June 19, 2009
A gift for outreach to women: Sister Care
By Patricia Burdette
Hatoko Inoue and Laura Schumm discuss their thoughts after an individual exercise at the MW USA Sister Care seminar in Elkhart, Ind. Photos by Rhoda Keener
ELKHART, Ind. — Rhoda Keener, executive director of Mennonite Women USA, and MW USA board chair elect, Ruth Guengerich, co-facilitated a Sister Care seminar for 73 women in the Indiana–Michigan and Central District conferences of Mennonite Church USA, May 15 and 16, at Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Ind.
The seminar, a new program of MW USA, provides low-level pastoral training for effective ministry as a framework for women to support and care for women in their congregations or geographic communities. This is a tool for outreach to others who can then be referred to women’s pastors or to professional counselors, if necessary.
Sally Krabill, MD, Belmont Mennonite Church, who attended both days of the seminar, remarked that these Sister Care seminars provided by MW USA to women in the Mennonite Church is “one of the most significant things to be available in Mennonite Church USA through MW USA.
Jane Dyck and Yeudi Thao practice listening skills at the Mountain States Conference MW USA Sister Care seminar. Photos by Rhoda Keener
Another seminar participant, Hatoko Inoue, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries student, Hively Avenue Mennonite Church, commented, “This was one of the most helpful seminars I have ever attended.”
Brenda Lazzaro Yoder of Shipshewana, Ind., said, “The Sister-Care seminar was a place in the Mennonite Church that resonated with my passion for women sharing their stories, supporting each other, and exploring and using their gifts within the church.”
Brenda recently wondered if there was a place for her gifts within the church, and found Sister Care to be a powerful place where women can share their stories, be vulnerable, and minister to one another with support and encouragement. She believes Sister Care can be a powerful ministry for women in the Mennonite church, both in the local congregations and as a tool for outreach to others who are not a part of the church, but who need to see the good news lived out.
Ivorie Lowe and Betty Schrag engage in a table discussion at the CDC and Indiana-Michigan Conferences MW USA Sister Care seminar. Photos by Rhoda Keener
Outgoing MW USA board chair, Rebecca Sommers of Goshen, Ind., shared the story of her life-long battle with depression. Her moving story and suggestions about the types of people and conversations that are helpful (and those that are less than helpful) when supporting others battling depression “gave an air of authenticity to the information contained in the manual,” commented another participant. (Each participant receives a 27-page manual to keep for future reference.)
The format of the seminars is short lecture, table discussions, skits, personal story-telling, as well as group and individual exercises designed to impart information while allowing participants to have fun as they discuss some profound topics. Keener works with local women to co-facilitate and share personal stories, using the same basic format for each seminar. Since early 2009, Keener has co-facilitated Sister-Care seminars in Virginia, Franklin and Mountain States conferences in addition to the one in Elkhart. The next seminar will be with Atlantic Coast and Lancaster conferences Oct. 2 to 3.
The two-day seminar, hosted by local Mennonite Women leadership from Central District and Indiana-Michigan, brought attendees from Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Seminar costs included the 27-page Sister-Care manual and other handouts, breakfast, lunch and snacks. See the MW USA Web site, www.mennonitewomenusa.org/resources for more information about Sister Care.