Colorful tulips stood like apt pupils amid tables of focused guests, as the Fourth Annual American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) Women in Ministry (WIM) gathering began promptly on April 21, at Life Center Church, Chicago, Illinois. This year’s conference focused on the role women play in bringing about change in societies and was entitled, “Women: God’s Heralds of Good News for the Family, the Community, the Nation, and the World.” It also emphasized the importance of families and the values they can promote to raise individuals who serve the world. The conference sought to bring healing and greater levels of understanding to the approximately 100 participants who came from several midwestern states.

The conference was supported by the Illinois Chapter of Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and Love Train Ministry. This year, the ACLC National team was represented by ACLC National Co-Chairman Dr. Michael Jenkins; ACLC Women In Ministry National Co-Chairwoman Min. Reiko Jenkins; ACLC National Co-Chairman Archbishop George Augustus Stallings Jr.; ACLC National Co-President Archbishop Sulanch-Lewis Rose; Reverend Marilyn Kotulek; and Senior Pastor of God’s Ministry International Dr. Patra Kidwell.

The program started with two presentations by speakers that Women in Ministry selected, who focused on what is of value in societies and how to build on those common values that are shared across cultures, races, religions, and time. Each discussion was followed by table discussions. Reverend Mama Joy Sigur-Ramsa, Founder of Melody of Joy Institute, gave the first presentation, which addressed “God’s Original Ideal,” and identified positive qualities in society that can be built upon. The second presentation was given by Dr. Patra Kidwell, which was titled, “What Went Wrong.”

A dynamic youth choir, the Wade Smith Singers, gave an energetic performance of two powerful selections which energized guests for the program’s second half. Guests next experienced the throaty and full alto voice of a local evangelist, Mrs. Rita Pritchett, singing “Amazing Grace.”

The National Co-Chair of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, paid tribute to Reverend Angelika Selle as having been an inspiration to him through her ethics and their shared experience at different junctures in their ministry.

Finally, the WFWP Illinois Chairwoman, Ms. Kathryn Davis, introduced the keynote speaker, WFWP USA President Mrs. Angelika Selle, which brought the crowd to their feet, followed by appreciative applause.

Mrs. Selle addressed the topic, ”Peace Starts With Me, What’s Next?” which stirred the mindset of the attendees. Speaking from the heart, without using notes, she began, “Everyone has the power to do something. You take responsibility on your own without a boss, and make your own job description.”

She discussed her numerous past experiences prior to becoming WFWP USA President in 2010, which allowed her to share a common understanding with the ethnically, denominationally, and professionally diverse group of women and men present in the audience. Not only is she the President of WFWP USA, but she had also been an editor, a writer, and an ordained minister. She also touched upon some of the developments that she initiated in the NGO’s history.

A married male participant expressed his gratitude for the varied perspective that Mrs. Selle presented: “My wife asked me to come… and as I read over the program, my interest perked up. I am sick of listening to people who only know about one thing. We are not one [dimensional] people. I am political, social, semi-religious, and concerned about my family and my wife. I want to listen to someone who has experiences and solutions in all those areas.”

Mrs. Selle spoke of the co-founder of WFWP, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, as being a truly enlightened woman who had stepped up to her role. Women's purpose and value is intrinsic because it was put there by the Creator and all they need to do is claim it. She shared about the vision and mission of WFWP stating, “We are experiencing a cosmic springtime, a new era of the heart with women stepping up as healers and leaders of heart, who lead by example. This leadership of the heart is where all are equal because on the heart level all are the same. If we don’t change our hearts from the inside out, then how can we bring change? Intellectually, it is not working and we are not the same. Our vision is utilizing the feminine heart to lead, not the feminist heart, because we are not against men.”

“The world can no longer marginalize women, because we are the ones leading the family. The mother’s heart opens the door. In the individual and in the family, there is a war going on inside, and so there are 7.5 billion wars going within these levels. This is why we say peace starts within me and moves out from me. We must become the peace we want to be and live our own message. This is why Gandhi said, ‘There is no path to peace, peace is the path.’”

The conference closed with a photo opportunity and attendees lingered gleefully, chatting and embracing each other.

Please enjoy the participant reflections in the next article of this issue.