong in times of rejection. The moment you allow the opinion of others to control your destiny, you are already defeated.
CM: What prompted you to launch The Lady and Her Legacy, and in what ways is it blazing a trail for women?
SG: In 2009, there was a function to celebrate my 20th year in ministry. The guest speaker referred to me as “the lady and her legacy.” As he spoke, the Lord impressed on me that every woman has a legacy. Out of that revelation came The Lady and Her Legacy Inc, a non-profit network. It is designed to help women become “living legends.” The organization has various programs, such as Healthy For Life, which helps women make healthy choices; Legacy Teens, where we empower and educate teenagers; Project Rebound, which assists women in moving past traumatic experiences; and Power Women, which offers network support and entrepreneurial development for women in business. In addition, we have adopted a local high school.
CM: Did you ever feel pressured to become like someone else in ministry?
SG: Most of us, at some point in our lives, want to be like someone else. I admired many great female preachers who had a certain style of preaching that I did not have. However, I had to prepare myself to be different. Now, I recognize that there are some places where I will not be invited to speak because I do not have the style of preaching they desire. I am fine with that. As women in ministry, we must recognize and appreciate what makes us different.
CM: What do you hope to be your lasting legacy?
SG: I desire to leave a legacy that provokes people to change. I want people to say that my association with them made them better, and challenged them to go to the next level. 
