RCWMS is seeking applicants for the
Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South
January–April 2025 Cohort
The Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South (RCWMS) is seeking applicants for Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South, a four-month, virtual, peer-supported cohort led by an experienced facilitator.
We invite queer women, femmes, and nonbinary folks who are in divinity school, seminary, or other institutions/processes of religious leadership education to apply for a virtual cohort. Participants will meet via Zoom 8 times between January and April 2025. We welcome queer women and femmes (cis and trans) and nonbinary applicants from all religious and spiritual traditions, and we are committed to gathering a racially and spiritually diverse cohort.
We recognize that the terms “queer,” “woman,” “nonbinary,” and “divinity student” are all imperfect. We will use these terms liberally and inclusively within the selection process, and we invite you to apply for the cohort even if these terms are not a perfect fit.
Applications are open for Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South.
Apply HERE
RCWMS is an intergenerational, interfaith organization that weaves together feminism, spirituality, and social justice through its programs in LGBTQ spirituality, women’s preaching, antiracism, issue advocacy, writing and art, conscious elderhood, spiritual practices, and more.
What is the purpose of Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South?
The Need: Being a queer woman, femme, or nonbinary student in divinity school, seminary, or another religious leadership educational institution can be a lonely experience! Given the varying levels of support within educational institutions, religious communities, and spiritual settings, queer divinity students too often suffer from loneliness, discouragement, and burnout.
The Vision: To provide a space where queer divinity students can come together, with the support of a skilled facilitator, to create healthy collegial relationships and find new options for self-care, friendship, and mutual affirmation.
The Plan: A peer-supported cohort, led by an experienced facilitator, will gather twice per month (via Zoom) during the spring semester, January–April 2025. Gatherings may include programming such as Enneagram workshops, self and community care rituals, opportunities to speak with and learn from our elders, sharing of spiritual practices, etc.
The 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Queer Clergy* and Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South cohorts were made possible in part by generous support from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.
Leaders — Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones & Chloé Griffin
We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones as the Facilitator for the 2025 cohort, and Chloé Griffin as the Program Manager.
Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones is executive director of academic programs at the School of Professional Studies, Wake Forest University in Charlotte, NC and the Principal Investigator for The Faith COMPASS Center at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
Dr. Jones is a much sought-after consultant for educational organizations, focusing on academic evaluation, intercultural practices, and equity and inclusion engagement. Before joining Wake Forest University, Dr. Jones served as Associate Dean at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (Atlanta, GA) and Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology (Dallas, TX). Dr. Jones’ interests include faith and health, the intersection of school choice and race, and her focus broadly examines intercultural practices that promote communal thriving with and among leaders and faith communities. She is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and trainer for intercultural communication. Her work as a theological educator and administrator has included teaching and global engagement in South Africa, Egypt, Israel, South Korea, Brazil, Ghana, and several countries throughout Europe. Dr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Texas Christian University, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and the Doctor of Education in Higher Education (Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies) from the University of Alabama.
Chloé Griffin (she/they) is from Greensboro, North Carolina and currently serves as the Program Director at RCWMS. She is also a PhD student in the Religious Studies department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their research focuses on the expansiveness and diversity of African American spiritual traditions in the South both within and beyond the Black Church. They hold a BA in Philosophy and a History minor from UNC-CH and a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity with a concentration in Interfaith Literacy and Leadership.
What does participation look like?
- Full commitment to attending the following Zoom meetings, on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm Eastern Time:
- January 15*
- January 29
- February 12
- February 26
- March 12
- March 26*
- April 9
- April 23
- Engaging in spiritual practices and other brief activities in between sessions
- Communicating regularly with the program director and facilitator
- Checking in between gatherings (via phone, Zoom, or in person for 15–30 minutes) with one of your peers, a fellow cohort participant
*Note: January 15th and March 26 sessions will meet from 6-8PM ET.
What can participants expect from RCWMS?
- A small stipend, distributed in two installments (*please note that missing more than one session may affect your stipend)
- An experienced and intentional facilitator, Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones, to guide monthly gatherings
- A dedicated program manager, Chloé Griffin, to respond to the needs and dreams of the cohort
- Resources and readings sent via email
We’re seeking cohort applicants who are:
- Queer women (cis and trans) and queer nonbinary divinity students
- Interested in connecting with other queer divinity students and contributing within a virtual community
- Available to attend the 8 scheduled gatherings from January–April 2025
- Willing to engage with brief readings, writing exercises, and/or spiritual practices in between gatherings
- Committed to maintaining confidentiality in regard to the identities and experiences of those in the cohort
- Priority will be given to applicants who are from the South, enrolled in school in the South, or connected to the South in a meaningful way
Apply HERE
Next Steps: We will update you within 3 business days of receiving your application. If you have questions about Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South or the application process, please contact Chloe Griffin at chloe@rcwms.org.
RCWMS is committed to fostering the leadership of people of color, Native people, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBTQ+ and trans* people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence, and people living in the many intersections of these experiences. We strongly encourage people from these communities to apply and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, socioeconomic class, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sex, religion, disability status, citizenship status, age, veteran status, or national origin.
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