About
What is Convergence?
Convergence exists for the growth and creative engagement of women who lead in the way of Jesus.
We are women who lead others in following the way of Jesus. We come together to connect, encourage, and empower one another. We lead in a variety of ways, in a variety of settings, from a variety of theological traditions. We come together to learn from one another, build friendships, and explore our experiences as women leaders together.
Part of the`DNA' of Convergence is to bless other women around the world. Proceeds from Convergence Edgefield 2007 went to help eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation in sub-Saharan Africa. At Convergence Mississippi we wrote notes of encouragement to be delivered to women leaders in Africa. Stephanie Tama-Sweet of Oregon Center for Christian values brought us current on health care legislation for children when we gathered for Convergence at Fox. Each time we gather we remember and take small steps to improve circumstances of women and children in needy communities.
What can I expect at a Convergence Gathering?
At Convergence, you are an active participant rather than a passive observer. We have steered away from keynote speakers and instead, we recognize that all the women who come are leaders with much to offer one another. Our gatherings are times of connecting, including engaging with others different from ourselves but united with us in love of God and neighbor. You can expect to forge new relationships, to be surprised, and to be encouraged through times of listening, speaking, eating, worshiping, creating, and praying together.
How did Convergence get started?
Formerly known as NW Emerging Women Leaders, Convergence began with small conversations between a few women who were desiring the opportunity to connect with other women leaders. From those early conversations, the first annual weekend event at Edgefield was created in February of 2007. The sixty women who participated were not all from the Northwest, and were not all involved in the emerging church conversation. In order to reflect better the diversity of women involved and the dynamic connection we experience together, we've evolved into the name Convergence.
Who is organizing Convergence?
The team is evolving and expanding over time and always willing to welcome new participants. Currently, the women involved in organizing Convergence, with help from several others, are:
Kelly Bean
Kelly Bean is Cultivator of Third Saturday organic community which has gathered in her living room for 24 years. She is co-planter of Urban Abbey, an egalitarian inter-generational intentional community in North Portland. Urban Abbey is forming with values of sustainability, earth-keeping, authenticity and reconciliation with a commitment to learn from and root in this ethnically and economically diverse neighborhood. A pastor, speaker, writer, mentor, activist and artist, Kelly is passionate about creating environments that seed deep community with diverse group. Kelly has been creating and leading strategic networks for women in ministry for the past 10 years, four years with National Emerging Women Leaders Initiative and six years founding and leading Convergence, a network for women leading in the Way of Jesus. She is authoring a book with Baker Books, How to Be a Christian Without Going to Church, is contributor to a Fuller Seminary publication on the Church in Contemporary Culture and has written for E-Florescence, Mutuality and Idea-Lab magazines. She is co-founder and Executive Director of African Road, an International NGO partnering in friendship with African leaders who are creating community collectives and working for transformation, empowerment and sustainability with people on the margins in their communities.
Deborah Loyd
From 1998 to 2009 Deborah served as church planter and pastor at The Bridge Church in Portland, Oregon. She has a passion for the hurting and displaced which expresses itself in service to the marginalized of the city. She earned a Masters Degree in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary and is currently a Doctroal Candidate at Bakke Graduate University. Deborah is a writer, a conference speaker, adjunct professor at George Fox Seminary, and in her spare time an artist in oils.
Karlene Clark
Karlene co-pastors Riverside Community Church with her husband Josh in Springfield, Oregon. She is an ordained minister with the Free Methodist church and completed her M.Div. at George Fox Seminary in December of 2010. She currently serves on two denominational boards. Karlene is passionate about community development and class reconciliation. Her greatest accomplishment thus far has been putting herself through school while being a single mom for many years. She has two wonderful daughters and is expecting a third to arrive in June. Karlene blogs at http://www.karleneclark.com.
Brittany Ouchida-Walsh
<Updated Bio Pending>
Convergence is sponsored by:
