Disciples women
Clergy women's Network
History & mission
The primary purpose of the clergy women in the Disciples
Pacific Southwest Region—who have been meeting regularly for several
years—was to support one another in God's tremendous calling
to ordained ministry. In the Spring 1987, "support" began
to move in the direction of "needing to do more." An Advocacy
Task Force came into being.
Others who shared this concern for advocacy were invited
to an informal after-session organized at the 1987 Louisville General
Assembly. About forty individuals gathered together to call into being
the Disciples Caucus for Clergy Women. At
this late night historic meeting the nature of the caucus, its initial
organizational structure, and its beginning tasks, were discussed.
Volunteers for the "Steering Committee" came
forward that evening and the Disciples Caucus for Clergywomen was called
into being! At the close of the organizational period, 190 women had
become charter members.
In October 1996, the Steering Committee met in Indianapolis
to chart the course for the future of Women in Ministry organization.
The committee wrote a provisional Covenant agreement with Disciples Home Missions,
approved by HAM Board in November of 1995, and was ratified by those
who attended the Gathering at the 1997 Denver General Assembly. It was
also decided to change the name of the organization to "Disciples
for Women in Ministry." The change in name is a way to recognize
and include all women in ministry—congregational, institutional
and secular. All women in ministry and all those who support women in
ministry are welcome to support DWM.
