Quiet ShoutsStories of Lancaster Mennonite Women Leaders by Louise Stoltzfus |
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"Quiet Shouts is must reading" and "will open eyes to God breaking through in the lives of ordinary people, [and calling] women into mission and . . . leadership roles."
--Paul M. Zehr, in the Foreword
Women leaders? Women pastors? Women preachers? In many denominations, these word-pairings do not go together. Historically, this has been true for Mennonites and in particular for the Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite Conference.
Quiet Shouts, however, lyrically tells the moving and sometimes haunting stories of 20th-century Lancaster Mennonites who amid constraints nevertheless found ways to share leadership gifts. From Amanda Musselman to Sylvia Shirk Charles, each of these women gave significant portions of energy and time to the Lancaster Mennonite community and its missions.
The narratives and rhythms of Quiet Shouts also reflect the experiences of women in many other moderate Mennonite communities as well as Christian denominations. Each woman’s story is original and unusual. Each also evokes and points toward the countless other stories of women who have learned in such circumstances quietly yet powerfully to shout.
"Give this book to some young woman with stars in her eyes." --Shirley Hershey Showalter, President, Goshen College
About the Author
Louise Stoltzfus lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. Her family origin was Old Order Amish, and she spends much of her professional life writing about subjects related to Amish and Mennonite life.