European clergywomen draw inspiration from colleagues

A UMNS Report By Linda Green*

United Methodist clergywomen gather at the Methodist retreat center in Braunfels, Germany, for the Feb. 25-28 European Clergywomen's Consultation. A UMNS photo by the Rev. HiRho Park.

United Methodist clergywomen in Europe face similar struggles to those of their U.S. counterparts as they try to respond faithfully to their call.

Nearly 50 European clergywomen, along with a few of their American sisters, met recently in Germany to discuss those barriers - including gender discrimination - and to support one another.

"Usually, the (European) church does not have the confidence in women's leadership, and due to the lack of experience of women in the church or the pulpit, the clergywomen have to really prove themselves to be ordained. It is very similar," said the Rev. HiRho Park, a staff member of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, which provided some scholarships for the women to come together.

"I think we really have a distinguished style of women's leadership in the church in America. But in European countries, they are still seeking the models from their own voices."

Pioneering ministries
The United Methodist Church in Europe is small and has few clergywomen - just 15 percent of the 350 ordained clergy in Germany are women, for example. The women pastors often feel the same isolation as their counterparts in the United States, according to Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, the denomination's first woman bishop elected outside the United States. She leads three annual (regional) conferences in Germany.

European clergywomen are still pioneering ministries in their own countries, according to Park. "They are in a different place compared to American clergywomen . . . who are in a more mature stage of solidarity and of providing models and examples of women in leadership."

But, she added, freshness is a characteristic of being a pioneer. She noted that characteristic as she reflected on the Feb. 25-28 European Clergywomen's Consultation at the Methodist retreat center in Braunfels, Germany.

The women centered themselves on the theme "True Nourishment-Spirituality in Our Daily Living" and shared stories about being among the first women ordained in their countries or preparing to be the first ordained in their areas. In some countries, The United Methodist Church is the only denomination to ordain women.

"They were so fresh in terms of their calling and ministries and spirituality. Their call was very clear and they had clear vision about the future, about what they want to do for others and the younger generation to spread the gospel," Park said. That is evidenced by the ministries to orphans, women, children and homeless people, she said.

"The reports opened our eyes and hearts for challenges in Europe, and we learned that Methodists indeed are bringing evangelism and social work together," Wenner added. She co-organized the three-day consultation with the Rev. Ingeborg Dorn, a pastor from Germany.

"The aim of providing a platform for encounter, fellowship and mutual sharing and learning was more than fulfilled," Wenner said. "The times for worship and prayer were a source of encouragement, and the willingness of all participants to contribute by reporting, by sharing, by listening to others, was overwhelming."

The European clergywomen were joined by clergywomen from the British Methodist Church and the Waldensian Church (the Methodist Church in Italy).

1 in 5 clergy are women
In comparison to an international clergywomen's consultation held last August in Chicago, the size of this consultation allowed it to be "more relaxed, reflective and intimate," Park said.
"Three days of worship, fellowship and learning were a short time, but all participants were thankful for the possibility to gather and share their experiences," Wenner said.

Last August, the United Methodist Church celebrated 50 years of women having the same rights for ordination as men. In 1956, 27 women were accepted on a trial basis for full clergy rights in their annual conferences. Today, the denomination's 44,091 clergy members include 9,749 United Methodist clergywomen - about one in five, or 22.1 percent.

For the participants at the European consultation, "meeting other clergywomen and speaking to those who have served for a long time or who have leadership experiences as a district superintendent or bishop was encouraging and inspiring," Wenner said.

The consultation provided the participants from Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Russia, Italy, Bulgaria, Norway, Great Britain and the United States with "solidarity and a place of support to one another," Park said.

"One of the unique characteristics from that perspective was that the women from the countries represented shared their ministry. I think that time was most meaningful to everybody."

At the gathering, "clergywomen saw colleagues, those who do the same kinds of ministry in different places. This consultation provided so much meaning and support for these women. I appreciate Bishop Wenner and her conscious decision to pursue this kind of gathering," Park said.

The clergywomen were encouraged to network with one another.

Park noted that the consultation has been described as a "Pentecost" experience. "Everybody spoke in different languages, and we learned to listen to each other in different languages; we sang in different languages," she explained.

Dorn reminded participants about the importance of imbedding spirituality in their personal lives and in their daily tasks as clergywomen. The Rev. Sally Harrington, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, spoke on Methodist spirituality, examining John and Charles Wesley's concept of grace and holiness. Helping the oppressed also was a key focus at the consultation.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.