RCWMS offers a wide variety of programs with a feminist approach to creativity, spirituality, and social justice. We are committed to providing space and encouragement for folks to create art, write, and develop their unique spiritual practices. These practices strengthen various movements for social change.
Read on to learn more about our programs. Looking for upcoming workshops? Visit our Events page to see what’s coming soon.
Art of Conscious Aging
The Art of Conscious Aging group meets twice monthly, with rotating topics and discussion leaders. Participants explore all facets of elderhood through intentional conversation.
As part of the broader RCWMS Elder Women’s Project, we invite you to read about past programs, leaders, and resources, and to read about our Foremothers. Interested in joining the Art of Conscious Aging group? Email info@rcwms.org.
The mission of the RCWMS artist-in-residence program is to provide a platform that helps elevate the work of talented local artists. Previous artists-in-residence for RCWMS include Bryant Holsenbeck, Sue Sneddon, and Kimberley Pierce Cartwright.
Our 2024 artist-in-residence is MJ Sharp, whose piece “Cornwall shooting for Fulbright Project 2021/2022” is featured here. MJ is a photographic artist and educator based in Durham, NC.
Queer Clergy* Thriving in the South
Queer Clergy Thriving in the South is a virtual, peer-supported cohort for queer religious leaders offered in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Queer Divinity Students Thriving in the South is a 2024 program for religious leaders in training.
Check out the most recent call for applicants here. The 2024 cohort is currently in session.
RCWMS aims to work across generations, in part by supporting women and nonbinary folks at the beginning of their journeys who are interested in the intersections of justice, religion, feminism, and womanism.
Anita McLeod was our former board chair and founder of the Resource Center’s elder women’s project. In her later years, Anita began to work intergenerationally and supported younger women in developing and expressing their voices. When she died in 2017, her husband Mike made a generous gift to create a paid, part-time internship.
Each year we recruit a student or early-career individual to intern with us. We pay special attention to equity, diversity, and inclusion in recruiting and selecting interns. We are currently seeking 2024–2025 interns. Contact info@rcwms.org for more information.
Kindred Spirits: A Convergence of African American Quilters
In June 2023, African American quilters from across the country joined together in Durham, NC to explore African American quilting, network, and celebrate the legacy of Juneteenth.
The conference featured a variety of workshops from top quilting professionals and a pop-up quilt show, “Deconstructing the Mammy Archetype Through African American Art Quiltwork.” Check out a blog post celebrating Kindred Spirits here. The next Kindred Spirits festival is being planned for 2025.
Essay Contest
Most years RCWMS holds an essay contest, typically in the summer. The essay contest invites women (cis and trans) 18 years of age or older to submit up to two nonfiction essays of 1,200 words or less on a given theme. Winning essays are awarded prizes and published in our quarterly newsletter, South of the Garden. View information from previous years and stay tuned for the opening of the 2024 Essay Contest via the RCWMS blog.
HOMEGROWN: NC Women’s Preaching Festival
Homegrown is an annual preaching festival that takes place in October. In an ecumenical spirit of love and collegiality, we lift up the voices of local clergywomen (trans/cis) to encourage and inspire, share and learn, and hone their craft. Conference attendees hear wonderful preaching and share time for group conversations on the art of proclamation in all its forms. The festival will take a year off in 2024.
Meinrad Craighead (1936-2019) was an artist who spent her life exploring the human-divine relationship through art, particularly in images of God as the Great Mother. Read more about Meinrad and view her art and lectures here.
Racial Justice Commitments
The RCWMS staff and board are committed to the ongoing work of reckoning with racism within ourselves, our communities, and our organization. As part of this commitment, we organize groups to participate in guided tours of Historic Stagville. Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on the plantation. Upcoming group tours can be found on our Events page.
RCWMS has three portable labyrinths that can be used for workshops and retreats. Two of them are 40’x40′ canvas replicas of the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth in France, which was laid into the stone floor in the thirteenth century.
Feminist & Womanist Spiritual Direction
The RCWMS Feminist & Womanist Spiritual Direction Project connects folks with the formal practice of spiritual direction by providing a directory of feminist and womanist spiritual directors and their contact information. A spiritual director acts as both companion and mentor to the directee. Spiritual directors typically enter their role with the blessing of a community that recognizes their received gifts and training for holy listening and spiritual wisdom.