Occupy the Church: Economic Justice for Women in Ministry in the 21 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Occupy the Church: Economic Justice for Women in Ministry in the 21st Century

Many Voices – One Message

• Rev. Jacqueline B. Blue

11 April 2013

Protesters with the "Occupy Seattle" movement march, Saturday, October 15, 2011, near the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) #

Protesters with the "Occupy Seattle" movement burn a Bank of America debit card as they protest, on October 15, 2011, in downtown Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) #

People sign a huge banner during the "Occupy DC" anti-corporations protest at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2011. A four-day protest in Washington to reclaim American politics for the people went into

• vertime, its participants vowing to stay put despite the expiry of their permit.

The Stop the Machine occupation of Freedom Plaza is one of two ongoing protests in the capital, alongside the like-minded but more youthful Occupy DC sit-in, now in its 10th day. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) #

Occupy Wall Street protesters spend the day marching from their base in Zuccotti Park in New York City, past several banks towards Washington Square before they head to Times Square for a rally on Saturday, October 15, 2011. (AP Photo/David Karp) #

Occupy Wall Street protesters shout slogans during a protest at Times Square in New York, on October 15, 2011. Thousands of anti-Wall Street protesters rallied in New York's Times Square on Saturday, buoyed by a global day of demonstrations in support of their monthlong campaign against corporate greed. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz) #

A demonstrator dressed as Jesus Christ takes part in the Occupy London Stock Exchange demonstration in London, on October 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel) #

Boston Women’s Memorial

Abigail Adams Lucy Stone Phillis Wheately

• Dr. Anna Howard Shaw

UMC Clergywomen Retention Study II

• In 2010 - 10, 231 clergywomen in the UMC (7,531 active

clergywomen and 2,700 retired)

• 1,906 clergywomen, responded to the survey

The Clergywomen Retention Study II divided its findings into three categories: Answering the Call, In and Out of Local Church Ministry, and Responding to Why

UMC Clergywomen Retention Study II

Answering the Call

• 72% (previously 68%) said their primary reason for seeking
• rdination was a “nonspecific call to ministry.”
• No change from the first research project, 20 years ago.
• Seventy-nine percent (previously 82%) wanted their

appointment after receiving elder’s orders to be in a local church. The current study also confirms that the majority of clergywomen still entered the ministry to serve a local church and had a desire to stay in congregational ministry, as they did twenty years ago.

UMC Clergywomen Retention Study II

In and Out of Local Church Ministry

• 96% (previously 73%) of clergywomen in local church ministry

in the North Central region

• 97% (previously 69%) in the Northeastern
• 96% (previously 75%) in the Western
• 95% (previously 64%) in the South Central
• 98% (previously 67%) in the Southeastern.

In general, all regions show about 20% to 30% of growth for clergywomen’s participation in local church ministry.

UMC Clergywomen Retention Study II

Responding to Why

• Follow a call to another kind of ministry at 20% (previously

25%),

• Family responsibilities and other, both at 18% (previously
• ther at 20% and lack of hierarchical support at 15%).
• Lack of support from the hierarchical system at 35%

(previously 22%)/ (surrendered credentials)

• Lack of support from the hierarchical system 44%
• Lack of opportunity to use gifts 44%,
• Too much rejection by churches 28%,
• Cannot maintain integrity in this system 22%,

Occupy the Church: Economic Justice for Women in Ministry in the 21st Century

Many Voices – One Message

• Rev. Jacqueline B. Blue

11 April 2013