Every September for the past three years, I’ve walked into the Nevertheless, She Preached (NSP) conference. And every time, it’s like walking into an alternate universe.
I’ve not found another public space like it – where my gifts and calling are not up for debate, where I’m not one of just a few token women, where I’m not fending off offers from benevolent and progressive men who would like to be my mentor (I’m good, thanks!).
Once a year, if only for a few days, NSP is the place where I can lay down my defenses and relax because my gifts and calling and voice and body are embraced fully, without me having to do a thing.
NSP began on accident, really. In 2017, my friend and colleague, Rev. Kyndall Rothaus, and I were compelled to respond to our alma matter’s male-dominated preaching conference. We decided to host a supplementary gathering where women’s preaching would be celebrated, unquestioned and unapologetically.
With about six weeks to plan, we sent emails to several brilliant women preachers and scholars hoping one or two would be willing to headline our event.
We explained our motivation and timeline, we were frank about not knowing whether or how much we’d be able to pay them, and we hit send with a hope and a prayer. Within days, almost all of the women we’d reached out to responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”
What we had envisioned as an evening rally suddenly transformed into a three-day event featuring people like Karoline Lewis, Allyson Dylan Robinson, Margaret Aymer and Jennifer Knapp. It was attended by over 200 people (in Waco, Texas, by the way!) and funded by over $20,000 in mostly small donations.
That first year felt nothing short of miraculous. We learned we were not alone (sexism is ecumenical!).
We also realized the space NSP set out to create for women in general – a space of affirmation and embrace and respect – was even more specifically necessary and elusive for women of color, queer women, trans women and our nonbinary siblings.
We committed ourselves to following the lead of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQ+ board members and volunteers as we moved forward.
Over the past three years, NSP has grown and evolved in many ways. Our constituency has expanded, ecumenically and geographically. We’ve hosted our second and third annual conferences and installed our founding board of directors.
We’ve clarified our mission: “Nevertheless, She Preached exists to empower all people to dismantle patriarchal structures by elevating voices of faith leaders on the margins, especially women and sexual minorities of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.”
We’ve made (and continue to make) mistakes, and we’ve embraced (and continue to embrace) the learning and growth that comes from them.
This September, I’ll walk into Nevertheless, She Preached once again. But this year, I’ll be walking into my office to host and participate virtually. I’m sure an all-online event will feel different; nevertheless, I fully expect the alternate universe NSP creates to show up, even over Wi-Fi!
This year’s conference theme is “Disrupting Politics, Elevating Justice.”
We hope you’ll join us on Facebook Live for our free public event from 5 to 8 p.m. (CST) Sept. 20. We will be guided by the Rev. Kyndra Frazier, learn from Dr. Nikki Young and Rev. Traci Blackmon and engage with a panel discussion featuring all of our speakers and working group leaders (Rev. Amy Butler, Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, Rev. Nicole Garcia, Rev. Tuhina Verma Rasche and Grammy award-nominated artist Jennifer Knapp).
The interactive, collaborative working groups will take place Sept. 21-22. You can register for access here.
A conference flyer is available here, and a conference schedule is available here.
Editor’s note: Webb and Nevertheless, She Preached co-founder Kyndall Rothaus will join Mitch Randall and Autumn Lockett on the Good Faith Weekly podcast later this week to discuss NSP. A version of this article first appeared in an Alliance of Baptists e-newsletter. It was submitted for consideration by the author and is used with permission.