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I’m far from the first to share my fatigue with living in “unprecedented times.” We are indeed living in times of upheaval and division, within society and the church alike. Christianity has always been synonymous with compassion for me, but today our faith is too often used to create division and draw lines between people.
In the face of this tension and fracture, there are moments when I wonder if we’ll ever find our way back to the unity we were called to share as Christians. But in these moments, I also find solace in reflecting on the deep and lasting good the church is capable of when we lay down our differences and remember why we are a community in the first place: to love God and to love one another. In those moments of coming together, despite all that seeks to tear us apart, I’m reminded of the church’s true purpose.
As I look forward to the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Triennial Gathering this July, I find myself reflecting on past events, which I’ve always experienced as bringing transformation, healing and deep community-building. I’m especially eager for this year’s Triennial Gathering, as it will be a time for us to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are and where God is calling us to go as women in the church and in the world.
One speaker from the 2011 and 2017 gatherings whose work and message feels particularly relevant in the present moment is Leymah Gbowee, a Lutheran peace activist from Liberia. Gbowee’s work displays the transformative power of faith and community in times of division. She, too, was surrounded by profound division amid a civil war in Liberia. Instead of succumbing to despair and division, Gbowee chose to act. She chose to push for peace and justice, starting with the women of her community.
Gbowee’s journey began within the walls of her church, where she led the women’s group. However, she soon realized that her calling was to unite women from across faith traditions, Muslim and Christian alike, to pray for an end to the war. Together, they sat in peaceful protests, demonstrating an unshakable dedication toward an end to the violence that was claiming the lives of their children and harming their communities.
Over the course of more than a year of daily demonstrations, the Liberian women’s unity became an undeniable power. Their persistence was instrumental in the push for the signing of the country’s Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, ending the civil war. For her courageous leadership in this movement, Gbowee was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.
Every part of Gbowee’s work is inspiring, but the aspect of it that I center myself in is her ability to look beyond divisions of faith toward a common goal of justice. She didn’t let religious differences keep her from focusing on the immense power these women had together. It’s a reminder that while our beliefs may differ in ways that seem insurmountable at first, our collective longing for peace and justice binds us in ways that are stronger than any division.
Gbowee modeled what it means to be a bridge between communities, transforming points of tension into spaces of healing and collaboration. The courage to transcend these divides is something we must all strive toward, especially now, as we face increasingly polarized and fractured moments in our own lives and communities.
It will be a time for us to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are and where God is calling us to go as women in the church and in the world.
In the end, the root of all progress is community. We cannot walk through the challenges of our personal lives, let alone affect broader positive change, by ourselves. It is through shared faith, vision and purpose that we move forward. This is what I believe the WELCA gathering will once again offer: a place to reconnect with the community of believers, to draw strength from one another, and to be reminded of the beautiful, unshakable truth that—despite the struggles we face—we are all beloved by God and worthy of love, justice and grace.
In times when the challenges we face can feel overwhelming, I look forward to the opportunity to come together with women who share a belief in the transformative power of God’s love. Together, we will renew our spirits, deepen our commitment to justice and refocus our hearts on the core message of the gospel: we are called to love and welcome all people, without exception.
I’m particularly looking forward to hearing from the gathering speakers, including Martha Ernest Anbarang’u, a scholar ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, who will share her thoughts on what it means to be a bold woman in Christ. I know her words will challenge and encourage us all to live out our faith with courage and conviction, serving our communities in ways that reflect Christ’s love and justice.
As we prepare for this year’s gathering, I find hope in the knowledge that we are never truly alone. God has called us into community, and in that community, we find strength, wisdom and the ability to bring about real change. I have faith that, together, we can rise above the divisions that so often threaten to tear us apart. And I know that, as we come together this July in Iowa, we will be reminded of the strength and power of a united church committed to love, justice and the transformational work of Christ.
