2018 Women in Ministry Recap, as told by Lauren E. Boone

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, along with 4 other co-conveners, gathered in Atlanta Ga, in September for a timely discussion at the 2018 Women in Ministry Conference. The theme for this year's conference was, “ Digging Hard Ground :Unearthing and Overcoming Embedded Sexism in Church and Culture." The women who stood to teach and preach included: Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, The Rev. Dr. Renita Weems, The Rev. Dr. Elaine Flake, The Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart, Rev. Raquel Gill, Pastor Lesley McClendon, Min. Stacy Dandridge, and The Rev. Dr. Ebony Marshall Turman. Each one stood to uncover what sexism looks like, acts like, and feels like in the life of ministry. Neglect, belittlement, injustice, and toxic theology was a common theme in the stories that were told, yet the bold and courageous women gathered to proclaim that  the tools to unearth sexism so many women experience in our churches and in our culture lie in the our capacity to hold men and the women who are complicit accountable everytime. The conference covered policies, procedures, preaching, and praxis of resistance.  
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  This was my first time attending the conference and I enjoyed it immensely. The setting was intimate and the conversations were real, timely, and theologically sound. The spirit was definitely amongst us. I have never felt so at ease and welcomed while also being challenged to take a more nuanced approach to scripture and cultural settings. I would encourage every woman , involved in ministry, or simply seeking a mentor to save the date for the 2019 conference to convene in Atlanta, GA, September 16-19, 2019.  I leave you with this word from Dr. Renita J. Weems, “Don’t let it be said that we were called and it made no difference or that we settled for trinkets.”