No Spotlight Needed: We All Shined
The Women Mentoring Women conference, hosted by the Center for Anglican Communion Studies and held in February 2025, was groundbreaking, a professional opportunity, and a profoundly meaningful experience. As a middler in the VTS MDiv program and a student worker at the Center for Anglican Communion Studies (CACS), I’m already surrounded by incredible women who mentor and uplift others daily. But this gathering took that gift to a global level.
For four days, women from all corners of the Anglican Communion gathered together to speak, listen, dream, and mentor. Some were bishops, others seminary deans, professors, youth leaders, lay ministers, and activists, yet no one was the star of the show. This conference wasn’t about platforming one voice over another. It was about radical presence, shared wisdom, and mutual encouragement. What struck me most was how deeply everyone showed up with a willingness to both teach and learn. It did not matter how many titles or degrees someone had; what mattered was the openness of heart, the authenticity of our conversations, and the power of shared experience. The atmosphere invited honesty, vulnerability, and the kind of joy that only happens when women feel seen and valued.
The conference themes (women’s history, safety and well-being, leadership, and dreaming our futures) guided our time together, but it was the intentional design for mentoring and connection that had the most significant impact on me. From small group discussions to shared meals and late-night chats, we were constantly invited to lean into each other’s stories and strengths. That invitation felt like both a gift and a responsibility. A phrase shared during the week has stayed with me: “Wear your boots as boots—a symbol of resistance.” That resonated so deeply. As women navigating systems that often marginalize our voices, we are constantly called to stand firm, to walk boldly, and to resist the narratives that try to define us by anything less than the image of God. Our boots are not just practical; they are prophetic.
At CACS, I get to witness the quiet power of mentoring every day. I work alongside women who embody wisdom, grace, and the courage to lead in a unique and inspiring way. This conference reminded me that mentorship is not only about giving advice; it is also about making space. It is about showing up fully, lifting as we rise, and creating circles of belonging where everyone has a voice and is respected.
The conference left me more grounded in my call, more inspired, and more committed to being the kind of leader who makes room for others. This was not just a moment; it was a movement! And I am grateful to have been part of it.
To the women who shared this space! Thank you for your presence, your fire, and your faith. Let’s keep showing up for each other, for those coming after us, and for the future we’re already shaping together.
Let’s keep wearing our boots!