Women are emerging from the shadows of ministry, busting through the stained-glass ceiling and taking a sledgehammer to old stereotypes. Here's a chance for you to have a voice - would you like to be heard?
Hi, I'm Erin Word (you might know me as Lily), and I have a blog called Decompressing Faith. Let me introduce you to my friend Pam Hogeweide, who writes for Off-The-Map and has a blog called How God Messed Up My Religion. We are the June, 2007 guest editors for The Porpoise Diving Life, a widely read ezine which focuses on issues of church and faith.
Our theme for this issue: "Progress: Faith in a Dress"
Deadline: This project landed in our laps on Friday, May 18th, and all submissions must reach us by midnight pacific time Monday, May 28 for consideration. A tight deadline, but let's go for it!
What we are looking for: Submissions from emerging and missional Christian women. Free, out-of-the-box thinkers. Alternative expressions of faith. Wild and crazy, postmodern approaches to theology. Church misfits. Women on the edge. Stained-glass-ceiling rule-breakers. Diverse perspectives are entirely welcome! If you identify with any of those statements, we want to hear from you! Poetry, prose, fiction...you name it, we'll read it. We also are looking for book and music reviews, if that is more your style.
Anything you submit must be your own original work: It may have been published elsewhere (like on your blog, for instance) and we will still consider it, as long as it is not under copyright. There are no strict word-count parameters; we are aiming for a maximum of 1000 words. We also ask that all submissions be written by women and in English.
Here are some ideas to start with: these are not meant to be strictly adhered to, only to help get you thinking - any other ideas you have are quite welcome. Also, some of the questions refer to your "ministry". The word "ministry" here is whatever it means to you: your home, your family and friends, your workplace, your neighborhood, your church, the homeless, pagans, minorities, foreigners...however you see it to be in your life.
- Can women lead men?
- Are women effective leaders and thinkers in the body of Christ?
- What is the place for social minorities in Christianity?
- What does emerging or missional work look like in your life?
- How do you see gender equality in matters of faith?
- What do you see as the primary role of the Church?
- What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about women in ministry?
- What are the greatest gifts women bring to ministry?
- Who are some of your emerging/missional women heroes?
- How do you perceive your mission field and how do you reach it?
- What have some of your struggles been as a woman of faith?
- How do you see women in ministry changing over the next 25 years?
- How has your expression of or role in the church changed or grown in the last 5 years?
- How has your theology changed in the last 5 years?
- How has your theology changed in the last 5 years?
One more thing: we are compiling a list of books, blogs and resources which support the concept of gender equality and in support of women in all levels of Christian leadership and ministry. If you have any ideas, be sure to pass them along!
Pam Hogeweide
Erin Word
Labels: Emerging Church, Gender Issues, Resources, Sexuality, Women in Ministry
Thanks so much for putting that up, Sonja!
We look forward to submissions from you guys!