By Alysa Short
Coordinator of Volunteers

Ohio Conference held a retreat for women in leadership Feb. 18-19 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Twenty-three women from around Conference participated in this overnight retreat led by Rebecca Slough, academic dean and professor of worship and the arts emerita at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana.

Focusing on the theme Empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead like yourself, Rebecca challenged the women to have a wide-angle view as well as a close-up view of the group or organism with which they work. She encouraged the participants to keep the six P’s in mind as they lead – Person, People, Place, Purpose, Power and Promise.

As a part of the retreat experience, each of the four sessions Rebecca led included a time of movement, integrating body, mind, heart and spirit. While at times challenging, the movement offered participants an opportunity to engage in stories, silence, song, discomfort, and amusement.

Leadership, Rebecca shared, is not always easy, but it is a spiritual practice. Through input, movement, fellowship and Bible study, the Women in Leadership Retreat participants were encouraged to lead like themselves with the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.