As the church and evangelical world continue to unfold story after story of horrendous leadership falls and fails in the area of sexual or spiritual abuse of women, Kyria realises it’s important that we don’t stay silent. If you follow us on social media, you would have noticed that we regularly create space to address these issues. No one article can do justice to such matters but Kyria feels it is important to speak to the issue because it is our mission to champion, empower and release women into spheres of influence. Therefore, it’s important to highlight, agitate and advocate against instances of such leadership with the desire that there are better days to come.
Below are three brief points that will help us as we address areas of sexual and spiritual abuse within the Church as well as outside of it. None of these points are easy to do but all are necessary to enable lasting change in these areas. It is our firm belief that as women increase in confidence and boldness these stories will decrease, and equality, justice and freedom for survivors will eventuate.
1. Speak up - If this happened to you even some time ago, we encourage you to find a place of safety where you can share your experience and gain the support you need and deserve.
If it happening right now, we strongly encourage you not to delay in seeking help and support. To do that will take huge courage and fear is an ever present enemy, but it’s vital that you know God’s deep love for you, and that these things are not His will for your life. Some of our own Kyria team have their own scars and pain in this area but as they found the courage to speak up, they have found it possible to educate the Church and advocate for a new way. As a result, freedom, healing and acceptance have flooded in, and life has been restored to themselves and their leadership contexts.
If any of this resonates with you, it’s vital you understand that you are not in the wrong. On the contrary, you have been wronged. No one subjected to any form of abuse is in the wrong, and the God of justice, mercy and grace speaks that truth over us. Details of agencies who can support you are below. It’s important to realise you do not need to do this alone – there are people who will believe you and support you on your journey.
2. Speak into - As you speak into your leadership contexts, you will help create safer places and spaces for other women. Christians are called to the message of Micah 6:8 which is to ‘do justice and love kindness’. Part of this is protecting the vulnerable and providing spaces for them. For too long the Church has hidden behind arguments of theology, temptation and tradition in regard to women in the Church, and women in leadership. This is completely wrong, causing women to be shockingly vulnerable both inside and outside of the Church. We all have a responsibility to speak into current systems, create safer communities of faith, and choose to challenge arenas that prevent the rights and freedom of women.
3. Speak out- Help us advocate against the abuse of women.
Justin Humphreys, Joint CEO of thirtyone:eight, says “Although the word ‘safeguarding’ itself does not appear in the Bible, throughout its pages we’re given hundreds of examples of God’s heart for vulnerable people, and the expectations he places upon communities and societies for how we should respond to, and treat those who fall within that category, so we can be left in no doubt as to God’s thoughts and feelings on the subject One verse that sums this up for us so clearly is Proverbs 31:8 from where the charity thirtyone:eight derives its name. This verse encourages us to ‘speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable”
Calling out sexism, misogynistic behaviour, misandry, abusers and perpetrators for their actions and choices is always the right thing.
Join us with the IWD #choosetochallenge campaign and add your voice to thousands of others to make lasting changes for gender equality. (Further details in update below)
The Kyria network must be a safe place for women leaders to share their experiences. We are here to serve, listen and support any way we can, and doing so, call forth a future in which gender is irrelevant to leadership. Don’t suffer in silence. Get in touch with us or the agencies below. We can make a difference together.
We are aware that speaking out takes courage and grit, especially because of the blame and neglect victims can be subject to, but we stand with you in this.
Choose to challenge, conscious and unconscious gender and racial biases.
This session will explore these issues, increasing your understanding, and aiding you to be the catalyst for positive change in eradicating racial injustice within your circle of influence.
We need to all come together, learn, grow, understand, and act.
If you have suffered in this area, come. If you have no idea about this area, come. If you want to make a difference, come! This session is for the human race - which includes all nationalities.
Contributors include Olivia Amartey (Executive Director of Elim International), Catherine De Souza (Senior Leader of Cardiff City Church) and Lisa Leonce (Director of Efil Coaching & Kyria Team Member)
BookHEREto guarantee a place!
Concessions and support offered to those in need
contact info@kyrianetwork.com to find out more
Kyria is supporting @internationalwomensday and we #ChooseToChallenge gender bias and inequality!
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality.
Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:
Kyria Network has recently co-hosted a series of podcasts with Diamonds Scotland. Diamonds exists to support and equip young women to discover their true identity in Christ.
Kyria's very own Chloe, who sits on the Kyria leadership team, is co-hosting a podcast series - “CALLED TO INFLUENCE”.
While Diamonds exists for younger women, this series has wisdom for any woman wanting to influence and lead for God.
Please listen and share with any younger girls, youth groups or networks it could also bless!
Do you ever feel like you should do more reading on the subject of equality and leadership?
We feel challenged on this matter too, so here's what we are going to do about it.
We are excited to be launching Kyria's first online book club. If you want to join follow these simple steps below.
1) Buy the first book we are looking to study EQUAL by Katia Adams HERE
2) Email info@kyrianetwork.com to say you want to join the group
3) You will then be added to a closed Facebook group
4) Read a chapter a week and use the group to comment and share your thoughts
5) At the end of the book you will be invited to join a 1hr Zoom call where we will invite feedback and encourage each other in prayer
Fancy it? Sign up TODAY
This is a 10 week course (1 chapter a week)
Starting the week of 15th March
For the next 12 months the Kyria spotlight will be on courageous women who, though largely unknown, defied the times they lived in to change their worlds.
Inspired by the book, and film, 'Hidden Figures' by Margot Lee Shetterly, Kyria wants to focus on women leaders who were massively effective in their context but whose names have been obscured through the midst of time.
We will celebrate their achievements, their grit, their abhorrence of complacency and passivity. We’re rejoicing because they were too stubborn to accept external limitations, and they chose to be deaf to the customs and cultures that told them it couldn’t be done. We are grateful that they stamped on timidity and were wise and brave enough to know that doing what they were made for, was more important than their own fears.
This month's "Hidden Figure" is written by Scott Brennan
Scott has been married to Faith for almost thirty years, they have two grown up sons, and have led together in a number of church, charity and business opportunities. Scott has been a church planter and pastor, a missional coach, a community outreach worker, a marketing manager, a blogger, and continues as an artist. He is now based on Holy Island working alongside the Community of Aidan and Hilda which is a new monastic community promoting a holistic Way of Life, and encouraging people to live out their calling inspired by Celtic Christianity (one of the most effective missional movements in the history of the UK). He is passionate about growing healthy leaders and multiplying missional disciples.
Scott and Faith are great friends and supporters of Kyria and we hope this piece, with its follow-up leadership questions, will bless and provoke you.
Thanks Scott! We super appreciate you!
This months Hidden Figure is Alimotu Pelewura
ClickHEREto view this months Hidden Figure
Reflective Leadership Questions
(work through this individually or in groups)
1) Getting the balance right is hard. How do we build in rhythms that include rest and activity, prayer and projects? What does the life of a contemplative activist look like? Do we have a Way of Life to help us?
2) Our greatest gifts often come from some of our greatest challenges. What has shaped our life in the past and how might we use them to grow in God and serve others? Could some of our pain be a bridge builder to those in our community?
3) How might women leaders encourage a healthy partnership with men? And how might women feel released to be the first among equals, carrying authority without insecurity?
4) Can we grow in supernatural activity and faith? Can we learn from others who are supernaturally minded? Is there a way to see the miracles of God in everyday life?
WE NEED YOU HELP!
At the end of March we say a sad goodbye to Martin Hardwidge who has served brilliantly and faithfully as our Treasurer and Board Member.
We are so thankful to Martin for all he has done and look forward to welcome someone new into this role.
If you would be interested in helping to serve us in the role of Treasurer have a look at the job description HERE
If you are interested in the role, but don't feel you want to commit to join the Trustees then that's totally fine and isn't a requirement.
A treasurer and Trustee joint role would be our preference but it is not a necessity.
Do let us know via info@kyrianetwork.com if you are interested, and do be joining us in prayer for the right and successful appointment to this role.
KYRIA is a network for women leaders to challenge, empower and release.'The name KYRIA comes from 2 John 1:1 where John refers to the 'chosen lady' who leads that church. That word is KYRIA. God is still releasing His chosen female leaders into every sphere of society and the KYRIA network has been birthed for such a time as this.Our aim is to provide an empowering environment to release women to lead in their spheres of influence
