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Women’s Transformation and Leadership

Building God’s Church Together

Women and men working together to become “a fellowship of congregations in which all women are equipped and empowered to fully exercise their gifts in the life, ministry, mission, and offices of the church.”
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She Is Called • Ella es Llamada

Women on the move, in the movement of the Spirit.

This is who we are and this is what our ministry is all about. Women’s Transformation and Leadership is a ministry with a strong legacy, rooted in RCA women’s ministries and mission work, lay leadership, and 5 decades of women’s ordination as Elders, Deacons and Ministers of Word and sacrament. To God be the glory!

Women on the move, in the movement of the Spirit.

From Michigan to New York, from California to Canada, and well beyond—we are God’s beloved daughters seeking God’s will for our lives and embracing our gloriously diverse callings. We are stepping up with courage and holy boldness to be equipped for ministry, alongside each other and our brothers, in a world that longs to experience Christ’s love, peace, and liberation. Learn more about creating welcoming spaces of belonging with our Equity-Based Hospitality study.

Women on the move, in the movement of the Spirit.

Faithful, fearless women and girls called by God for just such a time as this, walking in the footsteps of Esther, Deborah, and Rahab, of Sarah and Hagar, Ruth and Naomi, and Mary and Elizabeth, of Phoebe, Junia, and Lydia.

It is in this spirit of purpose and joyful expectancy that we celebrate how RCA women continue this legacy today through the #sheiscalled campaign. The #sheiscalled campaign raises up the ways in which RCA women, and in fact all sisters in Christ, are living out their callings today, honors the legacy they follow, and looks forward to the ways women and girls will continue to lead us in the future.

Supporting women's call to ministry
Ruth Langkamp and Jael Serrano posing in She Is Called t-shirts at an RCA event for mission

Celebrating 5 Decades!

The RCA is celebrating five decades of women’s ordination as elders, deacons, and ministers of Word and sacrament.
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Resources and opportunities for growth and support

She Is Called

Women of the Bible study

A nine-session Bible study exploring stories about women from the Bible

Building God’s Church Together

Discover how to create a trusting and healthy ministry environment where men and women can serve together

We Are Speaking

A call to the church to end harassment, abuse, and sexual violence against women and girls

Lavish Hope Podcast

Stories of resilience and overcoming

About Women's Transformation and Leadership

History of women in the RCA

Women have made vital contributions to the Reformed Church in America (RCA) throughout its nearly 400-year history.

View history

Theological resources

Resources by, for, and about women in the church

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Voices of women

A space for RCA Women and our ecumenical sisters to share our stories, wisdom and inspiration.

View stories

Add your own story

Women in Ministry

A collection of articles on Faithward.org

View articles

Events

Women in Ministry Sunday

The third Sunday in May has been set aside as an annual denomination-wide special Sunday. Resources are available as we encourage you to celebrate the women of all generations in your congregation by inviting them to preach, lead worship and live into the leadership role God has called them into.

See resources

Celebrating 5 Decades of Ordination

March 28-30, 2025
Grove Hall Christian Retreat Center
Ocean Grove, New Jersey

This retreat is for women in any type of church/faith-based organization leadership, clergy and laity. We especially want to encourage younger leaders to join us to experience sisterly support and spiritual rest. Please note that space is limited! Register ASAP to secure your spot.

We will focus on a gentle rhythm of prayer, worship, biblical reflection, story sharing, and embodied spiritual practices to help leaders fully unwind and experience rest for our souls. By popular request, there will be plenty of open time to enjoy charming Ocean Grove village, take walks on the boardwalk or beach (weather permitting), explore nearby Asbury Park, or simply relax at the retreat center. Plenary sessions will center on spiritual self-care, drawing upon lessons learned from past retreats combined with fresh insights and creativity.

This event is co-sponsored by Women’s Transformation and Leadership, Generation Spark, and the Regional Synods of the Mid-Atlantics and New York. 

Register for the retreat

Our prayer gatherings continue to be on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. Those dates are February 11, March 11, April 15, and May 13. We continue to go deeper into intercession and recommit to the important work of dismantling the sin of racism.

Please join us on February 11 as we honor Black History Month with this topic: “Where do we find Hope in the midst of Life’s Storm? Moving from Suppression and Oppression to Living Hope in Jesus Christ.” The Revs. Dwayne and Anna Jackson offer reflections on this theme as found in lyrics of beloved Negro Spirituals.

Please fill out this form to get the Zoom link to join the prayer gathering. (If you have already joined us this season, a Zoom reminder will be sent to your registration email on Tuesday morning.)

Get the Zoom link

Wednesday, February 5, 2024
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern via Zoom

In the RCA, we long to see a “both/and” church, one where both women and men are able to fully thrive. Imagine what God will do as everyone uses their gifts in ministry without restrictions! To help us get there, we’re inviting RCA men to a Male Allyship Virtual Summit. Come join us on Wednesday, February 5, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern for a 90-minute training designed to help men in the RCA develop into more effective allies to the women they work alongside in ministry.

All male allies are invited to be part of this virtual summit to share stories and strategies to help build God’s church together. Please note that this event is for men only in order to provide a safe space for honest discussion.

About the facilitator: Dr. Rob Dixon loves the RCA! For the past nine years, Rob has walked alongside the RCA as we’ve worked to build God’s church together as women and men. Rob is both a practitioner and a scholar. He has served in full-time ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for the last 30 years, and his academic work has focused on the dynamics of women and men in ministry partnership. He is currently writing a book on male allyship for InterVarsity Press Academic.

Register for the summit

Thursdays, March 13, 20, 27, and April 3
7:30-8:45 p.m. Eastern via Zoom

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33

All women with an open heart for God’s Word and communal prayer are warmly welcomed to this sisterly sanctuary virtual space: laity, pastors, ministry leaders, ecumenical friends, sisters from all walks of life and callings. Our sessions will have a rhythm of welcome and check-ins, devotion/meditation, and prayer time to encourage our Lenten journey with Jesus.

Register for the Lenten prayer series

Want to organize an event in your region? Contact Rev. Liz at women@rca.org to explore the options!