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 LeadershipWelcoming 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.
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Practitioner Devotionals
A devotional on rooted, faith-filled leadership shaped by depth, discernment, rest, and calling.
Webinar Recordings
Women’s Publications
Our MissionFollowing 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.
1Encouraging women to step out of their comfort zones and faithfully follow Christ’s leading;
2Sharing scholarly research and fruitful practices that facilitate the development of women leaders;
3Together with men overcoming diverse barriers that can hinder women from reaching their God-given potential;
4Journeying with leaders of organizations to develop strategies which fit their unique contexts to foster greater numbers of women leaders and greater missional impact;
5Collaborating with marginalized and vulnerable women throughout the world so their families and communities can flourish;
6Mobilizing in meaningful ways that foster generosity and access to the variety of resources needed to accomplish these important objectives.
Introducing WCIU’s Graduate Certificate for Global Women’s Empowerment
The Women’s Institute now connects students with WCIU’s Graduate Certificate for Global Women’s Empowerment, a focused online pathway for women and men who want to strengthen leadership, deepen faith-shaped reflection, and address the barriers women face in development work. This section introduces the certificate as one way students can grow in practical skill, theological clarity, and contextual wisdom for serving women, families, and communities around the world.
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Certificate for Global Women's Empowerment
Build practical, faith-informed leadership for serving women and communities across cultural contexts. This online graduate certificate helps students think deeply about women’s empowerment, development practice, and their role in bringing meaningful change where they live and serve.
Accepting Applications Now
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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![A woman with long reddish-brown hair smiling, wearing a black blazer and a patterned blouse, standing in front of a beige stone wall.]()
Mary Lederleitner, Ph.D.
Director of the Women’s Institute
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Benjamin Mudahera
Women's Institute Guest Writer
Flourishing TogetherBe 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
Guiding with Missional Strategy and InsightWomen’s Institute Steering Committee
Global Advisors and Thought LeadersWomen’s Institute Board of Reference
