SEPTEMBER 2020
Berta: Another thing about women is that while we can certainly be competitive, we tend to also be incredibly willing to share our solutions. And it’s a willingness that doesn’t insist on having the “only” answer—women seem to recognize that there can be multiple answers to the same question. It’s one of the best things—I love it, the immediate honesty. Women have so much wisdom to share and we get it from one another.
Sarah: As a contemporary worship leader, I’m oftentimes the only woman at the events I’m part of. Which can also be very lonely. So this experience was awesome, to be able to collaborate with other women and hear their perspective and listen to their talks and their experiences. I think I haven’t really processed it yet, but I really need these women in my life. I need to keep getting together with women in ministry. We don’t always have to be in the same type of ministry to learn from each other and encourage one another. I’ve been realizing that I need more of this in my life, other women’s voices speaking into my life.
JKB: As a team of women from different ways and points in life, what wisdom might you choose to share? What would you say to other women in the church, or what message would you offer?
Janèt: I think I’ve been around the longest of all of us, and I’ve had a lot of time to step back and think. When we’re young, I think we need to spend a lot of our time listening—to other people, all different ages, listening to what’s needed. I think this is especially true for young woman composers. When you get to be older that’s your time to let other people listen to you. Tat’s one of the reasons I wanted to do this—I feel like I have some wisdom now. I might not have physical stamina any more, but I have wisdom! I don’t think I listened enough when I was a young woman. But now I can try to gently help other women learn to empathize and hear what others have to say.
Kate: I think that’s one of the gifts that tends to go with being a woman—the ability to build bridges, to be able to see other people’s points of view alongside
our own. Many of us have had the experience of, for example, parenting two kids arguing over their equal claim to the video game console—I personally don’t care who gets it, because I think they should go outside—but even in small ways, you’re trying to think about what’s best for everyone, and making sure everyone’s needs and wants are addressed. With so many of the issues that plague us, think of what could happen if we tapped into a desire to find the solution that works the best for everyone.
Sarah: In my “lane” of worship-leading in the contemporary world, there haven’t been a ton of women who’ve gone before me. It’s a male dominated situation, and while no one has ever said this to me directly, there’s this feeling that women can’t command a crowd like men can. You can take that statement and have all kinds of thoughts and reactions, and for a while that kind of sentiment made me feel angry and bitter and angsty—because it’s a total lie. It’s taken me a long time to recognize that I can either be bitter and angry about that, or I can do something to change it—I can be part of paving the way for a younger generation of women, and show that there is a place for them, that their perspective and voice matter. If I can change the narrative through my ministry and show people that women can not only command a crowd but do it powerfully and beautifully, it feels like a massive part of what I was put on this planet to do. Which is scary because I’m not a very brave or fearless person—but through God’s grace I’ve been able to say yes over and over again.
Janèt: I might get emotional here—but I burst into tears when I was asked to be part of this retreat; it was bigger than you could possibly know. Being asked to come and do something like this—thank you for asking, Berta, it’s a huge affirmation.
Berta: You might regret saying that . . . once you’re on my friend list, I’ll never go away and I’ll just keep asking . . .
Janèt: Bring it on. I’m here for it! —Jennifer Kerr Budziak
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