Breaking the Patriarchal Ceiling: Empowering Asian American Women in Ministry by Jane Hong-Guzman de leon

In 2010, I was introduced to ISAAC and Dr. Young Lee Hertig through a symposium they hosted at Fuller Seminary when I was a Master’s of Divinity student. 

I remember being particularly amazed at how ISAAC brought together seminary professors, local church leaders, non-profit organizers, and therapists. Everyone was from different denominations, yet we were all together in this 3rd space, under the umbrella of Jesus, our Asian American identity, and this precious opportunity to share and learn from one another when usually our inner circles and work spaces keep us so busy and separated.

It was a beautiful sight that I haven’t seen other leaders really do in such an intentional way! Because when we gather under the guidance and planning of ISAAC, it’s never about talking heads just talking theories.

Rest assured with ISAAC, we always move towards action and transformation - from the mind to the body, and from the individual to the community! 

So I went to the following 2 other symposiums that ISAAC hosted afterwards, and years later, that led to a meeting with Young. I shared my story of being an Asian American woman in ministry, in a large and thriving Asian American 2nd generation church that said it was supportive of women in ministry. 

However, I soon realized that meant they were mainly supportive of me doing hospitality, event planning, caring for families and children (when I’m not called to children’s ministry), and building maintenance care. They were ok with me doing those “pastoral duties,” but were not very supportive of me doing what I was actually called to do - which is teaching, preaching, and pastoral care (even though I was trained for it with my Master’s of Divinity degree and had years of pastoral staff experience to do it). 

What I shared with Dr. Young was alarming to her because she said it sounded like things were worse for me as a woman in ministry than it was back in the 80’s! I remember she asked with a huge sigh,

“How in this day and age can we be fighting the same battles?” 

I was overworked, and beaten down to the point where I couldn’t really see a way out from under that patriarchal ceiling. It felt like that church was the best option I had since the demographics fit and they said they were supportive of woman in ministry…

Yet through Dr. Young’s vision, dedication, and the work of ISAAC, I’ve been a part of the More Equal Pulpit Initiative, RISE Together Cohort, and other gatherings for Asian American Women Clergy.

Through these gatherings, I have been mentored out of the place where I was towards new opportunities.

I’m honored to share from my experience now as a PastoraLab facilitator and former participant.

PastoraLab is a 2 year cohort designed to support Asian American women who have been called to leadership and do pulpit/pastoral ministry. It’s a space for us to learn from other Asian American pastoras, theologians, and leaders, the things that we didn’t get to learn or unpack in our Bible colleges, seminaries, leadership classes, or church staff meetings because so many don’t know what this journey is like, don’t know what we need, and don’t teach us how to lead well!   

Then we ask, why is there less than 5% of Asian American churches led by women of color, and why are the numbers even smaller when it comes to Asian American women pastors in predominantly Asian congregations?

What this means is that people don’t see Asian American women in leadership and can’t even imagine that it is possible!

Therefore, so many women that have calls to minister and lead have to do it in other spaces outside of the church. They’re doing it as teachers, therapists, counselors, non-profit organizational leaders, and many are serving in their local churches as volunteers because they don’t see women in clergy leadership.     

PastoraLab aims to change that!

PastoraLab aims to change that, by equipping women in organizational leadership and holistic ministry! 

In the first year, we do that by digging in the Bible and other readings to rediscover and integrate our identity as Asian American Christian women that can lead from who we are, learning that we don’t have to lead like who we’re not. 

In the second year, we connect that to learning about organizational systems and adaptive leadership skills, while growing within a safe community of women empowering one another. 

Don’t just take it from me, here are what some of the ladies I lead have said anonymously in their monthly feedback:

TESTIMONIALS

I've learned that "determining the ripeness" of an issue is one of my personal adaptive challenges. Learning the difference between when an issue is ripe for the whole system and not just localized to me and my immediate team will help me frame solutions better and be more compassionate when met with resistance.

Our discussions deepened my understanding. It's apparent that while many leaders recognize the importance of awareness, they often remain oblivious to the nuances of power dynamics. I've become cognizant of the need for designing effective interventions, akin to ongoing experiments.

PastoraLab has given me the vocabulary and tools to put into practice some of these methods to apply to work, ministry, and business. It has helped me to vocalize and realize the type of culture and environment that I would like to create when I have my own church, and non-profit. 

I recently attended a Climate and Faith conference, in which the majority of the presenters and attendees were White Caucasians. Prior to PastoraLab, I did not think as much about the importance of representation, but sitting in that conference last week really highlighted how incomplete the discussion was without different cultural and minority groups, especially since these groups have actually done much to bring awareness to Creation Care within the last decade, efforts that are worth bringing to light… I also really appreciated the training I received at PastoraLab, reminding me that I "have a seat at the table" and that "my voice is important…”

You know, we all have a seat at the table! All of our voices matter! Women and men, we’re called to work together with Christ as the head!  

So THANK YOU ISAAC, Dr. Young Lee Hertig, the Lilly Endowment, and ALL OF YOU that keep this work of ISAAC alive! You are truly making a difference for so many of us, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you!