Women’s Institute
To inspire, encourage and equip women from diverse contexts and cultures to be Christ-like agents of transformation in their communities and around the globe.
The Women’s Institute works with men and women who care deeply about women growing to their full God-given potential, for we know how significant their leadership development is for the flourishing of all peoples.
New Leadership
Welcoming Dr. Mary Lederleitner to WCIU
Dr. Mary Lederleitner joins WCIU as Director of the Women’s Institute. A respected global leader, author, and scholar, she brings deep experience in intercultural studies, educational leadership, and women’s empowerment across faith and development spaces.
Activities
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Dr. Grace May Reconnects with Dr. Lois Semenye in Kenya
Dr. Lois Semenye is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Amani ya Juu, a ministry to refugee women who have fled to Kenya from different parts of the continent.
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Faith and Leadership Journeys of Inspiring Global Women
An interview series presented by the Women’s Institute.
Our Mission
Following Christ, Serving the World
In everything we do we seek to be a witness of God’s great love for all peoples, highlighting the beautiful and transformative impact of the Gospel.
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Encouraging women to step out of their comfort zones and faithfully follow Christ’s leading;
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Sharing scholarly research and fruitful practices that facilitate the development of women leaders;
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Together with men overcoming diverse barriers that can hinder women from reaching their God-given potential;
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Journeying with leaders of organizations to develop strategies which fit their unique contexts to foster greater numbers of women leaders and greater missional impact;
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Collaborating with marginalized and vulnerable women throughout the world so their families and communities can flourish;
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Mobilizing in meaningful ways that foster generosity and access to the variety of resources needed to accomplish these important objectives.
Study Opportunities
WCIU offers Global Women's Empowerment courses as an area of focus in our M.A. in Development Studies.
GWE 510: WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT
This course introduces women leaders who have contributed to the holistic transformation of the world. Using a biographical historical approach, students will survey women leaders from the first century through the present. They will consider the impact of marriage and singleness and analyze case studies focusing on the interplay of culture, politics, and religion on gender equity. Finally, they will critique the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and potential effects on the next generation of girls. The course culminates with students presenting final projects in areas of interest.
GWE 610: Women & Men in Leadership
This course seeks to establish a biblical and theological basis for women and men leading and using their gifts to enhance societal development, including their religious community. Students will participate in close textual analysis, which is helpful in communities that derive principles and practices of faith from sacred texts. Special consideration will be given to the impact of women and men’s partnership in advancing God’s reign.
GWE 620: Spirituality of Women In Transformational Leadership
A close-knit global cohort of women, under a faculty mentor as spiritual director, will examine our human spiritual needs in connection to the Holy Spirit and Triune God, building habits, including rest, silence and retreats, that nurture our souls. At a masters level this engages conversation between multicultural identities, spiritual practices and faith traditions, sharing in how to develop self-care, so as to thrive long-term in transformative leadership of family, community and nations.
Interested in taking any of these courses?
OUR STRATEGIES
Faithful Approaches to Cultivating Women Leaders
The Women’s Institute works with partners around the world and together crafts tailored strategies that best fit their unique ministries, churches, organizations and contexts. This is a small sample of some of the types of strategies that we are pursuing.
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Hosting intriguing conversations to foster transformative insights.
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Catalyzing experimentation and research which broaden understanding.
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Sharing fruitful practices that help both female and male leaders in practical ways.
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Developing case studies and sharing stories for mutual and memorable learning.
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Creating new tools and resources that can address difficult challenges.
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Facilitating leadership cohorts that address specific needs and issues.
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Collaborating to develop more robust leadership pipelines and more women leaders.
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Consulting on discipleship projects to foster deeper leadership development in women.
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Speaking at leadership conferences, retreats and events.
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Providing graduate education for people working with vulnerable women.
In all our efforts we deeply seek God’s leading (John 15: 1-8), and we endeavor to work in ways that foster unity to honor and glorify our amazing Lord (John 17:20-23).
Women’s Institute Leadership
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Mary Lederleitner, Ph.D.
Director of the Women’s Institute
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Prof. Lois M. Semenye, Ph.D.
Associate of the WCIU’s Women’s Institute
Guiding with Missional Strategy and Insight
Women’s Institute Steering Committee
Global Advisors and Thought Leaders
Women’s Institute Board of Reference
Flourishing Together
Be a Part of the Flourishing
Hear from Dr. Andrea McAleenan, member of the Women’s Institute Steering Committee, as she shares why WCIU is committed to lifting up women leaders around the world and highlighting practices that support flourishing across cultures.
Donations are tax-deductible EIN #95-3156658
