{"id":30790,"date":"2016-12-01T13:23:53","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T18:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=30790"},"modified":"2016-12-07T15:29:11","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T20:29:11","slug":"scholars-harrisonburg-lancaster-campuses-attend-women-theology-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2016\/scholars-harrisonburg-lancaster-campuses-attend-women-theology-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholars from Harrisonburg and Lancaster campuses attend ‘Women Doing Theology’ conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a photo taken outside the Women Doing Theology Conference last month,\u00a0Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) Lancaster<\/a> student Karyn Nancarvis flexes her muscles and grins. Nancarvis attended the conference in Leesburg, Va., with nine other students from Eastern Mennonite Seminary campuses in Lancaster and Harrisonburg, as well as undergraduate students from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).<\/p>\n

Being with other women \u201cdoing theology\u201d was a profound experience, even for this woman working on her Master of Divinity degree through EMS Lancaster. She works part-time at Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church as interim director of children and youth ministries.<\/p>\n

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Eastern Mennonite Seminary students from Lancaster at the “Women Doing Theology” Conference. From left: Gina Burkhart, Thobekile Ncube, faculty member Elizabeth Soto and Karyn Nancarvis. (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In short, she \u201cdoes theology\u201d all the time. But not always with only women and not in such a powerful space, which explains the \u201cpumped-up\u201d delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe time spent with such a diverse group of amazing women of race, age, life stages, lifestyle choices and color brought me courage, strengthened my faith and secured a safe space to share and be engaged,\u201d Nancarvis said.<\/p>\n

Similar thoughts were shared by Elizabeth Witmer, a sophomore social work<\/a> major and ministry assistant<\/a> in the EMU residence halls.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was wonderful being in a place where I felt I could truly be myself, where I could express all parts that make up who I am,\u201d she said. \u201cThat’s the first time I’ve felt that I’ve been able to do that in a church setting.<\/p>\n

The conference is a periodic event hosted by the Women in Leadership Project of Mennonite Church USA. The students\u2019 registration fees were sponsored by EMS, EMU Campus Ministries, and women within the Lancaster Mennonite Conference.<\/p>\n

Professor: ‘essential’ empowerment happens at women-only events<\/h3>\n

EMU professors Nancy Heisey<\/a> and Melody Pannell<\/a>, EMS Lancaster faculty member Elizabeth Soto, and EMU Lancaster Associate Provost Mary Jensen<\/a> also attended. Pannell, who teaches in the Applied Social Sciences Department<\/a>, presented on \u201cWomanist Theology from an Anabaptist Perspective\u201d and “RAW Monologues: Stories from Radical Anabaptist Women overcoming sexism within the church.”<\/p>\n

Heisey, in her first year as seminary associate dean<\/a>, teaches in the Bible and Religion Department<\/a>. \u201cIt is essential for women to listen to each other as we work out our understandings of God, and our relationships with churches,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The conference theme, \u201cI’ve got the power: naming and reclaiming power as a force for good,\u201d was a hot topic for the attendees.<\/p>\n

Madison List, a senior religious and intercultural studies<\/a> major, was inspired by a story told by Sue Park-Hur, pastor at Mountain View Mennonite Church in Upland, Ca.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlessing and not cursing puts the power in our courts,\u201d recounted List. Heisey also found that to be \u201cthe most energizing story\u201d of the weekend.<\/p>\n

Kate Kauffman, a first-year special education<\/a> major with peacebuilding<\/a> minor, grew up very involved in the church. She saw a recurring theme in conference conversations : \u201cpower brings up our stories of pain … How pain is at work in how we relate to each other is something I’ve been processing a lot in sexism and in racism.”<\/p>\n

Thobekile Ncube, a Lancaster seminary student, said that the word \u201cpower\u201d has negative connotations for women in her home country of Zimbabwe. There, women are expected to \u201cbe silent laborers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat conference planted a seed in me,\u201d says Ncube. \u201cWe can do more than what the culture expects us to do. I can encourage them [her countrywomen] to help each other. I can train them to have confidence in themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n