Nebraska Synod ELCA
Event
Class Description
March is Women’s History Month. Join us in celebrating women in ministry by exploring the book Holy Mischief by Mindy Makant.
“The ELCA has been ordaining women for fifty years. Mindy Makant interviews eighty-five female pastors across the Southeast about their lives as women in ministry in a culture that has been slow to embrace them. This book is their story.” (Amazon summary)
Together, we will explore these women’s stories and dig deep into what we can learn and how they relate to our own stories, regardless of gender. The book begins with an interview with Presiding Bishop Eaton and then weaves together the stories and experiences of female pastors.
The book has six chapters, and for the first three weeks, we will explore two chapters/week. Each chapter has guided discussion questions, but we will also dig into discussion questions relevant to our own experiences.
***On the fourth week, author Mindy Makant will join us to answer questions and lead a discussion on what we have learned from these women’s lives and how we can apply it to our own lives as disciples, advocates, and faithful followers of Christ’s calling.
Instructors
Weeks 1-3: Gretchen Ahrens is the Director for Youth and Justice Ministries for the Nebraska Synod. She grew up in a family where she was told she could be anything she wanted to be, including a pastor (although she did not become a pastor!) She is a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and believes that women’s voices must be heard and celebrated! While serving as Program Director at Lutheranch, she led multiple women’s retreats that encouraged women to ask the questions how God was calling them to use their gifts.
Week 4: The Rev. Dr. Mindy Makant is associate professor of religious studies and director of the Youth and Family Ministry Program at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She previously held the roles of director of the Living Well Center for Vocation and Purpose and dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She is the 2021 Roediger Distinguished Service Professorship recipient, designated annually by the president in recognition of distinguished service to the university, profession, and community.
She is the author of two books: The Practice of Story: Suffering and the Possibilities of Redemption and Holy Mischief: In Honor of Women in Ministry. Her research interests include pastoral care, justice, the relationship between church and state and the role of the imagination in the Christian life.
Makant is also an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and certified spiritual director. She is currently serving on the ELCA’s Task Force on the Social Statement on Church, Government and Civic Participation. She chairs the North Carolina Synod’s Task Force responsible for the Synod’s relationship with its companion church in Costa Rica.
In 2019, Makant received the Lenoir-Rhyne Faculty Scholar Award, which is presented to the faculty member who has made the greatest contribution to his/her discipline during the academic year.
Course Details
Dates: Tuesdays – March 4, 11, 18 and 25. 2025
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Central Time/ 6:00-7:30p.m. Mountain
Format: This is an online course using zoom. The link and additional details will be e-mailed to registered participants by Gretchen Ahrens after September 1, 2024
Materials: Participants should purchase and read the book Holy Mischief ahead of time.
Target Audience: This class is for anyone who wants to celebrate women in ministry. This book study is not just for women or just for rostered leaders. Is your pastor female? Do you wonder why the ELCA decided to ordain women in ministry? Do you wonder about your own role as a woman in the congregation (rostered or lay) or about someone else’s role and what it’s like to be a woman in ministry? Join us for this book study to learn and discern together as we hear others’ stories.
Cost: $20/person plus the cost of the book
Registration Deadline: February 24, 2025
Continuing Education Credit: Continuing education credits are not offered for this course