This conference brings together an extraordinary group of pastors, scholars, and ministry leaders who are shaping the future of the church. Featuring nationally recognized speakers—including Danielle Strickland, Beth Allison Barr, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Karoline Lewis, Lisa Yebuah, and others—you’ll explore essential topics for women in pastoral leadership. Expect deep wisdom, practical skills, restorative practices, and a supportive community designed to strengthen your leadership and your spirit.
Bishop, California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop Dottie is a lifelong servant leader shaped by missionary roots, pastoral mentorship, and a passion for inclusive ministry. Known for revitalizing congregations, advocating for equity, and leading with quiet strength, she now serves the Cal-Pac Conference, committed to collaborative leadership and expanding diverse, shared ministry across the United Methodist Church.
Founder, Boundless Communication
Danielle is an author of seven books, host of the Right Side Up podcast, and an international speaker. She leads Boundless Communications and its global initiatives empowering women, preventing trafficking, fostering spiritual depth, and supporting survivors. Based in Vancouver with her family, she loves adventure, the outdoors, and never refuses a free lunch.
Lead Pastor, Southest Raleigh Table
Lisa is driven by a passion for helping people become their fullest selves and pursuing collective liberation. Active in Raleigh’s justice efforts, she’s known for her joy, love of community, party-starting energy, biscuit expertise, and fondness for the enneagram and ’90s R&B.
Professor, Baylor University
Beth is a history professor specializing in medieval, women’s, and church history. A leading voice on gender and Christianity, she authored The Making of Biblical Womanhood and Becoming the Pastor’s Wife. Her work appears in major media outlets, and she’s also a Baptist pastor’s wife and mother of two.
Professor, Luther Seminary
Karoline is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching and a leading author on preaching, leadership, and women in ministry. An ELCA pastor, she contributes to Working Preacher, co-hosts Sermon Brainwave, and teaches and speaks internationally on Scripture, preaching, and the Gospel of John.
Professor, Earlham School of Religion
Grace is a Korean-born theologian, professor, and ordained PC(USA) minister. Author or editor of 24 books, she hosts the Madang podcast, writes for major outlets, appears in global media, and is widely recognized as a leading voice in contemporary Christian thought.
General Secretary, United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Stephanie is lead advocate for women’s full inclusion in the United Methodist Church. A lifelong United Methodist, she previously pastored Birmingham First UMC for 15 years. She is passionate about faith and justice, serves in the North Alabama Conference, and is married with two children.
Pastor of Spiritual Formation, The Gathering
Charity is a ordained United Methodist elder who brings expertise in emotional intelligence to her ministry. She believes healthy people build healthy churches and is married to Yusupha, with two sons, Gabriel and Levi.
Director of Connectional Ministries, Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church
Kim is a nonprofit and church leader with deep experience in communications, strategy, and community engagement. She guides events, leadership development, justice work, and communications for the Missouri Conference and holds communications and theology degrees from multiple universities.
President/CEO, Kentucky United Methodist Children's Homes
Julie is a longtime United Methodist leader whose ministry spans children’s and family ministry, leadership development, and service to vulnerable families. After directing Connectional Ministries in Kentucky for 15 years, she became President/CEO of the Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Homes. She and her husband, George, have two adult children.
Executive Director, Ali Kemp Foundation
Jill is also lead instructor for the Foundation’s T.A.K.E. Defense program. With a background in human resource management and leadership, she is a 9th-degree black belt who has taught martial arts and self-defense to more than 80,000 participants of all ages since 1982.
Director of Monitoring and Resource Development, United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Katrena is an attorney and former DEI strategist, bringing expertise in community collaboration and leadership development. She is a Provisional Deacon, hopes for ordination in 2026, and is married with one daughter.
Director of Leadership Development and Community Engagement, United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Kelli loves engaging with and empowering Methodist women worldwide. A Georgia native now in Auburn with her husband, she’s a Duke-trained pastor who loves long walks with her dog, DIY projects, TikToks, and hosting Sunday dinners with friends.
Director of Sexual Ethics, United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Tyler brings expertise in trauma-informed care and accountability processes. A former Title IX coordinator and college chaplain, he holds degrees from Luther College and Harvard Divinity School. He is an ordained deacon, married and lives in Maine.
Congregational Care Lead Director, Resurrection
Claire is passionate about fostering a culture of empathy and connection throughout our community. She not only provides guidance and serves alongside Resurrection’s Connection and Care Pastors in offering compassionate support and spiritual counsel for those in need, but she also provides training and direction for an ever-growing team of lay Congregational Care Ministers.
Care Central Lead Director, Resurrection
Becca oversees ministries that support people through significant life moments and build community belonging. An ordained Vineyard pastor serving since 2001, she brings empathy shaped by 30 years of marriage, raising two adult sons, and caring for her disabled veteran brother-in-law. She champions sustainable ministry rhythms, helping leaders serve with wholeness, compassion, and spiritual grounding.
Pastor of Community Life & Student Ministry Director, Resurrection Blue Springs
Small Groups Program Director, Resurrection
Jaime is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. With degrees in sociology and psychology, she’s passionate about helping people connect. She loves time with family, friends, and her foster son, plus yoga, reading, writing, live music, and lake days.
Rev. Charity Goodwin
Women in pastoral leadership often feel pressure to “power through,” sidelining emotions and wellness. Explore how integrating thinking, feeling, and doing creates more authentic, effective and sustainable leadership. Come ready to challenge the lies that keep women leaders disconnected from themselves and others and step into a vision of leadership that is grounded in the Trinity, more brave and emotionally whole.
Rev. Stephanie York Arnold
We will engage with the expansive nature of God as we explore the variety of names of The Divine found in Scripture. We will look at feminine, masculine, non-binary, occupational and creation-centered names given to God. We will consider the language commonly used in churches and what might be gained by expanding our language. Practically, we will discuss how to begin incorporating inclusive and expansive language in your worship services and how to answer questions parishioners may have about “Why?” it is important to use expansive language for God.
Beth Allison Barr, Ph.D.
Even in churches that theologically support women in pastoral leadership, women face more challenges in getting hired, receiving equal pay, gaining congregational support, and advancing into leadership roles. Beth Allison Barr uses history and personal experience to offer practical ways we can better support women in ministry.
Rev. Ashley Morgan Kirk
Unlock your creativity and leadership potential in this dynamic, hands-on experience designed for female clergy by female clergy! You’ll create an empowering, personalized vision board that reflects your unique leadership dreams. A fun and reflective session that blends art, self-care, and deep personal insight. Don’t miss your chance to recharge, reimagine, and reenergize your leadership path in a supportive and creative environment!
Rev. Claire Clough & Rev. Becca Andersen
Ministry can feel heavy—but Jesus invites us into a different pace. We’ll explore how to live and lead from rest, not exhaustion. Together, we’ll rediscover spiritual practices and healthy rhythms that help us recover our lives, serve freely, and walk in grace rather than grind.
Rev. Katrena King, J.D.
Do you remember the last time you were interrupted, had an idea dismissed, or were simply ignored altogether? Perhaps you have struggled to find a way to get a seat at the table or to even enter the room. This session focuses on how to make space for yourself in a way that feels uniquely you. We will shake off the guilt of being ourselves, empower one another to speak up, discuss practical tips for navigating new spaces and offer safe space for women to share their experiences.
Rev. Charity Goodwin
Women in pastoral leadership often feel pressure to “power through,” sidelining emotions and wellness. Explore how integrating thinking, feeling, and doing creates more authentic, effective and sustainable leadership. Come ready to challenge the lies that keep women leaders disconnected from themselves and others and step into a vision of leadership that is grounded in the Trinity, more brave and emotionally whole.
Rev. Kim Jenne & Rev. Dr. Julie Hager Love
Research suggests women are disproportionately placed in precarious leadership roles, especially in times of crisis – sometimes referred to as the “glass cliff.” In ministry, this can look like being sent to conflicted congregations, declining churches, or ministry settings where success is unlikely. Unpack the social psychology behind these patterns and gain tools for discernment, boundary-setting, and leadership in fragile contexts without internalizing failure.
Rev. Dr. Tyler Schwaller
It’s hard enough to experience being harassed, undermined, or otherwise harmed in the course of work, daily life, or communal engagement. Then there’s the added effort of figuring out what to do about it. What can you do in the moment, and what are options after the fact to care for yourself and to get the help you need to make sure harm stops and doesn’t happen again? We will discuss strategies to advocate for yourself and others, considering how to address both the emotional labor and some common practical options for seeking support and redress.
Rev. Karoline Lewis, Ph.D.
Preaching the Bible is our calling, but how does the Bible’s relevance transfer to our proclamation today? We will focus on the characteristics of faithful biblical preaching that lead to an encounter with the living Christ.
Rev. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Ph.D.
Because women occupy male spaces in the church, they are often marginalized, oppressed, and subordinated. Viewing God as a white male supports such subordination of women, suggesting we need to explore the scriptures to find new ways of reimagining God. Come reexamine biblical, historical, and theological understandings of God. Rethink God away from nouns, as a “verb,” which can really help towards women’s empowerment and liberation.
Jill Leiker
The T.A.K.E. Defense training has been taught to over 80,000 participants. Now, you can add yourself to the growing number of people who feel more confident in their safety. Provides priceless awareness education and practical application of the skills demonstrated and learned in the session. The goal is to give you the advantage if you’re ever in a situation that makes you question your safety.
Danielle Strickland
From abuse scandals in the church to totalitarian regimes, worldly power is used to exploit and control others. But the witness of Jesus models a wholly different kind of power and the first apostles modelled their leadership after their Rabbi. What if we were invited to do the same? Let’s take a fresh look at the flow of power in the book of Acts and re-discover the essence of Holy power in contrast to the ways of power in the world. It is in this unfolding story that we may encounter significant clues of how this power moves and flows – inviting our participation in an apostolic witness for today.
Rev. Kim Jenne & Rev. Dr. Julie Hager Love
Research suggests women are disproportionately placed in precarious leadership roles, especially in times of crisis – sometimes referred to as the “glass cliff.” In ministry, this can look like being sent to conflicted congregations, declining churches, or ministry settings where success is unlikely. Unpack the social psychology behind these patterns and gain tools for discernment, boundary-setting, and leadership in fragile contexts without internalizing failure.
Rev. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Ph.D.
Because women occupy male spaces in the church, they are often marginalized, oppressed, and subordinated. Viewing God as a white male supports such subordination of women, suggesting we need to explore the scriptures to find new ways of reimagining God. Come reexamine biblical, historical, and theological understandings of God. Rethink God away from nouns, as a “verb,” which can really help towards women’s empowerment and liberation.
Rev. Karoline Lewis, Ph.D.
Preaching the Bible is our calling, but how does the Bible’s relevance transfer to our proclamation today? We will focus on the characteristics of faithful biblical preaching that lead to an encounter with the living Christ.
Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig
Negotiating compensation can be intimidating, but don’t let that stop you from speaking up! Learn who to talk to and how to navigate compensation conversations.
Jaime Kernaghan
Come. Take a break. Honor yourself and allow time for relaxation, meditation and space to listen to God as we move our bodies. This time is for anyone and everyone. There are no requirements. No judgements. Only acceptance, space and openness. We look forward to seeing you on the mat. We will have a limited amount of equipment available to borrow. Feel free to bring your own yoga mat.
Discounted Room Blocks for Lead(HER) based on availability.
We do not provide transportation. The easiest mode of transportation, once you arrive in KC, will be a rental car or ride sharing service like Uber or Lyft.
You may cancel at any time through March 27. Cancellations through March 27 are subject to a $30 cancellation fee. We are unable to refund any registration fees after March 27, 2026. Please understand that by this date we have prepared for your arrival with printed materials, catering and other provisions. You may transfer your registration to another person at any time. For cancellations or transfers, please contact us at ShareChurchConferences@cor.org.
Credit card is the preferred method of payment. Please email us at ShareChurchConferences@cor.org, if you need to discuss other options.
No. While children are a high priority at Resurrection, this is an adult training event and childcare is not available. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) will be available for full participation. Blank certificates will be available for pick up at the Information Booth during the event. Certificates are issued by Resurrection, A United Methodist Church, and they are accepted for United Methodist clergy and full-time local pastors.
Yes. Simply log back in to your registration and make your new selections. Keep in mind, most breakout sessions have limited capacity, so they may not all be available as the event approaches.
Yes. However, we encourage you to attend the entire event. There are no reduced registration rates for partial attendance.
Yes! Lead(HER) is designed to strengthen churches by strengthening and encouraging female clergy. Such an important event comes with exposure and recognition for the sponsors who have helped make it happen. Our sponsor registration site provides a detailed description of the benefits and allows you to sign on immediately. Sponsorships are available on a first come, first served basis, and the sponsorship fee is payable by credit card or check for your convenience.
Lead(HER) is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. Click the logos to learn more about each sponsor.
