Georgia Harkness Scholars Trip Reflections

2010

 



2010 Georgia Harkness Global Leadership Development trip. Pictured are the 2010 - 2011 Georgia Harkness Scholars, clergywomen from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, staff from the OIMC and staff from GBHEM.

Seminary students along with seminary faculty and GBHEM staff traveled to the Oklahoma Indian Mission Conference to learn about the leadership styles of women and share their own leadership styles. Each scholar provided their theological reflections on the trip. Read and share their reflections below.

 

  • But Why Mamma?
  • As I waved goodbye to my husband and young daughters, I knew they would miss me, but realized their week would be filled with pizza, hamburgers, candy, and their favorite movies for four days straight.
  • Love One Another
  • As one of the 2010-11 Georgia Harkness Scholars, I was delighted to join the other scholars on the Global Leadership Development Trip to Oklahoma City. Getting to Oklahoma was a challenge in itself: flying on the Sunday after Thanksgiving—one of the busiest travel days of the year—was both frustrating and entertaining!
  • Seeking Peace and Justice
  • Dr. Henrietta Mann’s powerful stories relaying the story of Black Kettle and the massacres of innocent people who trusted that they were under the protection of the American flag still brings me to tears.
  • The Power of Connection
  • Lord, I give thanks for the experience ahead of me. I give thanks for Georgia Harkness, the United Methodist connection, and the work of those who have prepared the way for me to be here today.
  • What I Am Going to Do about It
  • I have sat before my computer many times contemplating the way I would like to tell the story about my experience of the Georgia Harkness leadership trip and the time I spent among its leaders, women seminarians from around the country and the women clergy of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.
  • Worship and Identity
  • The theme that continues to recur for me as I reflect on our time learning from those in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference is one of identity.

2009

 



2009 Georgia Harkness Scholarship Immersion Trip. Back row: Wendy Inman, Mary Miriti. Front row: Diana Phillips; Nan Geske; Robin Dillon

Six U.S. seminary students along with three seminary faculty and GBHEM staff traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to learn about the leadership styles of women and share their own leadership styles. Each scholar provided their theological reflections on the trip. Read and share their reflections below.

  • A Lot to be Learned From Being Wrong
  • I’m sure it isn’t wise to share the musings of my “inner voice,” especially in a public forum, but sometimes the lure is too great and the lessons are too valuable to ignore. Such is the case for the Georgia Harkness Scholars’ trip to Nova Scotia in November 2009. Before confession, I should explain that my inner voice sounds an awful lot like a sarcastic teenager. So, when I found out we were going to Nova Scotia, my outer voice was saying, “Cool! Nova Scotia!” and my inner voice was saying, “Really? Nova Scotia? Social justice and women’s leadership in Nova Scotia? Really?”
  • Georgia Harkness Paved the Way for Women, Scholars Must Continue to Lead
  • Georgia Harkness paved the way for many of the avenues now open to women, especially ordained ministry. To be given an honor in her name with the opportunity to travel to Halifax Nova Scotia to engage in dialogue with other female seminarians and women in ministry from around the country and abroad was a blessing.
  • Jumping into the Cold water
  • It was the second day into the wilderness canoe trip that I was leading and our group was struggling to carry all our gear and canoes over the mile-long portage. I was the last person to cross and was exhausted, hot, and less than enthusiastic. As the main leader, I felt responsible that this be a good experience for these six high school girls.
  • Nova Scotia Trip Transforming Experience
  • The Georgia Harkness Scholarship team’s visit to Nova Scotia has been for me a transformative experience. We had the opportunity to meet with many clergywomen and seminarians and to share with one another our challenging and inspiring stories. It is important to continue to tell our narratives because in the process women leaders, present and future, find their liberation.
  • There is a Crack in Everything: That Is How Light Gets In
  • The trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the Georgia Harkness Scholars offered an incredible opportunity to meet with, learn from, and collaborate with other women in ministry in the United States and Canada. Although most of the scholars had not previously met, when we all converged at the airport in Halifax, the members of the group immediately connected, talking and sharing stories.

2008

 



Georgia Harkness scholars' first night in Honduras

Eight U.S. seminary students and two seminary faculty traveled to Honduras to learn about the leadership styles of women and share their own leadership styles. The goal was to help develop women leaders who can work for global justice. They visited churches in Honduras and participated in the Annual Conference of Honduras Mission of The United Methodist Church. Each scholar provided their theological reflections on the trip. Read and share their reflections below.


Georgia Harkness scholars with Honduran Methodist clergywomen and leaders

  • Administering God’s Grace
  • When I accepted the invitation to accompany other Georgia Harkness Scholars to Honduras, I was grateful, but somewhat anxious about what I would encounter. My experience in Honduras revealed more to me than I ever expected. I not only returned from the experience with a stamp in my passport, my experience in Honduras became a turning point in how I viewed the church.
  • Conversations with Honduran Clergywomen Transformative
  • Writing this reflection paper has been a “sweet burden.” I have been moved and transformed by this experience. I expected to find poverty – and I did; I expected to find resilience - and I did; but I found more people who possessed richness in faith, love, and endurance.
  • Great Things Happen When We Cross to the Other Side Under God’s Command
  • As I write this theological reflection one month after returning from Honduras, I am amazed by the prevalence of water imagery – both physical and biblical. Honduras is a country rich in natural resources and yet water is in short supply, especially for those living in in impoverished areas, served by our new Honduran clergy and lay friends.
  • Hope in a Barren Land
  • Since I accepted my call into ministry, I have intentionally been focused on the spiritual and emotional well being of young people; specifically young women. During a recent trip to Honduras as a member of the Georgia Harkness Scholars Program, it became apparent to me that the lens through which I was focused needed to be expanded beyond the comfort of the United States borders.
  • Most Experiences Lead to Further Questions
  • Reflection on Georgia Harkness Immersion Trip to Honduras
  • Most experiences in my life lead to further questions rather than answers. In fact, I am coming to believe that the pursuit of questions makes more sense than the pursuit of answers. Answers signify an end – to discussion, to the journey, to life. Questions lead us to exploration. Perhaps that is why Jesus so often responded to people with questions of his own.
  • Only True Way to Accept Holy Communion is with Gratitude
  • The Fuerzas Unidas church is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Tegucigalpa. It is one of several small United Methodist churches in the Honduras mission. Sandra Carcamo has been pastoring the Fuerzas Unidas (“United Forces”) congregation for about 10 years. She has received numerous death threats and the church has been broken into at least three times.

2007

 


Georgia Harkness scholars at the Nueva Jerusalem Methodist Church, El Salvador 

Nine U.S. seminary students and two seminary faculty traveled to El Salvador and the Honduras to learn about the leadership styles of women and share their own leadership styles. The goal is to help develop women leaders who can work for global justice. They visited new churches in El Salvador and participated in the Annual Conference of Honduras Mission of The United Methodist Church. Each scholar provided their theological reflections on the trip. Read and share their reflections.


"I want beans and rice": Georgia Harkness scholars and friends enjoying lunch at a lake in El Salvador
  • Methodist Churches Persevere in Honduras, El Salvador
  • My experience in El Salvador and Honduras during a Georgia Harkness immersion trip was that both countries had similar economic, social, and political injustices. It was amazing to me to witness the perseverance and hope our Methodist brothers and sisters have and of the communities where they minister.
  • Scholar Finds Resemblance to Early Church in Central America
  • The baptism of the Holy Spirit unites us in Christ as one body of believers in communion with each other no matter the culture or ethnicity. The faith we saw in our Latin American brothers and sisters was truly amazing. Their devotion and commitment is reminiscent of the early church community of believers in Acts 2:42.
  • Scholar Still Trying to Fully Understand Immersion Trip Experiences
  • I am still trying to fully understand the experiences of the Georgia Harkness immersion trip to El Salvador and Honduras. I understood the purpose of the trip was to deepen our knowledge and friendship with our ministry brethren in Central America, yet what I came away with was a stronger sense of dedication to social justice on a global scale.
  • Travels in Honduras, El Salvador Highlight Vast Needs
  • I saw children as young as six years old working alone in the streets attempting to raise money either by providing a service, selling gum or flowers, or simply begging for money. I saw the lame placed on the outskirts of the city left to beg for alms and societies where education is a luxury afforded only by the wealthy. I saw the places where people are so desperate that crime becomes a viable way of life
  • Trip Provides Clarity About Personal Ministry
  • There are moments when we clearly see God's hand working in our lives. Although I pray constantly for wisdom and discernment, I stumble along not knowing for certain exactly what God's plan is for my life. The choices I have made to respond to the sense that God is calling me deeper into ministry, especially towards ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church, have been fraught with doubts and anxiety.
  • Trips Provided Opportunity to Experience God’s Created World
  • When we try to learn as much as we can about people and their cultures in other countries that are different from our own, we begin to see God’s creation and created world through different lenses. Through these adjusted lenses we see a beautiful creation that is so colorful, unique, and diverse.

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