mary magdalena lewis tate ("mother tate") (january 3, 1871 – december 28, 1930) was an african american evangelist. she was the first american woman to serve as a bishop in a nationally recognized denomination. she founded a pentecostal denomination, the church of the living god, the pillar and ground of the truth, in 1903. its first convocation was held in june 1903 in greenville, alabama. the church was the first pentecostal holiness church in america founded by a woman, and spread to at least twenty states. at least seven denominations currently trace their history back to her church.