Sophia Network

The need to re-member women in church leadership

I spent a brilliant weekend in Glasgow at a conference to celebrate the ordination of Olive Winchester, the first woman in the UK to be ordained by a trinitarian church. On 11 May 1912, Olive was ordained as a minister in Parkhead Nazarene Church in Glasgow. The previous year she had been the first woman to get a theology degree from Glasgow University. Her ordination showed that the church she belonged to recognised her anointing and call to ministry even though they hadn’t ordained women before.

I came away from the weekend feeling reconnected to the history of women leaders in the church. Janet Wooton spoke powerfully about the need to remember our mothers and sisters in the faith. History is the way that cultures tell their stories and we need to ask who controls the narrative. I was struck by that word 'remember'. To dismember something is to pull it apart and to destroy it. In contrast, to re-member is to give something body and substance, to piece it back together.

When women were ordained as priests in the Anglican Church in 1994, the media picked up on the novelty and reported on the ‘first’ weddings, baptisms and funerals ever conducted by women. What they missed was that in fact Florence Li Tim-Oi was the first female Anglican priest in 1944, Olive Winchester officiated at her first wedding in 1913, women had been preaching and leading in the Methodist Church for over 200 years and women had been leaders in the Salvation Army since it began in the mid 19^th century. And of course women have been active as leaders in the church for far longer than that. Carla Sunberg who is District Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Ohio talked about her research into the Cappdocian view of women in the 4th century. Macrina was the sister of Gregory of Nyssa, one of the desert fathers. She resisted her family’s efforts to arrange a marriage for her, and with another brother, Basil, founded parallel monastic communities for men and women, for which she was the overall leader. She was known as a well-educated, independent thinker who taught the Bible and established a hospital where divine healing was practiced. And she's not alone.

When we’re disconnected to the history of the women in ministry who have gone before us, we can easily think that women in leadership is something new, and it makes it easier for people to resist and question whether it’s ‘allowed’. With the weight of church history behind us, we can step up to the mark with confidence knowing that our foremothers are cheering us on!

Are men oppressed? Discuss

So what do you think of David Benatar's new book The Second Sexism? A philosophy professor from South Africa, he argues that because more boys drop out of school, fewer men earn degrees, more men die younger and more are incarcerated, that’s proof that men are routinely discriminated against in ways that women are not. In an article in The Guardian he says, ‘It's true that in the developed world the majority of economic and political roles are occupied by males. But if you look at the bottom – for example, the prison population, the homeless population, or the number of people dropping out of school – that is overwhelmingly male. You tend to find more men at the very top but also at the very bottom.’

It’s not a new argument at all, and it’s one that can occupy many an argumentative evening down the pub. The short answer is that yes, some men are oppressed, just as some women are oppressed. But I think it misses the point.

The journey towards equality is not a competition where those who can prove the most injustice will win a moral victory even if little changes. The point is that patriarchy is bad for everyone, both men and women. God created us to work in partnership as equals, together reflecting the image of God. We’re far from that in our broken world, but none of us are free until all are free; the liberation of women from stereotypes, oppression and discrimination is bound up in the liberation of men from the same. Let’s learn to listen to each other’s experiences without getting competitive or defensive and then work together to demonstrate the liberating partnership that God intended for us.

Exploring Equality - 21 June in Birmingham

Thursday 21 June, 11:30am to 2:30pm, Harborne Baptist Church, Birmingham

Come and join us for a day where we explore equality and what it looks like in practice. Jenny Baker will be speaking on what it looks like when men and women work together in partnership as God intended in all areas of life, and how we make that happen. It will be extremely practical and you'll go away knowing the next steps you can take! There'll be a chance to share your ideas and experience, take part in our AGM and hear about plans for Sophia in the future.

This is a free event with lunch and refreshments provided, and an opportunity to give a donation if you'd like to. It's for both men and women. Please register to let us know you're coming by emailing Sharon Prior: sharonprior1@btinternet.com

What does the Bible say about men and women? Still time to join our online discussion!

Our online discussion of In the Image of God starts on Monday and there's still time to join in. We'll spend a week on each session of the resource (with a week off for half term), which will give you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss and wrestle with different aspects of what the Bible says. We have people lined up to contribute to the discussion each week but they're not experts who will tell you what to think; they're fellow learners who will explore the questions with you.

This is what the schedule looks like, for weeks beginning:
May 7 - The creation story
May 14 - Women in the Old Testament
May 21 - Broken relationships between men and women
May 28 - Jesus and women
(June 4 – week off for half term)
June 11 - Headship and submission
June 18 - Silence and head covering
June 25 - Women and authority
July 2 - Paul and the women he called co-workers.

You could get together with a group of people each week to discuss the sessions and then post your thoughts and questions online. Or simply join in the online discussion as much or as little as you want to.

How can you join in?
1) Register for the course by emailing me to let me know you want to join in: jenbaker@btopenworld.com Just to warn you that I'm away for the weekend from midday today, so emails that arrive after that will get a reply on Sunday evening.

2) Buy a copy of the resource from Proost. It's £2.50 for a pdf version which you can download immediately or £5 for a hard copy which will take a few days to arrive in the post.

What are you waiting for?!

May update

I don't want to moan about the weather because I know we need the rain, but just to say that I didn't expect to be huddled under layers of jumpers at the beginning of May! So, make yourself a cup of steaming hot chocolate, fill up your hot water bottle and enjoy our update for you this month.

• Lizzie Telfer shares how she's tackling self doubt
• Claire Rush reviews Wise Up by Susannah Blundell, a great resource on working with girls
• Vicky Piggott Genge reviews Carolyn Edward's book Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails, a fantastic resource on working with boys
• Jennie Fytche reviews The Book of Ruth by Carolyn Custis James, a thought-provoking reading of the story of Ruth

Enjoy!

Article: Self-doubt - not for me! by Lizzie Telfer

It is four months since I made a pact with God – a decision that I would live even more in God’s fullness.

It started at New Year when I was reflecting on where God had brought me over the last 12 months, how I had got to know myself more and what I was called into. It was time to celebrate the annual experience of adventuring with God into the unknown. He had opened up opportunity to work as a freelance writer and Youth Participation Consultant and I was experiencing a new and fresh way of serving him in this work. I had been travelling alongside God and experienced his innovative nature and creativity. As I reflected, I saw that huge possibilities had opened up and that he had faithfully led me through unknown territories. It still astounds me that he wants to use me in that side of things and calls me to participate with him in that ministry.

The celebration of my reflection also came with a nudge. Not a comfortable nudge but a frustration. During this time, I had experienced self-doubt. I am talking about lies and the fear that I am not able to do what God has opened up for me, where in reality God has equipped and called. This would often happen late at night and I would just want to hide under the duvet!

Self-doubt is different to humility. I don’t believe that ignoring the truth that God has given us gifting or a calling is anything like humility. Instead humility must adhere any gifting to God and then acknowledge that… “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Doing myself down is taking hold of lies, instead of my identity in Christ.

There are frequent accounts in the Bible of people who were given a task and an opportunity for leadership, who also took their eyes off God. They quickly sized themselves up and stood back, looking at how they saw themselves or how others saw them, rather than the creator God who made them! Moses is an example of this. After God appears to him in a burning bush and almost hollers the fact that “I am, who I am”, Moses still comes back with the ‘what ifs’ and doesn’t accept the fact that God is with him and that is enough! (Exodus 3 - 4:17). God has a great plan to use us, to glorify him, through a relationship where we submit to who he is.

As I looked out onto the New Year, I knew that it would come with adventure, highs, lows and challenges. However, I decided that I wanted to take hold of the fullness of life that God offered. I wanted to accept the transformation that he desired for me. From a ministry perspective, the awe of the responsibility that God had given me as a leader led me to believe that if I listened to the self-doubt, it would affect others. I couldn’t let the part he was calling me to play in his Kingdom be affected by lies and fear. I wanted to live, love and ‘be’ fully his daughter in a full relationship with him. A fresh excitement stirred in me as I made this choice with God. The choice was not to listen to the lies and fear but to trust him, take risks in his strength and not say I couldn’t do something until it had been tried.

Fast-forward to the present, four months along the journey of living in God’s truth. I have to be honest, I haven’t always got it right and I would be saying that I was superwoman to have not felt self-doubt. What has been incredible though, is that I have been in this amazing dialogue with God. When I have felt self-doubt, he has helped me choose to see the truth and continue in faith. I think being vulnerable with God and making a decision to trust is what it is all about; choosing to look at God and not myself. Knowing the truth about my identity in God, my abilities and calling, allows me to fall into the unknown with him as the one who leads and is capable.

There have been new things to do and achieve within these past four months and practically I have seen God use certain things to grow me into a greater trust and identity in him. Here are three examples:

Review: Wise Up by Susannah Blundell

If you are involved in working with girls, you need to make sure you get your hands on the new Wise Up resource pack. Wise Up is a programme for teenage girls (aged 10 -18) which helps facilitate discussion on a diverse range of issues which are relevant to young women today. As its name suggests, Wise Up aims to empower young women to make healthy lifestyle choices at an age when they are exploring the roots of their identity.

The resource pack, which includes a clearly written book as well as a CD Rom containing photocopiable sheets, provides an incredible 60 ready-to-run sessions containing activities, role play and discussion questions. This is two years’ worth of material! The resource is structured to cover six key themes – exploring a healthy lifestyle, building healthy relationships, self-image, healthy habits & attitudes, sex & relationships and sexual health.

So what are its strengths? A quality, flexible and accessible resource tool which equip leaders to facilitate worthwhile, valuable and transforming discussion on the ‘hot topics’ in today’s culture is much needed. We all know the statistics...

• Bliss magazine asked 2000 girls, aged between 10 and 19, how they felt about their bodies. Nine out of ten confessed they weren’t happy with how they looked and two-thirds thought they needed to lose weight.
• Between 1 in 12 and 1 in 15 young people self-harm in the UK and some research suggests the UK has the highest rate of self-harm in Europe.
• The Centre for Disease Control estimates that 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year, almost half among 15- to 24-year-olds.

As people who are passionate about working with young women, we can all put faces to the above statistics (maybe even our own adolescent face?) All around us, we know young women who are failing to make wise and informed lifestyle choices. It is heartbreaking and it makes this resource necessary! Wise Up tackles issues such as eating disorders, depression, self-harm, sexual intimacy and body image in a sensitive yet empowering manner. For the ease of the facilitator, each session has a number of set aims (to frame the session) and a pick’n’mix bag of various dynamic, interactive activities which will be engaging to young people of all learning styles. I know that anyone involved in youth work will appreciate the flexibility that it offers! Another big plus is that is fun – young people will enjoy doing these (often humorous) activities. My own girls’ group had great fun exploring the healthy mind and emotions session. Another very positive attribute of the resource is that it does not tell young people what to think but provides them with the tools to explore their own values and beliefs and space to critically assess the damaging ones that the surrounding culture has placed upon them. As someone who is passionate about empowering young women, I was also refreshed to see that the resource steers clear of solely focusing on self-image, promoting a passive form of femininity or a fluffy pink stereotypical view of girls’ ministry.

Wise Up also contains an optional ‘Bible bit’ to link discussion to the Scriptures. Although the ‘Bible bit’ is only a few sentences long and does not provide much background for the facilitator, it does give the option for youth workers to delve into relevant Scripture passages. But perhaps this can also be seen as its core strength? The sessions would be excellent in secular contexts – schools, youth clubs and social care - as it is underpinned by core Christian values thus providing a relevant bridge to bring Jesus into these spheres. I am excited about the covert mission potential here!

So how can you get your hands on the Wise Up resource pack? Visit the website http://www.wiseup.info for further info as well as the opportunity to download two taster sessions for free.

Claire Rush is the Esther Generation Project Facilitator for The Girls’ Brigade England & Wales.

Review: Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails by Carolyn Edwards (IVP:2011)

Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails is a brilliant book, trying to readdress the balance of what it means for boys to be able to connect with God. The chapters are peppered with real examples of how Edwards has seen it working and seen how God can work powerfully in the lives of boys.

In a society where we are constantly having a discussion about the lack of men in the church, and the femininity of what we do as part of worship, this book steps in and makes us look at where it all begins.

It is a tough book to read, and it’s not the kind of book you can get through in a week – and indeed you shouldn’t, as you will miss out on the wisdom tried and tested by research. It does still have the feel of reading a research paper, but this is no bad thing, and in fact I found it very helpful. My suggested way of reading is to read a chapter, try out some of the ideas suggested, and then read some more. You are invited in to experience the research alongside the author.

As a youth and children’s pastor some of the knowledge that is shared and the advice that is given is like gold dust. My groups tend to be very boy heavy and yet the needs aren’t always addressed. However, after trying even just a couple of ideas from the book, the boys are more talkative and more open about expressing their feelings about God and themselves.

Edwards is careful to ensure that she is not misunderstood and good practice guidelines are given with regards to some of the activities, but, this does not stop her in making us aware that children long to feel as though they belong and are accepted – through play, through interaction and through touch. Edwards is very good at making you realise again what you know to be true… she’s just putting her finger on it and pointing it out.

Along the way Edwards asks you questions, making sure that you are engaging with the book rather than just being a passive passenger. At no point does she leave you floundering for the answer, but neither are her answers off hand. You are encouraged to think yourself into the role, to experience this stuff for yourself and see it happen.

This book is a must read for children’s workers, youth pastors, parents with boys, well really anyone in church. I have already begun to recommend it as a must read for those on our teams. Helping children connect with God is not just the responsibility of the parents or the Sunday school teacher, but for the whole church.

Vicky Piggott-Genge is Youth and Children’s Pastor for The Beacon Church, Poole

Review: The Gospel of Ruth - Loving God Enough to Break the Rules by Carolyn Custis James (Zondervan: 2011)

Carolyn Custis James writes a thought-provoking and challenging book about the well loved tale of Ruth. Traditionally the book is seen as a beautiful love story with its happily-ever-after ending between a submissive Ruth and Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer. However as James explores this story further she discovers new insights about the women in this book. Custis  James digs deeper into the characters of Ruth and Naomi and the decisions they made because of their faithfulness to God. This approach has made me stop in my tracks, look closely at the story and rethink my understanding of this book for today.

The book of Ruth is also the story of Naomi, beginning with her suffering and ending with her future. This was made possible not just because of the actions of Boaz but also because of the courageous rule breaking of Ruth and Naomi. Throughout this book Custis James attempts to answer the objective question, ‘Is God good for Women?’ She answers it by allowing the emergence of Naomi and Ruth as courageous activists for his Kingdom.

Written in an easy style it gives the reader fresh insights into this story. We still see Boaz as a hero and a redeemer and we also discover that Ruth and Naomi are redeemers too; James unpacks a story of equality and partnership. The women of God play a key role in this story, giving glimpses of how we can be courageous women for God today.

There is much to discuss in this book and the feminist maybe disappointed with the ending but I will not give that away.  For some it will reveal new insights and challenge assumptions about Ruth, others may completely disagree. If you have ever read Kelly Minters bible study on Ruth, this is a very different understanding. What it does do and does well is provoke further thinking and discussion about Ruth and what we can learn as women in Gods kingdom today.

Jennie Fytche is a Parish Nurse Development worker in Lincolnshire and a trainer/lecturer.

Pentecost Festival: What Women Want - come with us!

Pentecost Festival is an amazing series of events happening in London between 18 and 27 May 2012. Hosted by Share Jesus International in partnership with Christian Aid, it aims to showcase what the church in the UK is all about.

On Tuesday May 22 at 7pm there's an event at Oasis Centre entitled What Women Want about women's empowerment in the UK and whether the church should be doing more. Claire Rush and Jenny Baker from the Sophia Network are going and wonder if you'd like to join us? We're going for a meal at a local pub beforehand which will be a great opportunity to meet other Sophia members, meeting at 5:15pm (but it'll be fine if you can't come until a bit later). If you want to come, you'll need to book your own ticket to the event (cost £5 plus booking fee), and email Claire Rush, Claire.Rush@girlsbrigadeew.org.uk, to let her know you're going to come to the meal.

Here's some more info about the event, and you can book tickets here.

'It has been said women make up half the world’s population, yet do two thirds of the world’s work, earn one tenth of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of the world’s property.

Has the time come for the Church to step forward and take action on issues such as gender equality and women’s rights to challenge the power of men?  Join us as we debate, consider and discuss the issues surrounding women’s empowerment in both the UK and throughout the world.

On the panel will be:

• Mary Kenny: Journalist, author, member of the Master of the Guild of Catholic Writers and public speaker.
• Rose Hudson-Wilkins: Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
• Helen Goodman: Labour MP for Bishop Auckland and member of the Christian Socialist Movement.
• Paul Valentin: International associate director for Christian Aid overseeing it’s development work in 47 countries around the world.
• Elizabeth Hunter: Director of Theos, the religion and society think tank which provides research and commentary on the place of faith in public life.

Chaired by Steve Chalke OBE, Founder, Oasis Global & Stop The Traffik'

Events for women in leadership - Seven Deadly Sins in Southampton and Huddersfield

If you've read Kate Coleman's 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership you'll know what an insightful, practical book it is full of wisdom to overcome the obstacles we often put in our own way on the journey into leadership. If you haven't read Kate's book, why not?!

Kate and her team are delivering a series of events based on the book in Southampton and Huddersfield over the coming months. Each event stands alone so you don't need to go to all of them, and come highly recommended.

You can sign up on the Next Leadership website and this is what they say about the programme. 'The 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership programme and accompanying book is dedicated to the task of empowering women already exercising leadership within the church and/or the marketplace to recognise and understand what may be unique about their leadership. It is primarily focussed on promoting leadership development wherever women happen to serve as leaders. The programme aims to encourage all women to affirm what is good about their leadership, while addressing what is potentially destructive. Through the themes of education, empowerment and encouragement, the 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership enables participants to identify solutions to behaviours, rehearsed knowingly and unknowingly, which effectively sabotage women's leadership and may even undermine their best intentions!'

Events in Southampton are on 28 April, 16 June and 7 July 2012 and you can find more information and sign up here.

Events in Huddersfield are 14 July,15 September, 3 November 2012, 12 January and 16 March 2013 and you can find more information and sign up here.

Events for women in leadership: Retreat day for women in the North West

Sharon Prior is part of a group who are organising a retreat day at Cliff College on Saturday 14 July 2012 for women in leadership. She says:

'For a number of years we have found ourselves talking with various groups of women in different places, walks of life and professions in the North West discussing how to encourage, resource and motivate Christian women who are leaders in their workplace, homes, communities and churches. We are hoping this might be the beginning of a journey for some and the continuation of a journey for others. An opportunity to consider our own leadership, and to encourage others who are in leadership.

We are planning this day to be a retreat with input, space, food, time together and time alone. We are also hoping this might be a springboard to something more lasting in the support of Christian women leaders in the North West'.

Download a flyer about the retreat for more information. The retreat lasts from 10am to 7:30pm and refreshments, lunch and an evening meal are all included for just £25. You'll need to book a place in advance: email admin@nwba.org.uk or call 01942 221 595

Events for women in leadership: Leading Ladies with Bev Murrill

We're continuing to highlight events for women in leadership. I had a coffee with Bev Murrill a couple of weeks ago who has been running events for women in leadership for many years. I'll be speaking at the next Leading Ladies event and am looking forward to it!

Leading Ladies is an event designed specifically for women in senior leadership. If you are the lead pastor or married to the church leader, or in church eldership or leading a parachurch ministry, this event would be right for you. Three days and two nights with a small group of people, intentionally kept around 30, Leading Ladies is held from12th to 14th June, 2012  at Windmill Farm, Oxford. Led by Bev Murrill of Christian Growth International  the event is very informal and yet highly informative and relational. This is a great place for networking with peers but also time out to explore your own way forward. Bev has over thirty years of senior leadership experience in Australia and UK and has personally mentored many women and men into their leadership roles.

If you would like further information, please email Liz Jevons on liz.jevons@cgcchelmsford.com

Events for women in leadership: Women in Ministry events in Glasgow

Did you know that this year is the one hundredth anniversary of the first woman to be ordained in the UK? Well, you do now!

On 11 May 1912, Olive Winchester was ordained in what is now Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene, Parkhead, Glasgow, and was also the first woman to graduate from the Divinity Faculty at Glasgow University. To mark this event, a number of different partners have drawn together some inspirational speakers from across the UK and across traditions to celebrate, inspire and encourage women and women in ministry (lay and ordained). The weekend event includes a Day Conference on Saturday 12 May, a worship celebration on Sunday 13 May and, prior to these events, an Academic Conference will gather on Friday 11 May. Speakers include Elaine Storkey, Deirdre Brower Latz who is principal of Nazarene Theological College, Nel Shallow who is Mission Enabler for the Methodist Church in Sheffield and Jenny Baker, director of the Sophia Network.

You can find more details on the Manchester Wesley Research Centre website including a programme for each day, and you can download a booking form here.

And the winners are...

Thank you to everyone who entered the draw to win a copy of Jo Saxton's new book High Heels and Holiness, and thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing the books! The three winners are:

• Rachel Elliott from London
• Hannah Smikle from Stockport and
• Lydia Miller from Tonbridge Wells.

Congratulations to you - the books will be on their way to you shortly.

Events for women in leadership: Equal from Soul Survivor

I'm excited by the number of events for women in leadership there are coming up in the next few months so look out for blog posts about them this week: an academic event for those studying the issue, a day conference for women in ministry and an event for women in senior leadership. But today, here are some details about Soul Survivor's event Equal for young women and their leaders.

What does the Bible really say about women in leadership? And what does it actually look like for women to be leaders in the church today? These are two of the questions that will be tackled at the Soul Survivor ‘Equal’ day that is being held on Saturday 2^nd June. Hosted by Ali Martin and Mike Pilavachi, the Soul Survivor team will be joined by Jo Saxton (author of High Heels and Holiness and Influential) as they explore some of the theology and practices of women in leadership.

 The day is open to any women aged 16+, is taking place at the Soul Survivor Watford warehouse (Hertfordshire) and is £5 (including a cream tea!). The team will be host a number of sessions with worship, teaching and ministry, and during the day there will be an opportunity to put questions to the panel about women in leadership.

So gather a group of female friends and get yourselves tickets for this day that will be a great chance to explore what it means for women to be leaders in today’s church. Find out more and get your tickets at www.soulsurvivor.com/uk/events/equal.

Here are some comments from young women who attended last year's debut event:

• I now feel empowered and stronger to speak up – some insecurities stem from being female in a male dominated society. I don’t need to stand up for myself, but for God’s will and glory!
• I can now be confident that God wants women in leadership. Before now, because of certain passages that I didn’t fully understand, I was never 100% certain of this.
• Thank you for insight, affirmation and support/ safe environment to broach questions and great atmosphere and opportunity to learn word, worship and fellowship.

Next Sophia East Midlands meeting on June 16

We promised to let you know when the next East Midlands meeting is:

When: Saturday 16th June at 10.00am to 14.30pm.
Where: Jeans Youth Cafe, The Butterfield Centre, Bourne, Lincolnshire.
Lunch is offered and a donation of a £1 towards costs would be welcome.
Lifts are available from Peterborough Station. Contact Jennie Fytche jrfytche1@btinternet.com if you need a lift or for more information.
What: Kay Morgan Gurr is leading the day. Read about the first meeting of this group here.
Who for: The day is for all women in leadership and ministry or who aspire to be, including youth and childrens workers and CYM students

Let's talk theology!

What does the Bible say about men and women?

Last year we published our resource In the Image of God that explores that very question from an egalitarian perspective.

From May 7th 2012, we're going to host an online discussion that spends a week on each session of the resource (with a week off for half term), and gives you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss and wrestle with different aspects of what the Bible says. We have people lined up to contribute to the discussion each week but they're not experts who will tell you what to think; they're fellow learners who will explore the questions with you.

This is what the schedule looks like, for weeks beginning:
May 7 - The creation story
May 14 - Women in the Old Testament
May 21 - Broken relationships between men and women
May 28 - Jesus and women
(June 4 – week off for half term)
June 11 - Headship and submission
June 18 - Silence and head covering
June 25 - Women and authority
July 2 - Paul and the women he called co-workers.

You could get together with a group of people each week to discuss the sessions and then post your thoughts and questions online. Or simply join in the online discussion.

How can you join in?
1) Register for the course by emailing Jenny Baker to let her know you want to join in: jenbaker@btopenworld.com

2) Buy a copy of the resource from Proost. It's £2.50 for a pdf version which you can download immediately or £5 for a hard copy which will take a few days to arrive in the post.

What are you waiting for?!

And what happened in Bourne...

Jennie Fytche hosted a regional Sophia gathering in Bourne towards the end of March. This is her account of what they got up to:

On a wonderful sunny Saturday in Bourne Lincolnshire, Sophia East Midlands group had its first get together. It was really good to meet with other women who are serving God, leading in different situations. Together we thought about what it is to be women in ministry, what sort of leaders we are now and aspire to be and also chatted about the joys and challenges that we face each day in our ministries. Together we were challenged through a short bible study about Esther and began to unpack how Esther’s story challenges us. Together we were able to listen, support and encourage one another in our different ministries.

Part of the day was given over to simply just being away from the busy days we all seem to have in our work.  So after a very yummy lunch there was space to listen to God and respond through creativity. Some of us just sat and listened to music, others painted canvases, others sculpted in clay, some wrote poetry. This was treasured time where in the space busy women of God could be renewed and refreshed together.
The East Midlands Sophia day became a day of Grace, where we met together shared our stories as women of God and left renewed, supported and inspired.  All of us are eager to meet together again in June. At this meeting we were like-minded women sharing in the joy, grace, and thanksgiving of serving God, intentionally slowing down and catching God in the moment of the day.  I wonder what the next day will be like, what I do know is that was a real privilege to be part of this day.

Details of the next gathering of the Sophia East Midlands group will be posted on the blog as they are finalised.

What happened in Bournemouth...

Ruth Wells reports back on the Sophia regional meeting she ran in March: 

I am really privileged to live in a place where there are an incredible amount of brilliant and inspirational women. So it was really great to meet up with a small bunch of these fantastic women at the beginning of March. We simply had lunch, chatted, prayed and shared some of who we are and what we’re in. The day before this regional group I had spent time with some other inspiring Christian women looking at the issue of women in leadership. One of the really poignant things I took away with me was the challenge to keep ‘celebrating’ each other as women. It can be so easy to dismiss others, or be jealous of them or seek to be competitive. Jesus was very wise when he talked about people knowing who his disciples were because of their love for one another! 

The Bournemouth regional meeting was an opportunity to celebrate each other in the complex and diverse situations we are in. There is something very special about being with, and sharing in the journey of others. We shared stories of God’s providence, of calling and grace, of challenges and heartache. We upheld each other as unique, gifted women and resolved to continue to do so. I came away from the meeting inspired, supported and loved.

I would certainly encourage others to seek opportunities to meet with other like-minded women – to celebrate each other and be celebrated.