Erica Boschman has been in ministry leadership for the past 19 years.
Thank you for taking the time to talk about your experience as a woman in ministry.
Thank you! It is good to talk with you about this. Though I worry about being the “token” woman because that has been an experience I’ve had. But I also know that visibility leads to possibility. A lot of women with leadership skills don’t think they could potentially enter into pastoral ministry because they’ve never seen it modelled.
What has been your journey into ministry? How did God call you?
I was brought up in a home that would identify as Christian but wasn’t faith-based. We started going to church randomly when I was five. And someone made sure I got to go to Bible camp, which was great. And I went every summer, in some capacity, from the time I was five until I got married at 27.
I came to know Jesus there. I was discipled, I had opportunities to lead. I was one of the only Christians in my tiny little town in southern Saskatchewan. My pastor at the time said, “Listen, if you’re interested in doing ministry, do it.”
I didn’t have any stigma, or I didn’t understand the potential barriers for women in ministry. My goal was to go to Bethany College — well, to go to a Bible college — but Briercrest was too close to home (because I could get called home to help with harvest). And so Bethany was a good size for a little country bumpkin like myself.
Shortly after I graduated from Bethany I got a phone call from a church saying that I had been short-listed for a youth pastor position. And would I like to come in? And I said, “Pardon me? I don’t know who you are!”
My pastor from the church I grew up in had mentioned my name to another church without telling me. Anyway, that’s how I got into church ministry. I worked there for a year. And then my home church had some conflict and needed time to recover from a mutually unhealthy pastoral-congregation relationship. And so I was there, solo pastoring for a year at 23. This was my first experience of burnout.
There were lots of subtle woundings that weren’t intentional, but that I absorbed. And yet, I’ve been really empowered. People put me into leadership roles. People have supported me and mentored me.”
After that, I worked for MB Mission for two years. Then I got hired at Bethany to do pastoral care as Associate Dean of Women. From there, I got married and [my husband and I] moved to Edmonton. I volunteered at our church, River West, for 20 hours a week (at least) for almost two years. Then I got hired in January 2013 as Associate Pastor. My primary responsibilities were youth and small groups and “other duties as assigned.”
The lead pastor at the time [Kerry Dyck] was so supportive. He gave me lots of leadership opportunities. My position is now Associate Pastor of Care.
What are you the most passionate about in your ministry?
Oh, it’s always the people. Like a million times over! It’s always God’s people. In my early 20s, I was at some sort of conference and they [asked us to] come up with a mandate for yourself. And so like a dutiful student, I did: To be a safe person who creates safe places where people can grow closer to Jesus.
It’s a holy privilege. I went into palliative [care] just two days ago with this wonderful human who I’ve known for years, and who is dying. I sat with him — he’s not really communicative. I held his hand and I spent two hours listening to his wife. And then I drove home and I went right into marriage prep. There’s something wonderful about it. It feels like honest air. And so I love that. I love the people.
How do people respond to you as a woman in leadership?
I think it’s changed over the past 19 years. I have had some strange experiences. When I first started, I couldn’t tell who was for me or against me. And if I was just a token [woman]. There have been some side comments along the way, and you have to navigate things like objectification.
There were instances where I would preach and people would leave the room. But to be honest, God protected me, as I often didn’t see the people who left because I get really into it when I preach. I respect the fact that this is a process for people. I was more sensitive to it when I was younger, especially at conference events, because the subject of women in church leadership would be debated. It was really hard for me to see that people were debating the issue and not actually calling me a heretic. There were lots of subtle woundings that weren’t intentional, but that I absorbed.
And yet, I’ve been really empowered. People put me into leadership roles. People have supported me and mentored me.
How do you think the MB conference could better support women leaders?
In our credentialing process, we allow space for someone to disagree with women in leadership. If you’re credentialing me and at the same time you’re also credentialing someone who actually disagrees with the fact that I’m here — that has always been a hard wrestling for me.
I understand it’s nuanced because there are churches that don’t support women in ministry.
It’s tricky to navigate because it’s an ongoing process. But we’ve been in this for decades now. It would be beneficial if there was a clearer perspective and a clearer expectation of those who are MB.
What would you say to someone who feels the Lord calling them into leadership and ministry? How would you encourage that person?
I would encourage the female the same as I would encourage the male: lean into it! Explore it! Does it align with your understanding of Scripture? Does it align with your community? Does it align with the Holy Spirit within you? And then start seeking out authentic mentorship.
Take the risk and jump in and do something. Don’t spend your whole time going through college and seminary without having taken a risk or spent some time with a kid or with a senior. I really like theology with dirt on it — to walk around in it, for it to be close enough to the average person that the dust rises up and taints it. If we keep it so shiny and so pristine, it doesn’t serve us. Theology is for learning about God and his work — and it is for everyone.
What are some of the ways that you recharge?
Saturday is my Sabbath. I don’t do church work or coursework on it, it’s family time. (I have always been bad at rest. I know this about myself.) It is so refreshing to experience Sabbath after a long period of choosing to not engage in rest. I also have health concerns that are forcing me to think about how stress impacts me.
“For he grants sleep to those he loves.” [Psalm 127:2] is a favourite verse of mine!
How can we pray for you?
You can pray for me as I navigate the tail end of my master’s degree in counselling, that I would finish well. You can also pray for River West. Our church has been growing. Growth is great, but now we have to learn how to be that church. Pray for us as a pastoral team, to navigate and authentically care for the growing needs of our church family.
1 comment
Yikes! Really? You prefer your theology with dust on it. What exactly do you mean by that.
I was looking for a church and stumbled on to this article. This is the kind of arrogance that has destroyed so many Evangelical churches in America.
There’s a Catholic church in my area. I honestly think I’d be safer there.