Emerging Women

Contact us – emergingwomen (at) gmail (dot) com

Submissions
Women need places to use their voice, and Emerging Women is such a place. We want to hear what women have to say. So if you have an essay, article, reflection, book or movie review, story, or resource that relates to faith or women’s issues in some way please submit it to the above address for posting consideration. We ask that submissions stay under 800 words (although longer stories are considered) and that you include a short bio with your submission. Together we can create the conversation and help each other along in this journey.

Current Series -

The Messages Women Receive –
What messages have you received about what it means to be a woman? Were you told that women were meant to serve men? Did you grow up feeling that you were only valuable for your looks? Were you encouraged and empowered as a woman? Were you told that to make it in a man’s world you have to try harder and be better than any man? Were you told that a smart assertive woman is unattractive? Were you affirmed that you were created in the image of God?

We’ve all received different messages that have shaped us as women – some good some damaging. All too often we can assume that our particular experience is shared by all women. The purpose of this series is to help each other understand where we all are coming from. It can also help us individually as we take the time to reflect on what messages about who we are meant to be as women that we’ve internalized.

So send in your thoughts and reflections. Share these messages and tell us how they have affected your life. How have you questioned and overcome the negative ones and how have the positive ones strengthened you as a person.

Wrestling -
In the Jewish tradition there is great reverence given to the idea of wrestling with one’s faith. In the Passover supper it is not the child who knows all the answers, or the one who rejects God that is the cause for concern, but the child who asks no questions. This asking of questions, struggling with one’s faith like Jacob with the angel, is how it is believe we should always approach our relationship with God.

To that end, this series will focus on that wrestling. What questions are you asking God right now? What theological ideas are you working over in your head? What are you struggling to understand? This could be about doubts, but it can also reflect that journey to understanding – trying to wrap our minds around the infinite. I know for me hearing others work through their wrestling aloud helps me learn as well.

The point here is not to arrive at any answers. Nor should there be any condemnation for questions. In seeking to grow closer to God no questions are out of bounds. So please – share your questions, share what you are wrestling with and let’s learn from each other.

Please send submissions to emergingwomen (at) gmail (dot) com

Blogroll
If you would like your blog or website added to the community page (as an Emerging Women blogger or friend) please send the link to the above address as well.

Site Moderator
Julie Clawson is a writer, mother, and former emerging church planting pastor. She is the author of Everyday Justice (IVP, 2009) and can be reached at julieclawson (at) gmail (dot) com.