FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO WORK AS MIDWIVES OR DOULAS

Coordinated by Jodie McIver

The Birth Workers Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who work as midwives or doulas. It is a space for those who love their work and those who find it difficult to love within the constraints of the system, but are keen to consider their role within the bigger picture of God’s work in and plans for the world. The guild will maintain a realism about working in this area but be optimistic about its potential for showing love and care that both supports the families involved and gives opportunities for sharing the love of Christ. It will facilitate thoughtful interaction with colleagues, families, and the world more broadly.

Guild coordinator Jodie McIver is a registered midwife and ministry wife in the Blue Mountains and has recently written a book called Bringing Forth Life: God’s Purposes in Pregnancy and Birth. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Jodie commented, “I’m looking forward to connecting with other midwives and birth workers who want to think about their role, pregnancy, birth and motherhood in light of the God who gives us new birth. My hope is that this guild will be a place where Christian women working in this area can build deep relationships, share resources, and support and pray for each other, as we think together about how the work we do reflects the work God is doing in our world through giving us new birth in Christ.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN BASED IN SYDNEY WHO ARE UNDERTAKING HIGHER DEGREE RESEARCH IN A PHD, MASTERS BY RESEARCH, OR OTHER DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Coordinated by Marlies Hartkamp

The HDR Students (Sydney) Greenhouse Guild is an in-person group for women who are doing higher degree research in the greater Sydney area. Studying a higher degree can be a very isolating experience, and this guild is designed to provide connection and community, a place to share experiences and resources, and to support and encourage one another. Each meeting will focus on a topic of interest to the group, such as being a Christian in academia, managing relationships with supervisors, challenges for women academics, as well as more technical topics like choosing your methodology or improving your academic writing.

Guild coordinator Marlies Hartkamp is in the final stages of her doctoral studies on disability theology. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Marlies commented, “I wish I could have had a place to connect with other Christian women who are involved in higher degree research throughout my PhD! While working on my thesis, I've often felt isolated, as it can be hard to talk with family or friends about research-related issues. In the early stages, I was also clueless about where to start and what was expected. I’m excited to be part of a group of Christian women at different stages of their research degrees, so we can learn from each other, share resources, hear how others deal with certain challenges, and pray together.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WORKING IN CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, CHAPLAINCY ROLES AND CHRISTIAN NGOS, WHOSE PRIMARY ROLE FOCUSES ON OFFERING PASTORAL CARE.

Coordinated by Sarah Condie

The Pastoral Care and Mental Wellbeing Guild is for women working in churches, schools, Chaplaincy roles and Christian NGOs, whose primary role focuses on offering pastoral care. This guild seeks to connect women working in this space to share ideas of what works and what doesn't work, to learn from one another and to support one another. It will also provide opportunities for women to share useful resources with each other, to be better equipped to look after those in their care.

Guild coordinator Sarah Condie is a co-director of the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute at Mary Andrews College. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Sarah commented, “I’m looking forward to gathering with women who work in this space who are passionate about the impact of listening and offering the consolations of the gospel to encourage, build up, and bear with each other. I’m hopeful that the connections these women form will have a powerful impact on their ministry, and help them to create a deep culture of 'care' and 'wellbeing' in their setting, wherever they are serving.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN, ESPECIALLY LAY-WOMEN, WHO ARE COORDINATING OR SERVING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROUPS (SUCH AS PLAY GROUPS) AT THEIR LOCAL CHURCH.

Coordinated by Fiona Dewhurst

The Play Time Leaders Greenhouse Guild is for women, especially lay-women, who are coordinating or serving in community-focused outreach ministries for 0-5 year olds (such as playgroups) at their local church. The guild will aim to connect, support, encourage and inspire those who are reaching out to their local community through these activities.

Guild coordinator Fiona Dewhurst runs this ministry at Jannali Anglican Church. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Fiona commented, “These groups often seem isolated from the other activities of church life but are a vital step in welcoming our local communities into our churches, giving us wonderful opportunities to share the gospel through words and actions with young kids and their families. The ministries are often run by lay women who may not receive as much support as those in other areas of service. I'm excited to see a group form that provides a space where women can mutually encourage one another in the Lord while also sharing lots of exciting ideas about how to reach 0-5 year olds and their carers.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO WORK AS SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELLORS, AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, WITH CLIENTS WHO EXPERIENCE TRAUMA FROM CHILDHOOD ABUSE.

Coordinated by Angela Ferguson

The Trauma Workers guild is for professionals who work with clients who have experienced trauma. This could include social workers, counsellors and legal professionals who work with people who experienced childhood abuse, including abuse in institutions. The guild will give women working in this space opportunities to together build a trauma-informed way of working, including setting healthy boundaries with clients, navigating difficult conversations, and sharing information about good CPD. It will also provide a safe place to discuss how our work affects us spiritually, and in our personal relationships, while not replacing professional supervision. (Please note: this guild is not for women working in pastoral care or ministry with those who have experienced trauma – see the “Pastoral care and mental wellbeing guild” for a better fit.)

Guild coordinator Angela Ferguson is a social worker working as a case manager with Anglicare Sydney. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Angela commented, “I work alone a lot of the time and it will be wonderful to have connections with women who also work with similar clients, to reduce isolation and build a sense of being part of something worthwhile - which is a mitigating factor against vicarious trauma.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO LOVE BOOKS AND READING, AND TALKING ABOUT BOOKS AND READING.

Coordinated by Katrina Clifford

The Readers Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who love books and reading, and talking about books and reading. It is a space where we can come together to for ongoing conversations about why reading is a good practice for Christians, share book recommendations, and read through good books in community with each other. The guild will have several separate meetings each month, covering fiction, non-fiction and Christian books. All guild members will be welcome to join as many of these meetings as they like and are able to fit into their life and reading schedules. It will also provide a space for guild members to share book recommendations with each other, to ask for advice on reading, and to enjoy being readers together.

The Readers Guild will be coordinated by Katrina Clifford, Program Manager of the Greenhouse and an avid reader. She is excited that she gets to talk to other readers about books as part of her job and is very much looking forward to starting this guild!

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN MINISTRY IN REGIONAL AND RURAL AREAS.

Coordinated by Rebecca Choi

The Regional Ministry Workers Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who work, either as lay or ordained workers, in an official capacity in churches and Christian organisations in regional and rural areas, whether paid or voluntary. The guild aims to provide a space where we can support one another and share the unique pressures, privileges, opportunities and limitations of rural and regional ministry. It will also be a place where we can share resources and ideas, and equip one another to serve Jesus faithfully within our areas of responsibility.

Guild Coordinator Rebecca Choi is Assistant Minister at Christ Church Blayney and St Mark’s Milthorpe in the Bathurst Anglican Diocese of NSW. What asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Rebecca commented, “Many women live in isolated areas across Australia and cannot readily access fellowship or support from peers in ministry. I’m excited to facilitate a group which will connect women in ministry spiritually, emotionally, and professionally even though they live remotely. And I’m looking forward to helping women feel less isolated and more empowered to minister in their rural or regional setting, for the glory of Christ!”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO ARE NAVIGATING THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF WORKING (EITHER IN A PAID OR VOLUNTARY CAPACITY) WHILE RAISING DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

Coordinated by Katrina Clifford

The Working Mums Guild is for Christian women who are navigating the joys and challenges of working (either in a paid or voluntary capacity) while raising dependent children. While being a working mum is increasingly common in our society – whether by choice or by necessity – it is not a juggle that we talk about often in our churches and Christian communities. This guild is a place where we will be free to talk openly about what we love and struggle with in seeking to be faithful disciples of Jesus in our workplaces and our families, as we seek to model Christ and do good work among our co-workers, and seek to love and raise our children well to know and love him. However many children you have, whatever ages your children are, however many days you work, whether you are married or a single mum, we hope this guild will provide support, encouragement, and refreshment as you manage the busyness of the working mum life.

The Working Mums Guild will be coordinated by Katrina Clifford, Program Manager of The Greenhouse, and mother of three kids, aged 11, 8 and 1. She is looking forward to getting to know other working mums and sharing together the joys and challenges of this stage of life.

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS CARE IN PUBLIC/SECULAR INSTITUTIONS

Coordinated by Kate Bradford

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Practitioners Greenhouse Guild is for women who provide spiritual and religious care in public/secular institutions of health, justice, emergency and defence. Such institutions include public hospitals, prisons, courts and juvenile detention centres, police, ambulance, disaster and recovery, navy, army and air force. The guild will provide fellowship and encouragement for chaplains at different ages and stages of their careers. It will also be an environment where specific topics related to service in these fields can be explored from theological and cultural perspectives, through discussion, presentations and book reviews.

Guild coordinator Kate Bradford is a Soul Care Researcher and Hospital Chaplain with Anglicare. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Kate commented, “I’ve spent much of my career thinking through big questions about how we serve Christ and people in chaplaincy work. And I know others have too! There is so much wisdom in our chaplains' lives, practices and faithfulness. It would be wonderful to share our ideas, experiences and wisdom with each other, capture it and pass it on to those who are newer to this field but keen to provide excellent care in their roles. I’m particularly looking forward to having the opportunity to spend it with others in this space thinking through issues such as how to provide equitable care to people who are spiritual, religious, and neither; how to effectively bear witness in situations with multiple competing interests; and the distinctive differences and significant overlaps between spiritual and religious care.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN MENTORING OTHERS, EITHER FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY, OR WHO ARE KEEN TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF BECOMING A MENTOR.

Coordinated by Katrina Clifford

The Mentoring Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who are involved in mentoring others, whether formally or informally, or who are keen to investigate the possibilities of becoming a mentor. When we have asked women, “what support do you need at this point in your life?”, many have expressed a desire for mentorship. We know there’s a great longing among women to have those ahead of them share their knowledge, wisdom and experience in ways that will help us grow as Christian women. And often we just need a bit of encouragement to reach out to those a few steps behind to offer them help and guidance in their Christian walks. In this guild, we will share with each other the joys and struggles we encounter as we seek to mentor others, pray for each other and those we are mentoring, and think creatively about how to grow networks of mentoring within our Christian contexts, so that as many women as possible can experience the joys and encouragements of being in mentoring relationships – both as mentors and as mentees.

The Mentoring Guild will be coordinated by Katrina Clifford, Program Manager of The Greenhouse. Her previous role as Dean of Robert Menzies College involved many mentoring relationships with university students. She is excited to share her experiences of mentoring with other women involved in these relationships or keen to start them, and together grow in our skills and our love for those we are mentoring.

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WORKING AS TEACHERS OR TEACHING ASSISTANTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Coordinated by Penny Fisher

The Primary School Teachers Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who work as teachers or teaching assistants in primary school settings across NSW. It will be a place where we can meet together to encourage and support each other as we work in often challenging and exhausting roles. We will discuss current issues in education from a Christian perspective and offer support to one another through the ups and downs of our professional lives.

Guild coordinator Penelope Fisher is a primary school teacher who has worked in both public and private schools in Australia and England. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Penelope commented, “Being a teacher is such a rewarding role, but it comes with a range of challenges, from managing student behaviour, to dealing with an overwhelming workload, to navigating a whole range of social and pastoral issues as they come up in the classroom and the staffroom. I’m excited about having the chance through this guild to support and be supported by other Christian women across the state as we work out our faith in the context of our schools, and to provide a listening ear about our working lives.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO WORK AS TEACHERS IN HIGH SCHOOL SETTINGS ACROSS NSW.

Coordinated by Tori Bell

The High School Teachers Greenhouse Guild is for Christian women who work as teachers in high school settings across NSW. High school teachers are a special breed, with a very particular calling – to work with students in a hugely important time in their lives, as they work out who they are and how the world they are growing up in works. It can be exhausting, as we continually put ourselves out there to teach them, help them grow, and offer some wisdom to navigate this life stage. This guild will be a place where we can share the ups and the downs, encourage each other in our work and most importantly in how we model Christ to our fellow staff and the students.

The High School Teachers Greenhouse Guild will be coordinated by Tori Bell. Tori has taught French and German to high school students for many years and is now head of Christian studies at an Anglican school. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Tori commented, “Teaching is becoming increasingly challenging, not just in the workload but in the kinds of things that are brought to our classrooms and the physical and mental challenges that both we and our students are facing. I’m excited to have a space to share ideas, to support each other and hopefully to laugh a lot too.”

FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO WORK ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES AS STAFF WORKERS WITH CHRISTIAN GROUPS, OR AS COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS

Coordinated by Lily Strachan

The University Student Ministry Greenhouse Guild is a space for female University staff workers, chaplains, and ministers (full time and part time) to come together to spur one another on as we share the gospel with university students. It will be a place where we can openly discuss the challenges and opportunities we face in our ministry, such as equipping our students for a rapidly changing culture on campus and issues raised by their studies. This guild will be an opportunity for cross-campus support and encouragement, as we seek to reach university students with the gospel and to grow Christian students in faith and godliness.

Guild coordinator Lily Strachan is chaplain at Robert Menzies College, Macquarie University. When asked what excites her about being part of this guild, Lily commented, “In my nine years of working in university ministry, I have seen again and again that people’s time at university is an extraordinary opportunity for them to hear and better understand the gospel. But I’ve also seen that in this ministry we face unique opportunities and challenges . I believe that this guild is a wonderful space for us to meet together to entrust ourselves and our students to the Lord’s good and sovereign work. I am excited that this guild will allow us to share openly, and to raise questions and issues as we pray and pool resources for more effective kingdom work.”