There is a stark difference between affirming women in leadership and empowering women in leadership. In today's episode of The Women's Room, you will hear from an exceptional panel of female leaders who share their journey & tips to overcome barriers and build bridges in leadership.

Meet today's leadership panel...
Beth Backes
Beth is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and served for twelve years in urban church planting in New York, Minneapolis, and Seattle. Beth has a gift to inspire others to pursue their God-given dreams and overcome the obstacles they encounter along the way. She holds a Master’s degree in Ministry Leadership from Northwest University and currently serves on staff at the Northwest Ministry Network as the Director of Credentialing and Pastoral Care – which includes the development of credentialed women for over 340 churches in WA and ID. She is pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University.  Beth lives in Snoqualmie, Washington with her husband and two adult children where she enjoys the great outdoors, eating chocolate and taking naps.

Susan Dollinger
Susan has a MA in Higher Education Administration and a MDiv. She is in the final (6 year process) stage to be ordained in the ELCA church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) who have been ordaining women for 50 years as of this year. Susan find her support in her husband, three children (19, 16, 13), her best friend, and several pastors who have invited her into and pushed her forward in her call to ministry leadership. Susan is passionate about God's mission and "paying it forward" by empowering others in leadership.

Gail Johnson
Gail is an ordained Assemblies of God minister and the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Women at Faith Tri-Cities, Paso, WA, where she is involved in preaching, teaching, mentoring and leadership development. She is a speaker, author, and certified life coach. 

For over 10 years Gail has mentored many women ministry leaders through a 9-month spiritual formation called The Journey. Gail is also the founder of Keeping Company with Jesus, an online spiritual formation tool for cultivating a life with God that is real, meaningful. and life-giving. Gail currently partners with the Northwest Ministry Network and leads The Attentive Leaders retreat, a three-day spiritual formation retreat for ministry leaders.

Gail holds a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. She has authored two books: LEAD: Leadership Equipping and Development, A Year-Long, Turn-Key Approach to Leadership Training for busy ministers. And an Advent Devotional: Advent Reflections: Let the Weary World Rejoice!

Gail and her husband Darrel have served in full-time pastoral ministry for over 30 years. They have four adult children and 9 amazing grandkiddos. One of her favorite things is riding on the back of their Harley…because “I get to wear leathers!" 

Support the show (https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/XPWTBF/)