The Center for Women in Church & Society at OLLU is celebrating its 25th year with many different programs and opportunities for faculty, staff and students throughout 2007.  Although every year we have special programming during March, Women’s History Month, this year our focus has been more intentional towards women’s spirituality.  During March 23-25 we enjoyed our very first Red Tent Retreat with a diverse group of OLLU faculty, staff and students at Santuario Sisterfarm in Welfare, Texas.  The retreat was loosely based on the novel, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, which brings to life women about whom the bible tells us little about, but stirs our imaginations and evokes memories of women in our lives.  The retreat participants were able to attend different sessions on healing, body image, relationships, working with clay or just “be” to mediate, reflect and enjoy the beautiful natural setting of the space.

From this experience, our hope is that some of the Red Tent participants will want to continue meeting and perhaps create either a bible study group, a book reading group or just meet to discuss other issues affecting our everyday lives.  All this in an effort to help us realize the importance of taking care of our “whole” selves – our body, mind and spirit.  Isn’t that what we’re all called to do?