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Women’s Programs through Spiritual Development

Since the 1996-97 accreditation cycle, the Office of Spiritual Development has hired Sylvia Cortez, a Hispanic professional, as Director of Discipleship Ministries. Her responsibilities include the selection and training of small groups of students across the University for the purpose of leading Bible studies, the organization and sponsoring of men’s and women’s retreats, and the coordination of women-in-ministry events.

Spiritual Development also co-sponsors the Women’s Forum in partnership with the Women’s Studies Center.

Small Group Bible Studies for Women
Approximately 30 female leaders are selected each year who serve as leaders in the residence halls through the ministry of small groups.  These women facilitate Bible studies and work as leaders to all women in the female residential dorms. 

Spring Women’s Forum
The Women’s Forum is a series of events designed to offer graduating female seniors some helpful, creative and wise advice as they make the transition from college into the next stage of the journey.  The goals include:

  • To encourage immediate and life-long learning and growth through teaching, self-reflection, dialogue and action…
    • To help students begin to think about how each topic discussed may affect, determine or guide their future
    • Growth in basic understanding of the topics - to present data/statistics on various topics as they relate to women (i.e. how finances affects women…married, single, divorced, widowed, etc.)
    • Encouragement to reflect on how they might plan for their future given a variety of scenarios (i.e. being single, being married, married with no children, married with children, single, widowed or divorced with children, etc.)
  • To offer various narratives from a variety of special female speakers consisting of faculty, staff and alumni from the PLNU community.
  • To encourage students to discern ways that they can craft their life goals and dreams in an effort to live meaningful Christian lives that impact vocational, familial and relational aspects of their life in meaningful and holistic ways.
  • To prepare female students for career, family and life in a spirit of support and encouragement

The forum includes weekly speakers, small group opportunities, discussion and reflection, facilitated by various faculty members across campus.  Topics have included:

  • What Does A Woman Look Like?
  • The Single life, The Dating Life, and Friendships that Nourish
  • Relationships:  Marriage & Motherhood
  • Finances:  A Husband Is Not A Financial Plan
  • Ambition & Vocation
  • Healthy Living
  • Maintaining A Spiritual Life & Christian Vocation
  • Closing Dinner

Women’s Retreat: We have traditionally held the Women’s retreat from 1996-2003.  These retreats are open to all female staff, faculty & students, held at a nearby retreat center.

Women in Ministry Week: Each year the Office of Spiritual Development sponsors a week-long celebration of women in ministry.  Events include but are not limited to:

  • Forums on the Biblical foundations of women in ministry
  • Special speakers, particularly in chapel
  • A “Celebrating Women in Ministry Luncheon”
  • Collaborating with other events such as, The Wesleyan Women’s Clergy Conference (spring, 2006)
  • Staff & Faculty mentoring opportunities for students

The Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy Conference
Point Loma Nazarene University helps to sponsor female students who wish to attend this bi-annual event.  This conference is “an experience designed to strengthen and encourage women – those called to any form of ministry as well as those preparing for Christian ministry – and to help equip and prepare them with skills to be excellent in their service.”  (http://www.messiah.edu/siderinstitute/wesleyanism.html)

The Film Forum
Spiritual Development offers a Film Forum which discusses social issues as addressed in contemporary film.  This program partners with faculty and staff and always includes social issues, including gender issues.

On Women or Co-Sponsored by the Women's Center:

  • Iron-Jawed Angels
  • North Country
  • Babette's Feast