What happens when clergywomen are given a space designed specifically for them?

In this episode, I talk with Megan and Yvonne from United Methodist Church of the Resurrection about Lead(Her)—an event they helped create specifically for clergywomen who know that ministry can feel different when you are both a woman and a pastor.

Megan and Yvonne share why they felt called to create Lead(Her) as a place where clergywomen can connect, be encouraged, and build relationships with others who truly understand their experiences in ministry. We talk about why these connections are essential for thriving in leadership and why spaces like this matter so much.

They also discuss the importance of investing in yourself—taking a few days away from ministry to rest, learn, and reconnect with your calling. As they remind us, “The world won’t stop turning if we take time to invest in ourselves.”

Along the way, Megan and Yvonne share powerful stories of clergywomen showing up for one another and reflect on the women who have inspired them—including Megan’s mom, who taught her this unforgettable advice:
“You walk into a room, you throw your shoulders back, you hold your head up high, and you act like you are somebody.”

If you’ve been longing for connection, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not alone in ministry, this conversation is for you.

You can learn more and register for Lead(Her) here:
https://sharechurch.com/leadher-empowering-female-clergy/

What does it look like to become a mother while serving in the pulpit — especially when no one has gone before you?

In this episode, I sit down with Rev. Natalie, who has served local congregations for 17 years. As a young female pastor who became pregnant at 27, she stepped into territory her congregation — and even her supervisor — had never navigated before. With courage and clarity, she helped shape policies and boundaries that made space for maternity leave, paving the way for clergy mothers who followed.

Natalie also shares about her deep intellectual hunger for God, her connection to the Divine through music, and the powerful opportunity female clergy have to embody something unexpected in the pulpit. We talk honestly about pastoring while parenting, learning to care for ourselves without guilt, and why Sabbath is essential.

To hear more from Natalie, check out her podcast A Church for Daniel.

For More Details on my Clergywomen's Retreat, click here:

https://revamberlaffey.my.canva.site/

In this episode, I sit down with Rev. Debi, an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, whose journey into ministry is anything but linear. From aquatics teacher to Christian educator to counselor—and now serving in a local congregation—Debi shares how God faithfully wove together every season of her story in ways she never could have predicted.

We talk about what it’s like to find yourself serving in a place you least expected, and how every skill, passion, and life experience becomes holy ground when placed in God’s hands. Debi reflects on how she co-creates with God in ministry, drawing from her diverse background to serve God’s people with wisdom, compassion, and authenticity.

We also have an honest conversation about navigating grief and transition in ministry, the vulnerability that comes with change, and the deep importance of support systems—especially for women in clergy leadership.

If you’ve ever wondered how God might use the seemingly disconnected pieces of your story… or if you’re walking through transition and need encouragement… this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Confident Clergy Women, I’m joined by Rev. Ally, a Deacon at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, for a rich conversation about what it looks like to serve with authenticity and confidence in ministry.

Ally reflects on the joy of no two days ever looking the same in ministry, and how embracing all of our passions allows us to serve more fully and faithfully as clergy. We talk about the importance of bringing our whole selves into leadership, expressing who we are without apology, and learning to lead with confidence in the church.

She also shares honestly about the additional challenges—and deep joys—of being a young woman in ministry, as well as the life-giving work of building genuine community within her congregation.

This conversation is full of encouragement for clergywomen who long to lead authentically, trust their calling, and find joy in the everyday rhythms of ministry.

In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Hiatt, MA, a therapist, coach, and strengths communicator, for a deeply honest conversation about emotionally healthy leadership, boundaries, and caring for ourselves and our families while living into our call. Together, we talk about why so many clergy women have been taught to override their own needs, how that eventually costs us and the people we love, and what it means to practice leadership that is both compassionate and sustainable.

We explore:

• Why boundaries are essential—not selfish—in ministry

• How emotional awareness strengthens our leadership rather than weakens it

• The connection between our feelings, thoughts, and actions

• What it looks like to tend to our own well-being while still showing up faithfully for others

Melissa brings wisdom from her background as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, Strengths Communicator, and her work in clinical pastoral education—offering insight that is practical, pastoral, and deeply human.

Connect with Melissa: https://www.melissahiatt.com/about

Merry Christmas my beloved clergy sisters! Here is a blessing as you wrap up your Christmas preparations. Remember you are loved and you are already enough! Blessed are you among women!

It’s Week Three of our Advent journey with Mary and Elizabeth, and today we’re exploring what their relationship teaches us about calling, courage, and community.

These two women remind us that ministry was never meant to be done alone. Their story is a beautiful picture of what happens when women show up for one another—blessing instead of competing, celebrating instead of comparing, and standing together so the whole church stands stronger.

This week, we’re talking honestly about the pressures clergywomen face: competition, comparison, and the quiet messages that tell us someone else’s success is a threat instead of a gift. But Mary and Elizabeth give us another way—a way rooted in joy, affirmation, and mutual support.

Join me as we lean into that way of being: choosing blessing, choosing celebration, choosing community. Because when clergywomen rise together, the whole church rises with us.

In this Advent episode, we’re talking about the kind of holy friendship that holds us together — the kind that sees the call in us even when we’re still figuring it out. You know those women who can look at you, listen to the wild, God-sized things happening in your life, and say, “I believe you. I see this in you”? That’s the kind of companionship we’re leaning into today.

As clergywomen, we need those voices — the ones who cheer for us without comparison, who bless us without hesitation, who speak life over our ministry when we’re tired, unsure, or stepping into something new.

So this week, we’re carrying the hope of Elizabeth, the courage of Mary, and the unity they shared. We’re paying attention to where God is breaking in, and we’re looking for opportunities to bless other women along the way.

Let’s walk into this season knowing — deeply knowing — that we are seen, we are supported, and we are never alone.

Before Jesus is even born, the Gospel story begins with two women standing in quiet courage. Elizabeth carries a hidden miracle; Mary carries an impossible calling. Their stories speak directly to clergywomen navigating doubt, exhaustion, unseen labor, and holy questions. Join me for a gentle conversation about divine timing, embodied faith, and the sisterhood that spans generations. You’ll receive a blessing to strengthen your spirit and remind you that you are called, capable, and deeply loved.

In this episode of Confident Clergy Women, I talk with Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig — a passionate pastor, leader, and advocate for women in ministry.

Kelli serves as the Director of Leadership Development and Community Engagement for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, but her heart for equipping and empowering others goes far beyond her title. She shares her own journey in ministry, what inspires her to lead, and why women’s voices are essential to the health and future of the church.

We talk about how women are naturally gifted in ways that serve the church deeply — with emotional intelligence, strength, wisdom, and a capacity to lead with both grace and conviction. Kelli also highlights the ongoing work to create safer, more supportive spaces for women in ministry, including resources for those who have experienced harm or harassment.

It’s a thoughtful and hope-filled conversation about leadership, calling, and the unique gifts women bring to the life of the church.

To Find More Information and Resources Kelli shares go here:

https://www.resourceumc.org/en/partners/gcsrw/home

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