Early bird registration extended for clergywomen leadership gathering in Charleston this April

In the year following General Synod, the United Church of Christ typically holds an annual Clergywomen’s Leadership Event (CWLE), sponsored by the Antoinette Brown Society (ABS).

In 2024, CWLE comes to Charleston, South Carolina, from April 16 to 18. Authorized UCC clergywomen are invited to attend in person, and an online option is available for Members in Discernment as well as for those who aren’t able to attend in person.   

ABS is named in honor of the Rev. Antoinette Brown, who was ordained into the Congregational Church in 1853 and is recognized as the first white woman ordained into mainline Christianity in the United States. In 1975, the UCC began recognizing women leaders at General Synod with the Antoinette Brown Award.   

Forty years later, ABS began recognizing clergywomen trailblazers and catalyst organizations that further support and develop women’s leadership in the church and beyond. Synod awardees then offer their wisdom as keynoters at the CWLE.

In 2022, 80 clergywomen gathered in person in Decatur, Georgia, and 40 more gathered online for the event.

Why attend

The Rev. Tara Barber, minister for ministerial support and accountability, said this year will be a great opportunity to come together with the theme “Weaving our Tapestry at the Intersections” to focus on engaging at the intersections of race, gender and ministry.

“This is a pivotal time with clergywomen colleagues to share our lives and ministry struggles, to learn from our brilliant awardees, and to push pause on all that calls and attend to the spirit moving among us,” she said.

Barber invites women clergy to join the gathering “as we weave together who we are and how we serve.”  

Keynotes will be offered by 2023 ABS awardees, Rev. Rebecca Voelkel and Rev. Maxine Goods. Leadership conversation will be led by UCC General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson and Associate General Minister Rev. Shari Prestemon. 

Attendees can also participate in a field trip to the International African American Museum. 

Registration

Early bird registration has been extended through March 3 ($500 for in-person attendees includes two hotel nights, four meals and resort amenities). Regular registration ($600) is from March 4 to 14.

The online registration option costs $75 through February with the fee raising to $100 in March.

Scholarships and limited discounts on an extra night for those traveling longer distances are available and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To request financial assistance, email Barber at barbert@ucc.org.

Register here for the event.

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