Plenary Session Descriptions & Links
I Am Her Women in the Bible Panel
Bishop Sally Dyck moderates a plenary panel of clergy and lay women who identify themselves in the biblical text through the eyes of Esther, Ruth, Lydia and many more. Participants will be empowered to see the I AM in me…
Stony the Road… Effective Strategies for Women in Leadership
Women who overcame many challenges on their road to leadership share their stories of success and failures. Several women who serve the church from the episcopacy and lay will share how they navigated an often challenging process to leadership in and out of the church. Moderated by Bishop Tracy Mallone and Dawn Wiggins Hare, General Secretary will look at the intersectionality which is defined as the ways in which a person’s social identities, categorizations and characteristics overlap which may result in a system of disadvantage for the individual.
Leading In a Liminal Season with Susan Beaumont, CEO
How do you lead an organization stuck between an ending and a new beginning— when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear? Such in-between times are called liminal seasons—threshold times when the continuity of tradition disintegrates and uncertainty about the future fuels doubt and chaos. In a liminal season it simply is not helpful to pretend we understand what needs to happen next. But leaders can still lead.
Second City Collaborative Communication and Storytelling (Thursday and Friday)
Using skills developed over 60 years on stage, Second City hosts will teach communication and storytelling through improvisation and other exercises. Especially effective for building confidence and getting people to buy in to your message, our storytelling program provides tangible tools to make sure your audience is listening. Sessions will include: Identify the Hero; Say Yes to Yourself; Start in the Middle; Find the Transformation; Cultivate the Details and Cut the Clutter.
Workshop Session Descriptions & Links
The Way of Integrity with Becky Posey Williams, GCSRW
This workshop focuses on how to authentically live in right relationships with ourselves, others and God by using our individual value system to determine best outcomes for interaction.
Navigating Power Relationships: Network Mapping with Erin Moore, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
This session is designed to help participants develop an inventory of their relationships using social network analysis to create more effective networking strategies. By assessing the strengths of all relationships, an ability to advance change and create goals both professionally and personally can be achieved.
Financial Wellness with Leah Holzworth, Wespath
Wespath has created a 5 Dimensions of self-care program that Leah Holzworth will share for best practices on living a balanced, holistic, and meaningful life in joy.
She Preaches! Patterns of Prophetic Preaching with Rev. Lis Valle-Ruiz, Ph.D., McCormick School of Theology
This workshop explores the practices of women prophetesses and preachers through the ages to bring home their wisdom for prophetic proclamation today at a feminine pace. Participants will be able to identify a parish need, evaluate how God’s presence may meet that need, construct a message that builds on their best skills, and communicate confidently such message.
Power Culture, Resistance Culture with Rev. Dr. Donna Battle, Meredith College
Women everywhere are finding their voices and talking about the world as they see it and the world they want to us become. Women are moving in power and finding ways to resist the patriarchal culture that has dominated our spaces. Rev. Dr. Donna Battle will lead this session that explores the intersections of race and gender from a theological framework.
Strengthening Pastoral Leadership with Rev. Dr. Cathy Weems, The Lewis Center for Leadership
Based on work from The Lewis Center for Church Leadership, this course is designed to help clergy develop more effective leadership which is critical to fruitful ministry. The fundamental approach is grounded in identifying the strategic issues critical to the church’s future and discerning “actionable strategic insights” that can guide congregations and church leaders.