The Sophia Network
Earlier this year Kirsty Moore joined the Red Arrows as a pilot, Carol Ann Duffy became poet laureate, Claire Taylor was named a Wisden cricketer of the year while Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Philiips joined the ranks of the Chelsea pensioners – and all of them were the first women to do so. Thirty years after Margaret Thatcher became prime minister and 81 years after women were given equal voting rights with men, the fact that we can be marking so many female firsts shows that there’s still a way to go before there’s a level playing field for both men and women in our society. And while we’re on politics, around a fifth of the UK’s MPs are women. In the world league table of political representation we come 60th, lagging behind Vietnam, Iraq and Burundi and completely eclipsed by Rwanda and Sweden who are closest to the 50/50 split. At the current rate of change, it’ll be 200 years before there’ll be equal representation of men and women in parliament.
Not that being a man is a bed of roses! According to the Men’s Health Forum men are significantly more likely to both get cancer and die from it. There’s no biological reason for that; it’s thought that stereotypical male behaviour such as downplaying early symptoms, being reluctant to visit a doctor to ask for advice and not being as health-conscious as women are part of the problem. Facts like these suggest that none of us can afford to ignore the dynamics and complexity of gender.
The biblical narrative says that men and women were created in the image of God and were given the task together of unlocking creation and bringing new things to birth, working in partnership and co-operation. Christians have different perspectives of what that looks like in practice. Some believe that the gospel liberates both men and women to lead and exercise their gifts in all areas of life, while others are convinced that men are called to loving overall leadership in the church and home. It’s challenging, isn’t it, that there are thoughtful spirit-filled Christians who have studied their Bibles deeply and yet have come to different conclusions? The danger is that we allow our different perspectives to polarise and divide us; the opportunity is there for us to listen, to talk, to learn from each other and to work together if we will only take it.
And we need to make sure that our theology isn’t a hiding place for the same old discrimination found in the rest of society. The Sophia Network was created just under two years ago to encourage women and men to work together more closely in a way that reflects the heart of God and to address some of the gender imbalance found within youth work. We believe that when women, or men, are sidelined, silenced or ignored, then something vital is missing and the kingdom of God is misrepresented. Our remit has broadened to include women in children’s ministry, church leaders and others who are on the same journey, and we welcome men as Friends of Sophia because we can’t do this on our own. We focus our energy in the areas of partnership, relationships, voice and training, and our website has a blog that highlights current gender issues and the impact they have on us and on young people. We want to encourage women to use their gifts, develop confidence, grow as leaders and broaden their vision of the ways in which God can use them. And above all, we want to see young people growing up with healthy role models of what it is to be men and women of God.
Article submitted by Sharon Prior, one of the founders of the Sophia Network and an Activate Dream Team Member.
www.sophianetwork.org.uk
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Sheila Bridge Sheila is a favourite Activate conference speaker. She has written a number of books on family life and parenting. Most recently she has written Who Stole Your Sex Life? (published by Kingway) and is currently writing How to Feel Good Naked (due out Easter 2010). She has been year head in a secondary school and also a prison chaplain. Currently she is training to become an Anglican vicar. Married, with two adult children, she lives in the Midlands and would be happy to travel reasonable distances to speak on the subjects of Sex or Body Image. The sex talk is along the lines of improving your sex life (lots of jokes, tips, video clips but no diagrams!) and the Body image talk is about finding a solid basis for self-esteem in unconditional love. Both talks aim to present the Christian viewpoint on the subject in an appealing way that doesn’t make any assumptions of belief. 
Mandy Catto Mandy is one of Activate’s directors and spends far too much of her time working on the Activate Your Life Website! She works part-time as a tutor at Moorlands School of Theology and is a school governor. Her favourite job is being a mum to her three busy children. She loves spending time at the beach in Dorset. She is happy to come and share the ‘Unlocking the Door’ presentation, to share some of Activate’s vision or to present short wrap up talks during events. 
Sharon Prior I was born in Enfield, North London and following school went to work in the Pathology Department of the local hospital training to be a Medical Microbiologist; during my training I became a Christian. I have worked with Crusaders, Moorlands College and Scripture Union. In 2006 I decided to go freelance and am a trainer, mentor and leadership coach. I am passionate about seeing women develop into their full potential under God and have enjoyed setting up the Sophia Network. In my spare time I am an aerobics instructor and a volunteer at my local church working with the teenagers. I am also involved in leading women’s retreats. In the past I have spoken at various women’s events and led some aerobics sessions as well (the aerobics sessions have been optional!!). I combine the aerobics with an evangelistic testimony to make a relaxing and fun evening for Christians to bring their non-Christian friends along to. I enjoy reading, walking on the beach and eating Chinese food!!! I am prepared to travel around the country and my costs for Christian Organisations and churches are £200.00 per day and travel at 40p per mile.
Caroline East I am passionate about my friends and my family, particularly my nine year old daughter (our favourite things to enjoy together are Roald Dahl books and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’). I love getting together with the girls for coffee, chocolate, laughter (and tears as and when necessary!) I am motivated by sharing my faith through my social life inside and outside the church building. I feel passionate about sharing the ups and downs of my faith journey with those inside the church and out. I am able to deliver training based around Ruth Adams and Jan Harney’s popular book “Unlocking the Door” which gives masses of ideas on how to meet non-Christians where they are. I am happy to come and talk to you and encourage your church settings in the way in which you reach out particularly to women. My background of working within churches and my experience as a single parent has given me a variety of life and faith experiences to draw on as I encourage you to be who you are, where you are, for God. I am based in Derby where I work part-time as a community evangelist. If you invite me to meet with you, fees will be related to the task and travel expenses will need to be met.
Alison Tinsley Meet the original desperate housewife! Alison had it all but ended up broke and broken. On the bumpy road to rebuilding her life, she made an amazing discovery: no matter what happens in life, she could choose to respond proactively. She was no longer at the mercy of others opinions,circumstance or upbringing. She was free to make her own independent decisions based on solid principles.For the past 5 years she has chosen to share her life experiences and professional skills as an Image Consultant and Life Coach. Alison writes, talks and coaches on how to cultivate high self esteem, acquire a healthy self confidence and make the most of life, whatever your situation. She has been featured in The Daily Express, the Daily Mirror and Bella magazine and contributes to other magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Now. Regularly a radio guest she has also recently published her first book. ‘Confessions of an unfaithful heart’ charts her own account of infidelity and the life changing lessons learnt. Alison is available for speaking engagements on any of the following subjects: How to look good naked and even better with your clothes on! – Image and style tricks of the trade to help you look and feel your absolute best Love, sex and in it for the long haul! – Make marriage fun, exciting and rewarding Be a divorce diva – Live a full and exciting life after divorce Confidence tricks – How to acquire unstoppable confidence and a healthy self esteem Communicate with body language – Develop your communication skills with body language techniques Speaking fees from £100