What you missed at the Women in Leadership event
On Tuesday, April 10, round tables surrounded Hayes Ministry Center while students from all majors sat and sipped delicious coffee given to them for the “Women in Leadership” event from Barista Alley, which happens to be one of NGU students favorite coffee spots. Also, lemon and apple scones were provided as well, so apologies to those students who couldn’t attend.
Eden Santana, an NGU sophomore, Interdisciplinary studies major hosted the event and led the discussion. The discussion panel speakers included NGU alum, Courtney Owen, Angela Bullard, Travelers Rest’s Mayor Brandy Amidon and the beloved Ruth McWhite, who serves as the director of Women’s Ministry here at NGU.
Bollard, who is an adjunct professor, opened the discussion panel to speak about women in Christian literature and the roles for women in the church and what that should look like. The panel speakers answered questions such as what it means to be a leader as a woman in ministry, the workforce and the culture of today.
Amidon has become the first woman to be elected as Mayor in the city of Travelers Rest, but she said that she didn’t face opposition because of the fact that she was a woman, but rather that she was young.
Courtney Owen, who works in Department of Social Services (DSS) as a social worker, spoke about how she is able to speak about Christ in her workplace and how important it is for her and her fellow co-workers.
Even though the event was called, “Women in Leadership”, these women discussed how there is a gray line between women and having leadership roles in the church. Santana talked about how in Titus 1:5-9 the Bible states, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”
It continues on, saying, “Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Meghan Salinas, Associate Writer
Graphic courtesy of Madi Estela
