40th Anniversary Celebration of the Status and Role of Women

Berwyn United Methodist Church
140 Waterloo Avenue
Berwyn, PA

Saturday, September 29, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!

Special Guests:

Bishop Susan Hassinger, retired - Elected to the Episcopacy in 1996 from the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Bishop Hassinger served the New England Conference. Prior to her election, she served our Conference as pastor, District Superintendent and Conference consultant.

Bishop Violet Fisher, retired - Elected to the Episcopacy in 2000 from the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Bishop Fisher served teh Upper New York Episcopal Area. In the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, she served as local church pastor adn was named District Superintendent of the Bethune District.

Bishop Peggy Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference & Peninsula-Delaware Conference - Elected in 2008, Bishop Johnson came from the Balitmore Washington Conference, where she served as pastor of Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf outside of Baltimore. She is a nationaly recognized expert on ministry with persons with disabilities.

Workshops

• Women as Change Leaders - Do you ever think, "this has got to change," but you continually get resistance to the need for change?  Learn the dynamics of systems-thinking and how to effectively influence and lead change in your organization, church, work and community. You will come away inspired and equipped to LEAD your church and/or any ministry through long over due change. You will come away confident that you can be a Change Leader!  Led by the Rev. Dr. Sharon Barley, Lead Pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church, in Wyomissing, Pa., Executive Coach and Principal with the Haines Centre for Strategic Management leading conversations globally on Systems Thinking in Religious Organizations.
• Your Young Women Shall Prophesy - As rising generations look at the scriptures with new eyes, they can find that the same scriptures that have long bound women may be a source of liberation.  Join us for a discussion of scripture as a source of empowerment, as we reflect on rising issues that will affect rising generations.  How will you help prepare young women and men to engage the church, and prepare the church to engage them?  Led by the Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner.  Young People's Ministries Regional Staff in US Northern Jurisdiction.
• Leading with Confidence - The most dynamic leader is the woman who is not only competent, but who is also confident. Leading with confidence means that we, as women, must love, affirm and support ourselves in the same way we do others. Let's learn to become friends with ourselves - to see ourselves as God sees us – in order to become more confident leaders.  Led by the Rev. Dr. Anita Powell, Superintendent of the Central District, Eastern Pa. Conference.
• Accessible Wisdom: The Power of Women Mentoring Women - Both mentoring and being mentored are on-going empowerment techniques that have significant impact on a woman’s ability to successfully navigate life and ministry. In this workshop we will explore effective ways to choose a mentor and to be a mentor.  Led by the Rev. Sharon Vandegrift, Principal, Bridge the Gap Life Coaching Services.
• Women’s Health Issues - Women’s health issues are very critical in the U.S.  We take for granted that the average woman in the US lives longer than men, even though they are subject to more chronic disease during their lifetime.  Research findings inform us how we can reduce the risk of various diseases and increase our life span.  Yet despite this simple advice, many people fail to take the steps necessary to maximize their health.  We will discuss cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and diabetes, looking at prevention measures for self-care.  Led by Dr. Mary White, EPA conference lay leader, nurse, and Exec. Dir. UM Neighborhood Services.