A Celebration of the Sisterhood, Struggles, Success, and Legacy of Women in Ministry
By Harry Seawright
The Women in Ministry Quadrennial, led by the Rev. Dr. Erika Crawford, proved to be an unforgettable experience for the almost 500 persons in attendance. Newly-created relationships will last a lifetime. Insightful words of encouragement and wisdom were influential throughout diverse sessions. As schedules were adjusted to honor the presence of God, throughout the week, prayer, praise, and fellowship transformed the hotel’s ballroom into a sanctuary!
Having the honor to lead a workshop about men and laity supporting Women and Ministry, I acknowledged women—including my mother—who made the idea of a woman in ministry “normal” early in my life. Although unaware of the struggles they faced personally, having them in my life made many of the struggles clear as other women began to accept their calls and grow in ministry. Great triumphs through hardships and adversity built a foundation that so many take for granted. Due to these feats, our Zion, as well as society, is stronger and considers a woman in ministry normal. We still have a way to go, just not as far to go as yesterday.
God truly brought women in ministry a mighty long way. The church is in good hands; however, as chatter throughout denominations continues about empty pews and lost interest, how many of these hands will belong to a woman? During one of the WIM sessions, all persons under the age of 40 were asked to stand. Less than 10 persons in the crowd of over 200 men and women stood. Although all young women in ministry were not in attendance, why weren’t they? Where were they? Where are they?
As young adults, we engage a variety of platforms that shape what we embrace as “the culture” and are in tune to beliefs that fuel it. One belief that has been more common is how women (especially black women) rise to the challenge in times of need. Do young women see a need to engage with WIM? Has a normalized idea of a woman in ministry deterred young women praying about their call? In reference to the Quadrennial, was lack of interest, time, or funds at the core of a decision not to attend? In the church, is there division in the understanding of WIM for women in ministry? Has the way ministry looks and is interpreted today hindered young adults in general from accepting their call? How does this affect young adults throughout the church?
Not just young adults, but all of us need to be in constant prayer about our role in upholding the legacy left by those before us. We should also seek God about whether that role is in ministry. Everyone is not called to ministry; however, everyone has a ministry within them that is needed. What’s your answer?
