Women Speak Up and Out at Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit
Many things caught my attention last week at Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit, but nothing as strikingly as the women in attendance—both on stage and off. Speakers included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sheryl WuDunn, business aficionado Carly Fiorina, and International Justice Mission's (IJM) Pranitha Timothy. Christine Caine, co-founder of the anti-trafficking A21 Campaign, also made an appearance to interview entrepreneur Marc Kielburger. Needless to say, as a girl with dreams of someday changing the world, I took it all in from the edge of my seat.
Last week's event was the highest-attended Summit in the conference's history. Over 72,000 church and business leaders united at 200 sites in North America last Thursday and Friday to tune in, as the conference was simulcast live from Willow's South Barrington, Illinois, campus. Individuals from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the UK, Ireland, Mexico, and Central America were present in house, including leaders from technical companies, consulting firms, churches, businesses, and more. Grammy-nominated "post-liturgical rock" group Gungor was even there to lead worship.
When Rice kicked off the bill of women speakers with a talk addressing the role of compassion in the church and the responsibility that comes with leadership, I jotted down notes like a scribe. "The opportunity to lead carries many responsibilities: The importance is not just having people follow me, but helping people see their own leadership opportunities and potential," noted Rice. "Our example is Christ Jesus, who called ordinary people to lead, to help in his ministry, and ultimately establish a church."
After hearing a first-person account of her literal standoff with Vladmir Putin and coordination of "big personalities" in D.C., I smiled—Rice's gender had little to nothing to do with her professional political success, and actually, high heels worked in her favor more than once, for example, boosting her over the heads of high-powered world leaders, including Putin, a 5'8" to Rice's 5'11".
Later that day, WuDunn talked about Half the Sky, the best-selling book she wrote with her husband, New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof. The collaboration is an astonishing feat: I can only imagine what it would be like to carry out the mission of investigating some of the world's most cruel injustices alongside my spouse.
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, came to the stage as a guest at the end of the first day to share her story of coming to faith in the midst of battling cancer, losing her daughter to suicide, and serving for years as a high-powered business executive. According to Fiorina, Bill Hybels's persistence kept her pondering the complexities of faith, and after praying with him on stage at the summit a couple years ago, then praying to God on her own for a sign, she began seeing little miracles. At the end of her talk, Fiorina stated that now she lives "unburdened by fear," because she sees life as "not measured in time—it's measured in love and contribution and moments of grace."
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Comments
Ossie Keeton
It does not mean that some will not drive tanks, while others cook, while others shuffle papers.
Lu Allison
Michele, I too was at the last session when Carly Fiorina spoke and so I too was thrilled to hear her story of God's unfolding revelation in her life. I learned a lot from her the first time she spoke but I learned much more from her humility as she shared her story this time. So glad that Bill Hybels invited her to "interrupt" the program and tell her story! That in itself is a big deal when you consider all the planning and programming it takes for the conference; thank you to Bill Hybels for demonstrating his willingness to be spontaneous despite the impact on the the program!
Linda
Galatians 3:28 when taken in context does not teach egalitarianism. The point of Galatians 3:28 is one's status before God. Salvation, justification, and receiving the Spirit are the focus (3:2, 5, 8, 11, 24, 26, 27). The promise is given in Christ (3:16). If one can be united with Christ, if one can be "in Christ," if one can merge one's identity with Christ, then one receives the promise that is Christ's. The focus in Galatians is on the Gentile problem. It does not matter if one is slave or free, one could become a Christian (1 Cor. 7:22). Likewise, women could become Christians. The bond/free and male/female analogies simply give extra proof for Paul's point concerning the Gentiles. Salvation in Christ is available to all. This is what Galatians 3:28 is trying to teach. What is not the aim of Galatians 3:28? It is not explaining the existence or non-existence of roles for people in the church or the home. Nothing in the context speaks of these matters. Paul is simply saying that salvation in Christ is open to all. Let me illustrate. If I say that I am starting a soccer team and membership on the team is open to anyone, young or old, male or female, white or black, rich or poor. This does not mean that the team will not have starters and bench-warmers, goalies and fullbacks. It does not mean that the team will not have a team captain. If the army announces that it has an open acceptance policy for applicants of any race or sex, that does not mean that there will be no generals versus privates. It does not mean that some will not drive tanks, while others cook, while others shuffle papers.
Megan Thurkins
Well, Piper doesn't believe that women should even be bus drivers (because then they would have authority over their male passengers), so I have serious doubts that he'd cheer the likes of Rice and Fiorina.
mosessister
I hate to be a downer regarding what was really an excellent reflection on this year's Summit, but I am unable to see how anyone could mention John "God Gave Christianity a Masculine Feel" Piper and Bill Hybels in the same breath, much less in an article that celebrates women leaders. LOL. Is Piper really one model for your Prince Charming? ugh.
Lisa
I read a wonderful book the week before last, humbly considering both sides of the complementarian / egalitarian debate, which I can't recommend highly enough - "Finally Feminist" by John Stackhouse. You have to read it to get the nuance of the title. :)
Allyn Harris Dault
Like you, I took many good things away from this year's Summit (a special blessing, since I had no idea it was happening, nor did I imagine I would attend until I got a phone call that morning inviting me). You note, "That not all Christian leaders are in formal ministry seems about right: After all, Jesus did a lot of his work outside the walls of the temple, and found his most committed disciples fishing on a beach." Yes, there is much to ministry that is done outside formal circles. Where I am sad is that men like me can minister in nearly any circle we choose, but women are often ONLY able to minister outside formal circles. With no disrespect intended to the Willow/Summit leadership, I would love to see female and male examples of excellence in both lay and pastoral ministries at future gatherings. The men at this year's Summit showed us the diversity of God's call to minister; the women showed us that the world is sometimes ahead of the church in recognizing that diverse call.
Kathy Hickey
That was very encouraging!
MICHELLE VAN LOON
I heard Ms. Fiorina at the Summit a couple of years ago, and sensed that she recognized then that God was at work in her life, drawing her to himself. How wonderful to hear where things have gone in her life since then.
Laura Ortberg Turner
Allison, I am so glad for all that you took away from the Summit. The women who spoke gave us incredible messages, and it was really neat to hear you talk about how each one has stayed with you in the days since. This new understanding of yours--pursuing giftedness in our faithfulness to God rather than faithfulness to a gender, and taking the Scriptures very seriously--is an incredibly important one and is our highest honor as Christians. So cool to read this from you. Thanks for writing.
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