A spiritual gathering for women
Women's spirituality group on campus larger than ever

Megan Davin | staff writer
mdavin@smcvt.edu

The Women’s Spirituality Circle is a group that meets once a month to discuss a book relating to women's spirituality and serves to connect women faculty and staff on campus. The group takes time to reflect on themselves and how women understand God.

This semester, they are reading “Enduring Lives: Portraits of Women and Faith in Action” by Carol Lee Flinders.

Where it all began

The program began in 2003 as an idea between Kim Swartz, director of the Women’s Center and Joanne Nelson, associate director of Pastoral Services.  They formed the group in an attempt to connect faculty and staff with the Women’s Center and Campus Ministry, Nelson says.

Kim Swartz is one of the founders of the Women's Spirituality circle. She is also the director of the Women's Center. Mary Cate Connors, photo

“It’s a no-brainer that the bond of both of these groups should collaborate and be strengthened,” Nelson says. 

Nelson and Swartz have developed the program into what it is today, and they love every aspect of what the circle represents, Nelson says. The group began with only 3 to 8 people and has now grown to about 10 to 18 people who gather and read each book. The group has grown into a diverse circle of women from a variety of interfaith backgrounds with varied perceptions.

Strictly a faculty and staff program, the circle gives its members an opportunity to connect with and get to know women from different areas on campus, Nelson says.

Michele McCaffrey, a reference librarian, joined the group this year looking to make connections on campus and form friendships with the other women. All of the women work well together and get a lot accomplished as a group, she says.

“It gives you a sense of familiarity and safeness talking with all of the women,” McCaffrey says.

What’s going on this year

This semester’s book is a collection of four biographies of female spiritual activists. These women are Etty Hillesum, Jane Goodall, Tenzin Palmo and Sister Helen Prejean. The book was chosen almost unanimously by the group last year  because they had started with its prequel, “Enduring Grace: Portraits of Seven Women Mystics,” also by Flinders.  

The faculty and staff women in the group are reading "Enduring Lives: A Portait of Women and Faith in Action," by Carol Lee Flinders. Mary Cate Connors, photo

The group provides food and the books to the participants, splitting the cost between the two campus programs. The meeting begins with snacks and then leads into the “opening moment.” This opening moment consists of an opening reflection ritual which is one of a few things: meditation, silence, or a short and often inspirational reading, Nelson says.

“It is a great way for a pause in busy lives and coming together with co-workers and friends for reflection is meaningful,” Swartz says.

Nelson says she enjoys being strengthened by a woman’s story. The Women’s Center and Edmundite Campus Ministry host programs for students and faculty throughout each school year, but this particular program Nelson and Swartz feel is special because it is just for women faculty and staff, she says.

Swartz often reflects on how this group guides her own personal life and helps show herself new aspects of her job by thinking, she says.

“It’s great because one can seek out opportunities to meet and experience other people," Swartz says. "And they help bring a whole new aspect to understanding one's life and working with others.”

A look into the future

The group is ever evolving and each semester it takes on a life of its own, Nelson says.

The women generally join the group based on the book being read as well as the time the group meets. Nelson and Swartz look forward to each meeting because every discussion brings about new ways of looking at everyone’s different perspective, Swartz says.

“I just knew it would be an interesting group of people and I knew I wanted to join,” McCaffrey says.

Through this program other programs have evolved. Last November, the group hosted an interfaith prayer service for peace. It was a service of solidarity in response to the murder of Michelle Gardner-Quinn and aimed to promote awareness of ending gender violence. Nelson says she was very pleased with the service's success and the group looks forward to holding similar events in the future.

“It’s our baby, lots of work and fun,” Nelson says.