Lack of women leaders concerns MW USA

Mennonite Women USA retreat participants work at new vision statement.

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Participants discussed what they perceive of a lack of women in leadership at the Mennonite Women USA (MW USA) strategic planning retreat March 27-28 at Amigo Centre, Sturgis, Mich.

Theologian Mary Shertz noted that within Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., fewer women are in leadership positions now than a decade ago, according to a recently completed AMBS self-study.

Theologian and author Elizabeth Soto added that women have a prophetic voice for the church that is being silenced.

Twila King Yoder, assistant to the president of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., and MW USA board member, noted that women seemed to make progress for some time in the area of church leadership but the trend seems to be moving toward fewer women in ministry and leadership positions.

She speculated as to whether women are just “tired of pushing” or whether “we are not training and preparing for leadership roles in as great a number as we once did.” Yoder asserted that some women are getting broken through this process and are saying, “I’ve been trying to use my gifts for the church, but if they are not valued in the church, I’ll use them elsewhere.”

A participant said all churchwide agency boards are chaired by men, while previously three were chaired by women.

Another participant said there are some women who say they don’t want the Mennonite Women USA publication Timbrel “pushing radical issues,” while others’ vision for Timbrel is that the magazine actively create a space for women to enter into dialogue about issues women in the church want to discuss but are not given a place within the church to discuss.

Goshen (Ind.) College professor and MW USA board member Regina Shands Stoltzfus pointed out that this kind of programming will call women to “active” advocacy.

“Active advocacy is scary, lonely and takes a toll on those at the forefront. There is a backlash when people speak out against unjust structures,” said Stoltzfus.

She asked, “How radical (that is, how willing to go to the root of unjust structures) is Mennonite Women USA willing to be? How much risk-taking are we willing to do? How willing are we not to be liked for what we are doing?”

Participants at the retreat ranged from ages 2 to 70. Twenty-five percent were underrepresented racial-ethnic people.

MW USA decided on the following mission statement: “Our mission at Mennonite Women USA is to empower and resource women and women’s groups as we nurture our life in Christ, study the Bible, use our gifts, hear each other and engage in mission and service.”

Participants also worked at a new vision statement for the coming three to five years. According to Rhoda Keener, MW USA executive director, that process will continue this summer.

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