Praise for Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power
“…Exploring vital and complex themes like communication and leadership with freshly defined terms, the editors and contributors look to a world governed by new conceptions of power and success. The personal spiritual journeys of a diverse group of women offer glimpses of the types of transformations that women spiritual and religious leaders might bring to society.” — Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace,and World Affairs,World Faiths Development Dialogue
“We all long for inspiration and guidance. With enormous sensitivity, Women, Spirituality, and Transformative Leadership gives us gems that are both joyous and poignant. Prepare to be uplifted and transformed!” — Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College
“Calls us as women to the urgent task of developing a deep spiritual identity, not for our own good but to better equip us to be agents of transformation in a deeply divided world. Rejoice as you read this inspiring book and ready yourself for transformation.” — The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Cambell, Department of Religion, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York; author, Living into Hope: A Call to Spiritual Action for Such a Time as This
“This carefully crafted collection of women’s insights into leadership from a spiritual root goes a long way in connecting the concept of power with the concept of love. Such a linkage stimulates moral courage, encourages social justice and opens one to deeper, more authentic, spiritually grounded relationships.” — Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD, author, Faith & Feminism: A Holy Alliance; president, The Sister Fund
“Life is standing at the edge of an abyss of forgetfulness waiting for the light of the world to be born. This birth needs the wisdom of the feminine, and women must take their place in this time of great potential.” from The Return of the Feminine and the World Soul by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
"The world will be saved by Western women." from the Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit 2009
As a woman of spirit and faith, you know something important
about this moment in human history.
You know it from your rich experiences in the world,
and you know it from a place of deep wisdom within.
Your unique pattern of knowing is part of a larger pattern of feminine wisdom
being called forth at this time in service of this Earth and of humanity.
Our Earth is in crisis and it seems that many are looking to women to heal the planet and our human family. Before women can step into our full potential as leaders and guides in this moment:
we must individually reconnect with our deepest wisdom and with our spiritual roots;
we must collectively heal the many dimensions of separation that keep us fragmented and ineffective as agents of social change; and
we must globally reclaim our rightful place as spiritual leaders in service of a balanced and compassionate new paradigm.
Women of Spirit and Faith acknowledges that you are a leader.
You are strong. You have a voice.
The world is ready for your gift of Spirit-led leadership....
and you are ready.
The time is now.
Women of Spirit and Faith exists to invite the many brilliant threads
of feminine spiritual leadership into relationship and
to support emerging patterns for transformation.
We are committed to:
Strengthen and nurture the leadership capacities of women of spirit and faith for the sake of the human community
Encourage collaboration and understanding among women's organizations and networks
Create an environment of trust, inviting women's voices to be heard, telling and witnessing each other's stories
Offer multiple opportunities to explore potent questions about the current state of women's spiritual leadership
Practice and model a feminine way, creating a structure based upon shared leadership, collaborative practices, circle processes, deep listening, mindfulness and compassionate action
Allow space for the emergence of divine guidance and collective wisdom
We are convening a series of gatherings over the next year to launch this collaborative initiative. We invite you and your organization to join us to find your place in the complex and beautiful pattern of women's spiritual leadership. You may be interested in the work of our Young Leader's Council or consider joining as a Networking Partner. You are invited to create a local Women of Spirit and Faith Circle.
Video Trailer: Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership
Charlotte Backman helped us to create this collaborative mandala at The Alchemy of Our Spiritual Leadership April 2011. A print of this art is available online here.
Look what people are saying about Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power.
From American Library Association Booklist (November 15, 2011)
Blending the interdisciplinary approaches of a Buddhist nun, Certified Listening Professional, teaching fellow at Lutheran Theological Seminary, and cofounder of Gather the Women Global Matrix, the four editors have twined their wisdom with those of the outstanding contributors to this essay collection to create a dynamic conversation about women’s spiritual leadership power. Reconnection with women’s deepest spiritual roots and global reclamation of women’s rightful place as spiritual leaders are two necessary steps examined in four explorations featuring writing from diverse individuals, including author Jean Bolen, a physician, and Benedictine nun Joan Chittister. Each exploration into empowerment, spirituality, diversity, women’s collective impact, and the channeling of transformative powers ends with a focus on leadership, which includes specific questions, blessings, leadership tools, and a culminating Digging Deeper. Incisive quotes and poetry illuminate and amplify the synergizing energy as writers consider sacred-circle practices, meditation, and art. With endnotes, a bibliography, and detailed listings of resources and networks, this is a comprehensive and invaluable volume with strong mainstream appeal.— Whitney Scott
From Publisher's Weekly (November 23, 2011)
The editors weave together a beautiful collection of essays and poetry in this empowering book about the Divine Feminine and the role that women of spirit and faith need to play in birthing a socially just world. Featuring the voices of North American women from diverse faith traditions, Schaaf, Lindahl (The Sacred Art of Listening), Hurty, and Cheen explore the relationships between women, spirituality, and leadership, and bridge any divide between feminism and religion. The authors encourage women to recognize their transformative power, claim their right to be spiritual leaders, and live out their values; they argue that “when women’s maternal concerns for their children extend to all children, when women have an equal say with men in making decisions at every level, when women’s ability to look after others and budget limited resources is valued, then peace and a sustainable world will be possible.” Each section of the book is followed by a series of suggested questions, meditations, and activities--such as circle practice--that invite the reader to continue and deepen her journey as a woman of spirit. A highly recommended book for women of all faiths who seek to use their feminine wisdom to heal a broken and troubled world.
