Emerging Women

Here are a few more blogs where you can find thoughts and reflections on the NW Emerging Women’s Gathering – Convergence. If you know of any others, let me know. Enjoy.

Read them – here
here
here (with the coolest graphic).
and here

update – as mentioned in the comments, find Rachel’s detailed reflections here

What do you think we can do as American believers in the way of Jesus to foster a “peaceful relationship between neighbors”?

For anyone interested in joining the February book discussion of Hagar, Sarah and Their Children, I recommend getting an early start reading. The book is rich, thought-provoking and totally worthy reading, but a little denser than SMK’s book. So just a head’s up!

Sending blessings your way, and thankful for all you ladies (and quality men that stop in from time to time.)

Jemila

So I’m back home from the NW Emerging Women Gathering and I wanted to share a bit of what we experienced. I posted some of me personal reflections from the weekend at my blog here. I’ve also included here a few of the pictures I took over the weekend – showing a bit of the whimsical and ubiquitous art at the Edgefield Manor (a place I highly recommend anyone visit if they get the chance)

We gathered on Saturday to share with each other our experiences in leadership – including all the joys and struggles that involves. From that time the groups returned with questions that our experiences raised in us. These are what came to mind as we reflected on who we are. Who knows how we will “answer” them, but they were questions that we had to ask.

Group Questions

How do emergent ministries and mainstream congregations learn and grow together?
How can we as women encourage instead of hurt each other?
As we are staring new kinds of faith communities how can we avoid damaging those we come in contact with?
How do we become leaders without losing who we are as women (have to act like men)?
God cares about us and our wholeness, how do we lead from that?
How do we claim and articulate our dreams and receive God’s permission to move forward in those?
What are supposed to do with the excitement of learning from each other?
What is next????? (the ever present question)

The afternoon was spent over a good lunch and conversation. We then broke into affinity groups to explore topics such as church planting, spiritual retreats, and social justice. I got to participate in a great discussion of centering prayer and being aware of our body in prayer and spiritual acts. I also got to participate in a spiritual direction session, which was a blessing albeit new experience for me. We were then treated to a panel discussion with a number of emerging women leaders. It was great to hear a variety of different perspectives from women at different stages in life and ministry. Here are a few of the insights from that panel that I found helpful.

- It can be a long process to accept God’s call to ministry as a woman and as yourself.

- Being who we are gives us credibility. It threatens some when a woman accepts God’s call, but we should just let them see God working through us, using the gifts God gives us.

- You need peers and mentors on this journey. Mentors can give you insight into the places you have not yet been. It is your responsibility to take the initiative to find a mentor.

- Don’t wait for permission or an invitation to use your voice, just do what you need to do.

Saturday evening was spent in community as we talked, shared a meal, and played games. We got to discover each others’ journey’s and learn from where we have all been. Sunday morning was spent in worship. Some of us started the day with a contemplative prayer/yoga session. It was a quieting time that helped us center our thoughts on God. The full group then spent time singing and worshiping through artistic lectio divina. As we mediated on scripture and prayers, we created images and collages that reflected what we were dwelling upon. We shared those creations with each other. We continued worshiping then with more songs, sharing a communion liturgy, and passing the peace. The group then entered into a time of sharing and reflecting on the experience, but Sarah and I had to slip out so we could make it to the airport on time.

It was a refreshing weekend that I am glad I was able to be a part of. I met some wonderful women and got to learn from their combined experiences.I would love to hear reflect ions from anyone else who attended. And I highly encourage everyone to try to ake it to one of these events.

In reading SMK’s The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, I learned imensly about our faith and its history regarding women, how my emotional and self esteem problems are rooted in patriarchy, and how I truely believe that this book is part of the redemtive history Christ put into place. I was very enlightened.

I began reading the passages over and over in the bible which address women in the church. I came upon an essay written by NT Wright, (found on Scot McNights blog, which I think most of you frequent).

http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Women_Service_Church.htm

I read this and became very angry. In light of cultural contexts, Wright shows that women were given leadership roles in the early church. In fact, in Romans 16, all historical evidence points to the fact that the apostle Junias in verse 7 was actually a female, Junia. There was a large debate in which Junia was declared male, Junias. Again, I am angry.

However, throughout the angry feelings I somehow remember that God has worked through history. I couldn’t help but think, even though the Feminie Devine has been surpressed and women’s abilities have been shut out of the church, God has still worked through this world. I still found hope in Jesus Christ through the patriarcy of this world. The hope I hold onto is a redemptive hope. That God did not intend for this world to treat women the way we are treated and it is being redeemed. I think this is the first step in welcoming the Feminie Devine back into our lives.

I’d like to know what you all think about Wright’s essay as well as redemptive trends.

I read this translation of the Lord’s Prayer several years ago at ChristianMystics.com. It speaks to my heart with a sense of clarity and beauty I hadn’t seen before from our traditional version. I’d like to hear what other’s impressions are of this:

THE LORD’S PRAYER
(One Possible New Translation From The Aramaic***)
by Neil Douglas Klotz

1a*) Abwoon d’bwashmaya…
1b**)O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
1c***) Our Father which art in heaven.

2a) Nethqadash shmakh…
2b) Focus your light within us-make it useful,
2c) Hallowed be thy name.

3a) Teytey malkuthakh…
3b) Create your reign of unity now,
3c) Thy kingdom come.

4a) Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha…
4b) Your one desire then acts with ours,
as in all light, so in all forms,
4c) Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

5a) Hawvlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana …
5b) Grant what we need each day in bread and insight,
5c) Give us this day our daily bread.

6a) Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn)
aykanna daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn…
6b) Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt,
6c) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

7a) Wela tahlan l’nesyuna, ela patzan min bisha…
7b) But free us from what holds us back,
7c) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

8a)Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbutkhta l’ahlam almin. AMEYN!…
8b) From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews…
Truly-power to these statements-may they be the ground from which all my actions grow. Amen!
8c) For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Legend: *a)=Aramaic; **b)= English Translation of the Aramaic;
***c)= King James Version

As we gathered as women from a variety of different backgrounds at the NW Emerging Women Gathering, the leaders led us through a process of deciding what would define our safe space. We would be sharing our stories, or passions, and our struggles with each other and as a community we set guidelines for how those interactions would proceed. The question was how will we be committed to learning from each other by creating a safe and sacred space. I liked the guidelines the group came up with and wanted to share them here.

- No “scripturizing.” No throwing scripture out to hurting women who probably know it already. Using the Bible as a weapon or excuse doesn’t help.
- In our groups we need to seek to understand rather than fix. This means not offering input unless it is asked for.
- Don’t make people feel rushed, but still allow everyone a chance to speak (don’t let one person dominate conversation)
- Be aware of our internal responses to what others are saying (like disdain for what we have left behind or fear of where we have not yet been). To respond in love as we are aware of our own baggage.