More than 300 participants joined together in worship, educational workshops and dynamic messages from God’s Word at the Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy (WHWC) conference held April 12 – 16, in Estes Park, Colorado. This was WHWC’s twelfth biennial conference sponsored by Brethren in Christ, Church of God (Anderson), Free Methodist Church, The Church of the Nazarene and The Wesleyan Church.
Participants sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence throughout the event. Alanna Story led worship and Rev. Alma Thompson, Free Methodist Church, preached. A student reception with standing room only finished the Thursday evening program.
Friday morning worship was a sacrament-like celebration with opportunity for attendees to receive Scripture promise cards and prayers of blessing. One participant said, “It was as if we received a sacrament. Ten pastors held the words of hope, patience, renewal, resource and restoration.”
Rev. Kimberly Gladden, director of Discipleship, The Wesleyan Church, spoke on Friday evening from Genesis 38, encouraging attendees to remember who they are and that God wants to use them.
Before heading to Saturday morning workshops, the conference gathered for worship and three inspiring short talks on reimagine, relate and reframe. Rev. Holland Prior, The Wesleyan Church, talked about how she reimagined God’s leading in her life. Rev. Cheryl Sanders, Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, brought a message of revival based on Ezekiel 37. Many gathered at the altar for prayer as others continued to worship.
The conference finished Sunday morning with an interactive service featuring several worship stations, music from Alanna Story and an exhortation from Rev. Janine Metcalf, The Church of the Nazarene, to receive God’s peace, wisdom and grace.
During the Conference, Rev. Julie Gray, Free Methodist Church, was chosen to serve a two-year term as the new WHWC president. Gray has been involved with WHWC for the past 18 years.
WHWC began more than 25 years ago with a mission of advancing Christ’s kingdom by engaging, empowering and equipping women to lead at every level in the church by:
- Networking, training, affirming and inspiring through biennial conferences
- Ongoing networking and mentoring across denominations (mentoring initiative under development)
- Collaborating with denominational leaders to support their women clergy
- Providing a resource hub for expert research, articles and teaching.
