Name: Women’s Connection 2023
Start: 2023-08-11
End: 2023-08-13
Location: Montreat Conference Center

Leadership

Kate Bowler – Keynoter

Kate Bowler is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and an associate professor of American religious history at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel and The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities. After being unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35, she penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved), No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear), and her latest, written with her co-producer, Jessica Richie, Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection. Kate hosts the Everything Happens podcast where, in warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people like Malcolm Gladwell and Anne Lamott about what they’ve learned in difficult times. She lives in Durham, NC, with her family and continues to teach do-gooders at Duke Divinity School.

Margaret Aymer – Bible Scholar

Dr. Margaret Aymer joins us from Austin Seminary where she teaches the Introduction to the New Testament, Exegesis, and Greek and elective courses in numerous disciplines including African Americans and the Bible, and feminist and womanist biblical interpretation. She became Academic Dean in 2022. Prior to coming to Austin Seminary, Dr. Aymer taught at Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and she has served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) broadly. Additionally, Dr. Aymer has published four books: James: Diaspora Rhetorics of a Friend of God (Sheffield Publishing, 2014), Fortress Commentary on the Bible (with Gale A. Yee, Fortress Press, 2014); First Pure, then Peaceable: Frederick Douglass Reads James (T&T Clark, 2008), and Islanders, Islands and the Bible: Ruminations (Semeia Studies, 2015; with Jione Havea).

Emily Floyd – Conference Musician

Emily Floyd is Associate Pastor for Worship and Music at First Baptist Church of Asheville where she conducts choirs of all ages. Emily serves as the co-director and an instructor for the Choristers Guild Institute. Emily has been a church musician for more than 20 years, and has taught in public schools at the middle school and high school level. She is passionate about young singers having the opportunity to create beauty and sing with artistry. She frequently conducts choirs for conferences, state and district honor choirs, and summer camps. She has presented workshops for ACDA, Choristers Guild, school systems, and sacred music conferences. Emily attended the Florida State University and received a bachelor’s degree in music education (voice) and holds certifications with the Choristers Guild and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Choirs under her direction have performed in 18 states and internationally in places such as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, and St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Emily is passionate about awakening artistry in all singers and nurturing leadership in young singers.

Mary Button – Conference Artist

Mary Button is a native Texan and graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (BFA), the Candler School of Theology at Emory University (MTS), and United Lutheran Seminary (MDiv). An artist and activist, Mary’s work explores connections between Biblical narratives and contemporary social justice issues. Mary’s work has been exhibited across the United States and the United Kingdom, with exhibitions at the Museum of Biblical Art, the Church Center of the United Nations, and Wesley House at Cambridge University. She has written curricula on a number of social justice issues. Her Stations of the Cross series have been shown in hundreds of churches and explore such themes as mass incarceration, mental illness, climate change, migration, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She is a Lutheran pastor serving a three point call in a shared ministry between the Metro NY and Northeast PA Synods of the ELCA. You can see her work at marybutton.com.

Rates & Registration

We are full in all Conference Center Housing options, but you are still able to register as a commuter!

For more information about alternative housing options in Montreat and neighboring Black Mountain (approx. 2 miles from Montreat), please check our Other Housing page.

Housing Waiting List

Please contact the registrar at susana@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829 to be placed on the waitlist.

Commuter Rate

Commuter rates below include the Women’s Connection conference fee plus a $2 community services fee per person for public services provided by the Town and the fire district. This rate DOES NOT include room or meals. After June 27, this rate will increase by $25 per person.

On or before June 27	$247 per person
After June 27	$272 per person

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by June 27 to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after June 27 but on or before July 28 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable) less $40. No refunds will be issued after July 28. All requests must be in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

Contact the Registrar

Questions about conference registration, housing, or meals? Please email the registrar at susana@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.

Tentative Schedule

Friday, August 11
4:00 - 6:00 pm - Registration and Check In
5:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Opening Worship in Anderson Auditorium
9:00 pm – Social Gathering

Saturday, August 12
7:30 - 8:30 am- Breakfast
9:00 am - Morning Gathering
10:15 am - Break
10:30 am - Workshop session I
12:00 pm - Lunch
2:00 pm - Workshop session II
3:30 pm - Free time
5:30 pm – Dinner
6:00 pm – Will Call Lobby of Anderson Auditorium
7:15 pm – Doors to Anderson Auditorium Open
7:30 pm – Keynote Presentation
9:00 pm – Social Gathering

Sunday, August 13
7:30 - 8:30 am – Breakfast
9:00 am - Closing worship in Anderson Auditorium
11:00 am - Check-out time

Lunch is on your own. Safe travels, and see you next year!

Women’s Connection 2023

Leadership

Rates & Registration

We are full in all Conference Center Housing options, but you are still able to register as a commuter!

Commuter Rate

Tentative Schedule

Workshops

Scholarships

Sign up to stay in touch!