In February Ruth Everhart posted in a writing group, to which we both belong, that she had extra copies of her book The #MeToo Reckoning. She was looking for ideas on how to move them. She had my attention. In the fall of 2020, I recommended her book to several seminary students. I was reading it for myself. If she wanted to move books, I wanted to work with her to do it!
I reached out, and we began a conversation that led to this offering. More than moving the book, we decided to co-facilitate a workshop. It is the first-ever workshop offered by Three Minute Ministry Mentor. And it will be a four-part conversation and include opportunities to develop resources for your ministry.
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- Challenging Patriarchy and Power
- Empowering Prevention and Response
- Reimagining Ritual and Liturgy
- Envisioning a New Beloved Community
The #MeToo Movement
#MeToo began as a movement in 2006 with the initiative of Tarana Burke who worked with teen girls in Alabama. She launched the phrase into the world to remind people just how many women and girls could say “me too” when it came to sexual assault and violence.
In 2017 the hashtag exploded on Twitter and most every other social media platform. It launched into a global movement that year and persists even now. The movement not only heightened awareness, it also contributed to prosecutions of hundreds of predators.
In 2017 was the first time I read Ruth Everhart’s writing. In The Christian Century she told her story of her first pastoral mentor. It was disastrous. Far too many clergywomen have experienced some terrible story like it: abuse, sexual misconduct, manipulation or rape. Far too many church members have not or do not find church to be a safe place.
Christian churches have a long way to go. They need to work both to prevent sexualized crime and harassment and to respond to people who experience it inside and outside the church. We all have work to do.
Ruth Everhart says she often gets the question: Where is a place you can point to that does this work well? She does not usually have a very good response. This workshop IS part of the response.
The course sessions will contribute to empowering you as a ministry leader to be ready. We want to support you in both prevention and response to women, children, and other adults in your congregation who say #MeToo.
