Joanne Dietzel is Lancaster Mennonite Conference coordinator, lay minister of worship at Ridgeview Mennonite Church, worship leader, and a part-time nontraditional student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Lancaster, Pa.

She has served on Constituency Leaders Council; as lay minister of administration at Ridgeview Mennonite Church; as administrative assistant and dorm adviser at Lancaster Mennonite High School; as administrative assistant at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., and as worship leader at CLC and at the Mennonite Church USA delegate sessions in 2003.

Do or did you have a woman leader as a mentor?

I feel blessed to have encountered many mentors in each new phase of life—women offering advice, seeing and naming my gifts and strengths, being open and honest, sharing their stories and struggles, and serving as models. These women include one who shared with me in a “Paul-Timothy” program as a young adult; Charlotte Holsopple Glick, who modeled a love for ministry; Miriam Martin, who helped me learn the structure and work of Mennonite Church USA; Lee Snyder, who encouraged me to take classes; Lee Schmucker, who helps me understand my leadership strengths and weaknesses, and two women in my congregation who continue to listen and ask insightful questions. Often I worked mostly with men. I would be remiss not to mention their impact on my life in areas of trust, confidence, opportunities, suggestions, critique, responsibility and empowerment.

Are you mentoring young women who may be potential church leaders?

I hope I have been and will continue to be a mentor in my daughter’s life. It has been a joy to see her gifts develop and used freely in ministry in her job and congregation. I appreciate when we can seek each other’s advice and counsel, rejoice and lament in our experiences.

If so, how is her (their) experience the same or different from yours?

My daughter grew up seeing women involved in all aspects of the church and culture and encounters few difficulties in her church and ministry experience as a woman. I am grateful the atmosphere is different (and continues to change) regarding women in leadership—she is not experiencing a “closed” system. The church and society are more ready to receive and support women as leaders, and many more women and men are working toward this change.

What impediments have you faced in becoming a leader?

I have not always valued my own gifts and strengths. At times it has felt lonely. I struggle knowing when to speak and when to be quiet, especially in the support and inclusion of women. I’ve been misunderstood by both women (not being strong/vocal enough) and men (coming across too strong or damaging the status quo of male leadership) and not been understood why I continue to work in this particular church organization. I rejoice in the gains of women in ministry but remain realistic about the challenges that remain. I’ve been misunderstood as one who is only seeking rights for women rather than advocating for the development and use of the gifts given to women by the Holy Spirit.

When you face challenges as a leader, what encourages you?

Leadership is enhanced by the presence and gifts of women—we often bring a new perspective and understanding, creativity and a different style. Shared ministry—it’s not about women in ministry or men in ministry. There is too much at stake not to utilize every person God has equipped. Christ calls each of us to ministry, the gifts and graces of all (affirmed, utilized and developed in mutual sharing as we join in God’s activity in the world).