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Women's Leadership Development Group
Initiatives
Initiatives
Mentoring Initiatives
Ongoing
If you would like to be connected to a possible mentor in your region, please email us – and if you can offer mentoring, spiritual direction, supervision or are just keen to connect with other women for coffee – do reach out – we will do our best to put you in touch with someone!
Oneing: Looking into the writings of Julian of Norwich for wisdom today
March 2023
Our most recent Women's Leadership Development Group Session was "Oneing: Looking into the writings of Julian of Norwich for wisdom today"at St John's College, facilitated by the brilliant Jennifer Lewis, PhD candidate, in association with WLDG.
It was a special and inspiring morning focusing on Julian's teachings and creating beautiful contemplative spaces for all women; with insights, learnings, morning tea and plenty of conversation. Jennifer is currently a visiting scholar at St. John's. She comes to us from the U.S. where she is a Ph.D. candidate in Practical Theology at Boston University School of Theology.
Jennifer’s research focuses on spiritual practices, contemplative religious education, and feminist theological methods. Her dissertation is entitled “Wombing Theology, Mothering Subjects: Conceiving a Feminist Contemplative Pedagogyin Conversation with Julian of Norwich.” The project brings Julian of Norwich’s writings into conversation with scholarship on contemplative pedagogies and feminist practical theology, with the aim of developing a distinctly feminist form of contemplative religious teaching and learning.
Jennifer previously lived in Taupō, from 2011-2014, where she served at St. Andrew's Anglican Church. Both Aotearoa and the Anglican Church have a special place in Jennifer's own ministry vocational journey, and she is especially grateful for this time at St. John's and the chance to connect with those studying theology and immersed in ministry. You can contact her here.
Women's Leadership Development Group Hui
November 2022
We began 2022 with three Zoom hui, open to current and past students of St John's Theological College who had an opportunity to share with one another and develop our Kaupapa.
We offered the opportunity to gather in person and via zoom to network and discuss Kate Coleman’s book, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership". Feedback was that it was an intimate and meaningful korero.
Watch your email for more opportunities in 2023.
Writers Retreat
October 2022
12 women throughout Aotearoa and Tonga gathered together at Vaughan Park, in Auckland NZ.
This initiative was a space offered to current or alumni students of St John’s Theological College and a space for those working on academic or writing projects to write, retreat and build a collegial relationship.
It was a partnership between the WLDG and the Anglican Women’s studies centre and will there will be another opportunity offered in 2023.
What participants said about the Writers Retreat:
“In addition to the work of writing, I really enjoyed fellowship with the other participants. It was so great to be able to have a concentrated time of work, then be able to have other writers, academics, co-sojourners to fellowship with during break times”.
“The rediscovery of writing has been like soul food, triggering long forgotten experiences, creativity, something I can do anywhere, anytime with just a pencil and paper. The Retreat further opened the space for more nourishment with the beautiful sandy beach, clean warm lodgings, tasty meals, morning Chapel and prayers, awesome guest speakers, supportive and encouraging women writers from our Anglican faith, and warm manaakitanga”
“This Retreat to me was so constructive that I instantly pictured my story as we discussed with the quest speakers. Listening to so many stories told, it gives me great passion to tell my own story not from a view of anyone else but from our own mouth as Tikanga Pasifiki. I highly valued this Retreat and looking forward to start my writing centred on Ordained Women in Tonga.”