2025 Women’s Connection

Other Housing Options & Refund Policy

Other Housing Options in the Town of Montreat*

• • Greybeard Rentals (Mandi Pike, mandi@greybeardrentals.com, 828.228.8008)Vacation Rentals (groups of 3 or more)
  • VRBO, Airbnb

*Montreat Conference Center is not responsible for the rental of these properties or the condition of the premises. Arrangements must be made by the renter, directly with the property owner/manager or realtor.

Other Housing Options in the Town of Black Mountain

• The Monte Vista Hotel
• Quality Inn
• Hampton Inn - Using this link, guests receive a 12% discount off of the best available rate.
• Super 8 Motel

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by June 25 to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after June 25 but on or before July 25 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 25. 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 justinkp@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.

Tentative Schedule

*Please note this is a tentative schedule and is subject to change.

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

Workshops

Bearing False Witness: How Many Christians Misunderstand Judaism
Led by Amy-Jill Levine

Christian preaching often presents Judaism as xenophobic, legalistic, elitist, militaristic and misogynist, while it depicts Jesus – over and against his Jewish context --  as proclaiming love of neighbor, elimination of ritual purity, solidarity with the poor, peace, and respect for women. Where and why does this false depiction of Judaism originate? How does knowledge of Jewish history correct it? What good news can be found when we do the history?

Offered in the PM session only. Limit: 200

Created to Praise
Led by Sofia C. Friedley Fernandez

You were made for this—created to praise, formed to sing. In this workshop, we’ll gather as a community of worshipers, pulling up a chair at the table of grace and lifting our voices in joyful song. Together, we will join our voices in song, while exploring ways to grow in artistry, vocal technique, and spiritual expression. Whether you're a seasoned choir member or simply someone who loves to sing, this space is for you. Come ready to blend voices, open hearts, and be part of something beautiful. Choral experience is not required, but each singer should match pitch and read printed music

Offered in the AM session only. Limit: 45

"Where I'm From" Poetry and Collage
Led by Rev. Rachel Paige

When you come to community you bring your whole self; and that self comes from somewhere. In this workshop we will create poems that allow us to delve into our personal histories and tell the story of where we're from and who we are. After we've written the poems, we'll create an image to go with the words. Anyone can do this workshop, the poems are almost fill in the blanks style, based on the poem "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon, and the collage part can be as involved or basic as you want it to be. You may want to bring a magazine or two you don't mind cutting up, or perhaps copies of pictures from your youth that you imagine integrating. 

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 30

More Than Enough: A Celebration of Growth, Community, and Gifts
Led by Abby Glass 

Adults have a lot to learn from the wisdom found in children’s books. In this workshop, we’ll journey through The Good for Nothing Tree by Amy-Jill Levine and explore how hope, patience, and community nurture growth in our lives. Through conversation, reflection, and crafts, we will uncover the beauty in slow growth and the strength in showing up just as we are. We’ll leave reminded that who we are, right now, is already more than enough. 

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Introduction to the Enneagram
Led by Rev. Carol Hovis

The Enneagram is a dynamic system which identifies nine personality types.

It is spiritually rich because of its commitment to transformative growth and its ability to name personality habits & patterns which keep us from living more

authentically. Knowing & working with our ennea-type enhances how we show up in relationships, in work and in the world. We will learn about the 9 personality types & 27 subtypes using the Narrative approach. We will

explore type and subtype in a spirit of compassion and curiosity.

Offered in the AM session only. Limit: 75

The Enneagram & Discernment
Led by Rev. Carol Hovis

Discernment is a spiritual practice of making decisions attuned with our higher self. Using the Enneagram system, we will explore reactivity, resilience, the vice to virtue conversion, and the invitation to growth through our Subtypes & Arrows.

Offered in the PM session only. Limit: 75

Holy Troublemakers
Led by Rev. Dr. Christy Lohr Sapp

WORKSHOP FULL IN THE MORNING

Civil rights leader, Bayard Rustin once declared that the world needed "angelic troublemaking" to disrupt the systems of this world that harm people. This workshop will introduce the book "Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints" by Daneen Akers and explore a curriculum that invites all participants to make good trouble. With examples from the lives of world leaders of various traditions including Wangari Maathai, Valarie Kaur, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Fred Rogers, this resource can speak to myriad communities.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Open the Windows to Prayer
Led by Rev. Tracey W. Daniel

Are you interested in learning a new prayer practice? Are you open to conversation and using your imagination and creating art as you learn? Would you like to leave your prayer practice encouraged by God’s goodness and love?  If so, this workshop is for you!

Prayer is a central practice of Christians everywhere. There are many types of prayer and ways to pray. In this workshop, we will explore four windows that can help us pray in a way that focuses on God’s power and leaves us renewed for service and faithful discipleship. You are invited to open the windows!

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Bible Study Off the Beaten Path: Listening for Whispers When Life is Really Loud
Led by Rev. Grier Booker Richards

Come and engage scripture in new and creative ways, as together, we open ourselves to the mystery and wonder of God’s still, soft voice at work among us. We will look at the Psalms, to the Parables of Jesus, and more as a way of “listening to our lives” through the ancient stories of scripture. Come expecting the unexpected and prepared to bring all of who you are—your heart, your mind, your soul, your past, your present and your future—to our off-the-beaten-path time together. 

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Pull Up a Chair… and Tell Me a Story
Led by Rev. Dr. Judy Yates Siker

Storytelling is an intrinsic part of our human nature that is as old as time.  Indeed, studies have shown that we humans are “wired for story.” Stories give voice to what has been silenced, repressed, or excluded, and they have the power to heal and create community, connecting us more deeply to ourselves and to one another. In this workshop Judy Yates Siker will guide us on a journey to explore the power of storytelling throughout our lives. “Pull Up a Chair” as together we consider the gift and power of storytelling.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Cultivating Calm in the Chaos
Led by Rev. Cate Church Norman

When Jesus felt the anxiety of the world around him and the needs of the people pressing in on him, he retreated to a quiet place where he could reflect, connect with God and find peace.  How do we find the “peace that passes understanding” when we’re living in such turbulent times?  Come away in this workshop for 90 minutes of calm and respite.  We’ll engage in breathing exercises and spiritual practices together.  We’ll explore tools to cultivate calm so that we might connect more deeply with the presence of the Spirit, even as we find ourselves living in a chaotic world.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Why Am I So Tired?
Led by Paula J. Swindle, PhD, LCMHCS

Overwhelmed. Burned out. Stressed. Too much. If these are phrases you have found yourself using way too often lately to describe how you are doing, this session will provide a space to examine all the many types of fatigue you may be experiencing –mental fatigue, emotional fatigue, decision fatigue, compassion fatigue, physical fatigue, and others. Come, all who are weary, to explore this phenomenon of busy-ness and ways to incorporate rest, Sabbath, and restoration.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Let's Talk Secrets
Led by Melanie Spencer

Everyone keeps secrets. Whether yours is a surprise party for a best friend or a secret you have kept for years, keeping the secret itself affects how you think, behave and feel. In this 90-minute workshop, we will use immersive exercises, recent research and discussion to demystify the world of secrets. Each of you will be invited to engage in a structured exploration of your own secrets and to participate in a ritual to set intentions and release their power. Participants will gain new insights into how secrets affect us, our lives and our relationships, while connecting with others on a similar journey.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

Miles Per Stitch
Led by Katherine Johnson

WORKSHOP FULL

Every day we are surrounded by textiles that hold stories and meaning. All sewing levels are welcome in this workshop as we use the simple tools of a needle and thread to discover how everyday fabrics and textiles can illustrate our stories. Participants are encouraged to bring scraps of their own to use, but materials and fabric will be provided. You will leave the class with a small piece of textile art. 

Offered in the AM session only. Limit: 25

 Nature and Forest Therapy
Led by Dr. Mattie Decker, certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide

WORKSHOP FULL IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON

“Forest bathing” (Shinrin Yoku in Japanese) is an experience of being in nature that is not a “hike” but more of a mindful “saunter” designed in a way that participants are led through “invitations” along the way, being in Nature in a standard sequence that ends with a “tea ceremony” with a native tea from the area. Sharing circles and slowing down to allow all the senses to open and experience our relationship with the “more than human” world brings awe and wonder as well as revelations of how we are all connected. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 20

Take a Hike, sister!
Led by Sarah Akin

WORKSHOP FULL IN THE MORNING

Join us for an intermediate 1.5-mile hike through the beautiful Montreat wilderness. We'll enjoy a scenic natural feature at the end of our route. This moderate to challenging hike includes some elevation gain and is designed to get your heart rate up. We'll trek, chat, and take in the sights together. Be sure to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 25

 Hit the Trails
Led by Susan Jumper

Let’s get some fresh air, stretch our legs and enjoy a leisurely walk in the woods along Flat Creek. We’ll meet at the Nature Hut below the Lake Susan dam and follow Elizabeth’s Path walking almost a mile towards the Montreat gate. The path is mostly flat but there are roots, rocks and a few steps. It will be necessary to take a few detours to get around areas that were impacted last year by Hurricane Helene; however, it is still a beautiful area and we will enjoy the sounds and views of the creek. So, bring a water bottle, wear sturdy closed toe shoes and let’s hit the trail and explore Elizabeth’s Path together!

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 25

Listening Within: A Meditative Yoga Practice
Led by Martha Nelson

During this workshop, we will use yoga practices of breathwork, postures, and meditation to tune up our listening skills and connect with the still voice within. Martha’s seasoned teaching techniques will guide you at your own pace into and out of poses to gently open the heart and mind in preparation for inward listening. Come prepared to relax and open through movement and self-inquiry!

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 25

Pull Up a Mat: Gentle Flow Yoga
Led by Heather Wallace

In this 60-minute, slow flow yoga class, we will use gentle stretches to target strengthening, flexibility, and relaxation. Modifications will be given for easier and harder versions of the poses so each participant can tailor their yoga experience to their desired level. All are welcome.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 25

Writing for the Soul
Led by Julie Hester
Pull up a chair, grab a pen, and let’s explore writing as a healing practice for the soul. With creative prompts from poetry, images, objects, and more, we’ll pay attention to our words, to God, and to one another as we play and pray on the page. We’ll write from our memories and our imaginations, and—if we choose—read and share our words with a group of supportive and generous listeners. No writing experience is needed, (and grammar and spelling don’t count.)

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

There’s No Place Like Home
Led by Jeannie DeBose

We’ll have some fun with the themes offered through the Wizard of Oz: how to locate our heart, smarts, and nerve – in order to satisfy the deepest desire of all: to come home. What does it mean to come home? Our first home was the womb, where we were knit together in the image of God. How might we live and love from the Divine DNA which resides in us all? We’ll examine the obstacles which women might face on their journey home: how to find comfort and hope in the midst of loss and suffering, the challenge of the harsh inner critic, and the confusion which arises when we are distracted by the strident cultural messages extolling youth, perfection, and fitness as essential values. We’ll be guided by the wisdom of scripture, John Calvin, and John O’Donohue; we’ll employ storytelling, images, poetry, humor, and guided reflections — all with the aim of inviting you to encounter the journey, yourself, and God with increased faith, gratitude, and trust.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 75

Hope for Moms
Led by Rev. Anna McArthur

Hi there, love! Being a mom is tough, isn't it? How many of us look around and wonder if everyone else knows what they are doing? Trust me, being a mom is just hard: not because you are doing anything wrong, but because few of us are prepared for this really important, challenging and holy role. Join us as we talk about soul care for moms, including ways to build resilience and practical strategies for thriving as moms. (Anna’s new book “Hope for Moms” will be available for purchase at the Montreat store. It is not necessary to purchase the book to participate in the workshop.)

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35

PW/Horizons Bible Study: Finding Resilience, Joy and Our Identity in Jesus Christ
Led by Cheri Harper

Sometimes we take on more than we can accomplish. But reconnecting to our spirituality is a path that offers us the ability to spring back into shape and to find our resilience. Cheri Harper, Program Manager for Presbyterian Women will lead participants in learning about Biblical women and exploring Jesus’ witness to faithfulness. You don't have to be a PW to benefit—everyone will enjoy rediscovering our joy and our identity in Christ.

Offered in both the AM and PM sessions to different participants. Limit: 35