A Wesleyan Community of Women Leaders and Mentors.
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-Dr. Mildred Bangs Wynkoop
About the Center
The mission of the Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership is to see women who are called by God be affirmed, empowered, and equipped to serve the Church and the world through a variety of professions, as well as to encourage advocates who desire and affirm gender parity in church ministry and leadership, the academy and more. The Center does this by providing leadership training opportunities, financial assistance, and educational resources to explore and encourage the giftings and callings of women in traditional and new frontiers of leadership, as well as support and encourage men who advocate for women and mutuality in ministry. In addition, the Center aims to help the Church of the Nazarene, and the greater Church, understand and embrace the biblical and theological basis for co-equal partnership in ministry.
The Wynkoop Legacy: Dr. Mildred Bangs Wynkoop (1905-1997) was an influential educator, missionary, and theologian whose work impacted the Church of the Nazarene and beyond.
Dr.听奥测苍办辞辞辫 began her ministry career with her husband, Ralph, whom she met at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University). Both were ordained as Nazarene elders who spent their early careers as co-pastors, evangelists, and eventually as missionaries. Later, as Mildred鈥檚 ministerial call sought deeper expression in teaching and writing, they continued to affirm their joint calling as fully-fledged partners in ministry throughout their lives.
As an educator and prolific writer, Dr.听奥测苍办辞辞辫 bravely sought new paradigms through her engagement with Wesley鈥檚 theology. One of her notable works, A Theology of Love, published in 1973, shaped a generation of pastors, teachers, and theologians. She taught at several institutions, including Western Evangelical Seminary (Oregon), Japanese Christian Junior College, Japanese 91Fans, Trevecca Nazarene College (Nashville, TN), and as theologian-in-residence at 91Fans (Kansas City, MO) from 1976-1980.
The Wynkoop Center was founded in 2003 as an initiative of 91Fans through the generosity of the Ralph and Mildred Bangs Wynkoop estate. In 2002, Dr. Judi Schwanz (Director 2003-2020), NTS President Ron Benefiel (President 2000 鈥� 2011), and Dr. Keith Schwanz, proposed creating this Center as a way to support women in the life of the Church. Founded initially as the Wynkoop Center for Women in Ministry, the Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership continues this legacy and expands its mission to support women in leadership, scholarship, and ecclesial ministry, as well as encourage men to work toward equity and gender parity in ministry. 听 听
Events:
Check back for upcoming NTS webinars and events that affirm gender inclusive ministry.
Partnerships:
NTS and the Wynkoop Center partner with others through event sponsorships and shared initiatives which benefit and resource women leaders.
Conference Attendance Awards Open to Women and Men:
If you are a woman graduate student and have an accepted paper at a conference (e.g., WTS, SBL, AAR, etc.), you are invited to apply for a $500.00 (USD) conference award to help with the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation to your conference. If you are a male and have an accepted paper at a conference (e.g., WTS, SBL, AAR, etc.) which supports the work of women in ecclesial leadership, the academy, or a related research area, you are also invited to apply for a $500.00 (USD) conference award to help with the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation to your conference.
Complete the form below to apply. Applications are accepted July 1 to December 1 each calendar year.
Apply for a Conference Attendance Award
Research Awards:
If you are a woman graduate student working on a doctorate and are in the dissertation phase of research writing, you are eligible to apply for a $750.00 (USD) research award to help with expense towards the costs of research and travel associated with this stage of writing. If you are a male graduate student working on a doctorate related to women’s studies, and are in the dissertation phase of research writing, you are eligible to apply for a $750.00 (USD) research award to help with expense towards the costs of research and travel associated with this stage of writing.
Complete the form below to apply. Applications are accepted July 1 to December 1 each calendar year.
Apply for a Research Award
Academic Scholarships:
NTS has a number of scholarship funds designated to providing tuition assistance for women and men pursuing graduate theological studies. Contact the Enrollment Team at enroll@nts.edu to learn more. Begin your application .
The website links below will help women and men gain a better understanding of women’s issues, women’s ordination, equality in ministry, and other resources related to women, as well as information on the works and writings by Dr. Mildred Bangs Wynkoop.听
(from United Women’s Empowerment)
works to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions
(Hosted by the NTS Praxis Studio)
, (from Grace & Peace, Issue 20, Spring 2019, pages 32-33)
Wynkoop Center Staff
Wynkoop Center Advisory Council
Support the Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership through a financial gift.
Make checks payable to:
91Fans
MEMO: Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership
1700 E. Meyer Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64131