CHICAGO— The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW), in partnership with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, is hosting a virtual women’s leadership summit, I AM Her, October 8-10, 2020. Registration is now open at Garrett.edu/IAMHer.
The I AM Her Women’s Leadership Summit is not your ordinary conference. It’s a movement of women coming together to be inspired, be empowered, and to be equipped to do the work both personally, professionally and within The United Methodist Church to connect. This summit will focus on worship, relationship building and network mapping along with various courses to help participants learn how women in leadership have overcome challenges, and created solutions that supported their success. There will also be opportunities to learn how to build your professional network and maximize its potential.
Our keynote speaker is Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber. Bolz-Weber is the author of three New York Times bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint (2013), Accidental Saints; Finding God in All the Wrong People (2015), and more recently, SHAMELESS: A Sexual Reformation was released in January (2019). An ordained Lutheran pastor (ELCA) and the founder of House for All Sinners and Saints, Bolz-Weber has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, On Being with Krista Tippett, Fresh Air, CNN and in the Washington Post, Bitch magazine, The New Yorker and The Atlantic.
Participants will engage in powerful and moving worship led by Grammy nominee and renowned worship leader, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson, with preaching from Bishop Tracy Smith Malone and Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. Participants will have the opportunity to grow professionally and spiritually by attending a variety of workshops such as The Way of Integrity, Navigating Power Relationships: Network Mapping, She Preaches! Patterns of Prophetic Preaching, and Well-Being for Women.
Plenaries range from a variety of topics that will help women develop their leadership skillsets and to engage with the Bible in unique ways. I AM Her: Women in the Bible is a plenary panel of clergy and laywomen who identify themselves in the biblical text through the eyes of Esther, Ruth, Lydia and more. Stony the Road... Effective Strategies for Women in Leadership will be a panel of women who overcame many challenges on their road to leadership. The Second City Training Center will also lead two plenary sessions helping women with communication strategies through the art of storytelling and presence.
We will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States, a commemoration of the history of women’s constitutional right to vote. Led by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and our United Methodist Women, you will leave this event with powerful tools for engagement both in and out of the church.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry will be providing 1.5 CEUs for this conference. The general registration fee is $39. United Methodists from Central Conferences can register for free. Financial assistance to attend the conference is available – please see the website for more details.
Registration and a full schedule can be found at Garrett.edu/IAMHer. Registration has been extended and will close on Monday, October 5th at 4 PM CST.
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The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for the full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. GCSRW helps the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children – as full and equal parts of God’s human family. They believe that a fully engaged and empowered membership is vital to The United Methodist Church’s mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church, was founded in 1853. Located on the campus of Northwestern University, the seminary serves more than 450 students from various denominations and cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. Garrett-Evangelical creates bold leaders through master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. Its 4,500 living alumni serve church and society around the world.