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< Back Imagining Equity Daniel Williams Sep 21, 2022 The gifts of Christian feminist theology Summary:'Christian feminist theology challenges traditional theology and church practices that have restricted half of God's people from serving Go and the church as priests, pastors, teachers, and baptizers. this book offers a constructive argument and biblical examples to suggest a dynamic adaptation and revision of customs in narratives, prophecy, and wisdom, including especially the incarnation and in Jesus's life and teaching. After carefully defining "feminism" and examining the biblical text, the author emphasizes that outsiders and "othered" peoples are represented in the Bible as loved and used by God, even though the privileged have actively discriminated against them and continue to do so both in and out of ecclesial structure. Christian feminists seek to find, listen to, and raise the voices of women and others' experiences through diverse means, in order to contribute to the spread of the gospel, redemption, and justice for all.' Karen Strand Winslow (Author), United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry (U.S.) (Issuing body) Previous Next

PreacHer Showcase AWL is proud to highlight women preachers in the FMCUSA. Women were the first ones to preach the good news of the resurrected Jesus, and the body of Christ is enriched by their continued faithfulness to the calling to preach the gospel. The goal of this page is to create a space to amplify women's voices. If you are searching for guest preachers for your church or keynote speakers for church conferences, camps, or other events, we encourage you to use this page as a resource. For privacy reasons, we don't share contact information here, but if you'd like to contact any of the women featured on this page to inquire about preaching or speaking, please email AWL here and we'll be glad to connect you with them. *All of the videos on this page have been self-submitted. AWL has not screened them for content in any way. If you are a woman who is a CMC or elder in the FMCUSA and you'd like to be featured on this page, contact us here . We'd love to include you! Meet The Preachers Kayleigh Clark Acts 12:24 Conference Charmaine Rusin Acts 12:24 Conference Kara Betzer Cones Central Region Conference Denise Abston Central Region Conference Danette Meny East Michigan Conference Barbara Isaman-Bushart Genesis Conference Daria Roesch Genesis Conference Katie Sawade Hall Genesis Conference Zoe Hatcher Keystone Conference Kathy Callahan-Howell Ohio Conference Debra Davis-Bell Pacific Northwest Conference Janine DeLarme Pacific Northwest Conference Sheila Houston Pacific Northwest Conference Janet Richards Pacific Northwst Conference Phanith Yaletchko Reach Conference Calia Rodriguez The River Conference Heather Baker Utley The River Conference Soo Ji Alvarez Southern California Conference Jaime Winslow Southern California Conference Bethany Abbott Wabash Conference Supt. Pam Braman Genesis Conference Bishop Kaye Kolde FMCUSA

Marriage and Engagement Resources No matter what you are looking for, this article is a great place to start: Biblical Marriage: Leading and Serving Together by Jada A. Swanson and Jon E. Swanson Don't forget our book recommendations , too. Resources for Marriage Ministry Pre-Marriage Survey for Counseling Engaged Couples: Symbis Assessment Pre-Marriage and Marriage Survey: Prepare-Enrich Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs is a best-selling, but problematic, book . It does not align with Free Methodist beliefs and therefore should not be used in FM churches. CBE's Bookstore can be trusted to only carry egalitarian resources. 2008 National Survey : Egalitarian Marriages Happier than Complementarian Ones (This link downloads a .pdf) AWL recommends: Created for Connection by Sue Johnson Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman (secular book) Be sure and check out other resources by looking up publishers, denominations and/or authors here , or researching their stands on marriage equality for yourself. Combatting Common Misconceptions Men are not sex-fueled robots by Micah J. Murray Motherhood is not a woman's primary calling, but rather part of the cult of domesticity foisted on women by the reformation: Is motherhood the highest calling for women? by Marg Mowczko A Medieval Makeover: Women’s Roles Before and After the Reformation by Michele Arndt God's Protection of Women: when abuse is worse than divorce by Herb Vander Lugt Humor: If Men Got the Titus 2 Treatment by Rachel Held Evans See also videos on our video page such as: Does God Say, "I Hate Divorce"? Headship in Ephesians "What Were You Wearing?" The Theology of Gender

Job Openings On this page we have assembled links to FMC USA job opening lists in areas that are specifically seeking applications from women. If you know of others, please let us know! Email Us The River Conference This Conference specifically encourages applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities. The Center for Pastoral Formation The Center for Pastoral Formation hires instructors who have at least 18 hours of graduate credits in the subject they want to teach: Apply here . Central Region Conference The Central Region Conference posts job opening, including for senior pastor, at this link .

< Back ARCHETYPES on Spotify ALW Sep 21, 2022 Meghan Markle has started a new podcast on Spotify that explores some of the language used to describe women. Meghan Markle has started a new podcast on Spotify that explores some of the language used to describe women. The first three are out and available here . Previous Next

Abuse and #MeToo See the resources below for understanding, preventing, and responding to abuse in the church. To begin with, the following phrases should be avoided at all cost! Practices to Avoid Cycle of Abuse: When an Abuser Uses the Church by Center for Family Violence Prevention; church version by Kaitlin Shetler How the Misuse of Matthew 18 Bullies Abuse Survivors Into Silence by Russell Meek Why Adult Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse Are Not to Blame by Mark Scheffers What Were You Wearing? Exhibit at DSU dispels myths on sexual assault (video) 4 Problems with Andy Savage’s Apology by Ashley Easter She's Not That into You : how men overrate women's interest How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens: A Qualitative Study of First-Hand Accounts by Diana R. Garland & Christen Argueta Resources for Addressing Abuse Resources from GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment The Mend Project . Many resources, but particularly check out their "Tools for Pastors" on their Tools + Resources page. History of Violence Checklist : an eye-opening list of behaviors that constitute abuse Abuse Prevention Healthy Boundaries videos (English only) and workbooks (English and Spanish). Many other resources are also available through this database of resources on gender-based violence . What You in the Congregation Need to Know about Clergy Misconduct (English and Spanish). How To Raise Strong Girls (and Boys!) in an Age of #MeToo by Jill M. Richardson A Tale of Two Rapes: What Tamar and Bathsheba Teach Us About Power, Consent, and Sexual Violence by Erin Moniz Understanding Sexual Abuse By a Church Leader or Caregiver by the Mennonite Central Committee See also videos on our video page , such as: Theology of Suffering The Danger of Civility Intersectionality Some of our book recommendations will also provide best practices to recognize and avoid abuse.

Share Your Story Personal stories from women about their leadership journeys Your identity will not be published (unless otherwise requested.) This information is for our verification purposes. Email Name Conference/Church Share your story Do you wish to remain anonymous? * Yes No Phone Position Held If you want to be identified, please email a headshot and a short (3 sentence) bio Send Thanks for your submission. We’ll get back to you shortly.

In this section of our website, we would like to invite you to join us in the work of dismantling thought patterns and institutional processes that hinder and harm women, replacing them in ways that support equity for all. This is work that all women and men within the denomination are called to do. Curated resources to continue your education on women and church culture. And while we are learning: 9 Phrases Allies Can Say When Called Out Instead of Getting Defensive by Sam Dylan Finch Introduction (below) Video Corner Book Recommendations Podcasts and Websites Forgiveness and Repair Articles Biblical Interpretation and Tradition How To's Marriage and Engagement Resources Abuse and #MeToo The So-Called "Feminization" of the Church Event-Themed Resource Pages: Discouragement Who Tells Your Story? Teaching Opportunities for FMCUSA FMC Women's Dissertation Corner Introduction In this section of our website, we would like to invite you to join us in the work of dismantling thought patterns and institutional processes that hinder and harm women, replacing them in ways that support equity for all. This is work that all women and men within the denomination are called to do. It includes: taking seriously the stories of FMC women who have faced obstacles to leadership, and prioritizing dismantling those obstacles over protecting the status quo. (Read more on the blog.) reading the resources provided, sitting with the discomfort they may cause, and allowing this new knowledge to change previous patterns of thought and behavior. repenting* for participation in the marginalization of women in the FMC in the past with the hope of reconciliation and co-ministry moving forward. implementing new models of family and church leadership in current spheres of influence, based on collaboration and mutual regard. Repenting includes: (1) confessing to a same-gender partner the specific instances of participation in male supremacy, acknowledging sorrow for harm done and accepting responsibility for participating in the marginalization of women; (2) making restitution when possible and apologizing to the person/s impacted, if doing so would not cause further harm to that/those persons; (3) taking specific action/s to prevent further occurrences; (4) implementing a specific plan for rebuilding trust, [Adapted from Gary Chapman's The Five Languages of Apology ] Note that if you have harmed specific women, you will harm them further by expecting them to go through this process alongside you. Part of repentance includes acknowledging their feelings and their timetable. If they are unwilling to reconcile, take that as evidence of the size of the harm you caused, not the size of their faith.

Crafting GC Resolutions and Gaining Support Panelists include: Bruce Cromwell, Denise Abston, Jen Starr-Reivitt, and Collene Carney. Colleen Carney Coming Soon Jen Starr-Reivitt Lead Pastor, Compass Point Church Denise Abston Assistant Superintendent for the Central Region Conference Bruce Cromwell Superintendent of the Central Region Conference

The vision of Advocates for FM Women in Leadership is to help lead the Free Methodist Church USA toward an egalitarian culture in its entirety, including marriage and ordination, theory and practice. Podcasts and Websites Newly Added Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil will blow your socks off with her discussion of stepping into our callings of resisting both sexism and racism. Her wisdom and passion are sorely needed in the FMC today. Rev. Dr. Jill Richardson recently spoke as a guest for FM's Light & Life Podcast on the topic of Advocating for Women in Church Leadership. She gives us five action points--simple steps to take so that we can live what we believe. We are so excited for this invitation and the wisdom she shared. Enjoy! Rev. Dr. Laura J. Hunt gave us an overview of approaches to biblical interpretation that we can use to make sure that our sermons are empowering to women. Check out her five points below! Service Name AWL Jan event Rev. Dr. Laura J. Hunt 00:00 / 52:35 Bible stories that do not seem to empower women might benefit from removing layers of biased interpretations (Samaritan woman, John 4) being seen through the lens of liberation (Syrophoenician woman, Mark 7) being put into conversation with other texts that empower women (Luke 8:1-3 and many others) being used as discussion starters in which women are listened to (Dinah, Gen 34) being passed over in silence until we get a better handle on them (Bathsheba, 2 Sam 11-12). Lead Stories On this podcast, Steph Williams O'Brien and Jo Saxton discuss leadership issues such as burnout, breakthrough, and self-leadership. Check out this one on True Empowerment ! Marg Mowczko Marg does a fabulous job of digging into the Bible and making clear the behind-the-scenes academic discussions about the texts that are used to limit or support women. The Junia Project On this website, Gail Wallace and Kate Wallace Nunneley provide resources on biblical equality, equipping women, and resourcing the church. Holiness in Black & White: Women, Race, and Sanctification Drawing on two decades of research, Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison focuses on Wesleyan/Holiness women evangelists in the early 20th century, including Emma Ray, an African American who preached in Seattle rescue missions alongside SPU students and went on to become a Free Methodist Conference Evangelist. This was the 2013 Walls Lecture in Wesleyan Theology at Seattle Pacific University. CBE International CBE (Christians for Biblical Equality) is THE website for all things related to the equal partnership of women in the church and church teaching. With 400 audio files , over 2000 blog posts and magazine articles , close to 1000 academic articles , almost 300 book reviews , and 90 videos , not to mention courses , you should be able to find information on all aspects of this topic. Women and Church Standings A quick reference page for various people and denominations who have a stated position on women's roles. Not exhaustive. 2013_05_01_L_Priscilla_Pope_Levison 00:00 / 1:12:21 Free Methodist Feminist Christy Mesaros-Winckles gives us the history of debates around women's roles in the FMC, and the women and men who fought them. Sorry Watch This website analyzes examples of apologies in contemporary culture and measures them against their standards for a good apology . Becoming an Ally: A Roadmap for Men Who Aspire to Advocate for Women by Rob Dixon If you would rather read a written version of this material, see Raising Up Allies: A Standardized Pathway for Developing Men into Allies to Women.

The Month's Events December 2025 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Upcoming Events Bible Translations Matter: How the Ways We Read Scripture Shape Our Theology Mon, Jan 26 Zoom event More info Details

Advocates for Women in Leadership (AWL) Free Methodist Church is a group of women leaders in the Free Methodist Church USA (FMCUSA) who are passionate about creating a culture of equality, opportunity, and safety for women in our churches. Advocates for Free Methodist Women in Leadership (AWL) is a group of women leaders in the Free Methodist Church USA (FMCUSA) who are passionate about creating a culture of equality, opportunity, and safety for women in our churches. We’re here to provide everyone in the FMCUSA with the resources to understand our theology and practice regarding the equality of women in the kingdom of God—in value, role, and function. We’re also here to offer a safe space for women to tell their stories of church experience. This site is curated to assure those stories can be told with authenticity and without fear. We hope all can learn from your experiences. You are welcome here whether you are well immersed in egalitarian ideas, desiring information on what the Free Methodist position regarding women is, or questioning what you think about that position. We pray you will find what you need in these pages. Join Our Next Event! PreacHer Sunday VISION The vision of Advocates for FM Women in Leadership is to help lead the Free Methodist Church USA toward an egalitarian culture in its entirety, including marriage and ordination, theory and practice. MISSION Our Mission is to be a healthy biblical community of Free Methodist leaders supporting one another and assisting the Free Methodist Church USA in understanding the societal distinctives of women in the US in order to fully recruit and empower women among our disciples, leaders, groups and churches. Highlighted Resource: On the Feminization of the Church The feminization of the church movement has argued that men in particular are leaving churches because churches and church practices have been feminized. For a response to these assumptions, two articles and a book may be helpful.