Comic Con (part 2) 
My new definition of Comic Con: a place where people who love comics, sci-fi, and fantasy stories can be themselves and celebrate their common interest - in all their awesome nerdiness! 

    I cannot say enough good things about the day I spent with my daughter at Comic Con Chicago. It was a strange site seeing people dressed up as characters, more elaborate than any Halloween costume I have ever seen. But it very quickly became normal. About half way through the event I didn't even blink an eye when I saw a Klingon waiting in the concessions line to buy a coke. 

    There were lots of booths buying and selling comics, merchandise for Dr. Who and Harry Potter and even places to sign up for girls only gaming sites. We did not stand in line for autographs or photos with celebrities but we did get quite a few autographs of comic book artists and writers.

My favorite parts:
- Listening to a panel discussion about the evolving role of women in this male dominated industry. This panel of women talked about how women can and should have more of a leadership voice. They also addressed how women are portrayed in both story lines and visually in comics. They all agreed that portraying women one-dimensionally as only sexual beings is not moving the conversation forward.
- Wandering through the Artists' Alley. This is the place where you can meet the people who create the art in comics. What a wonderfully diverse group of people - a mix of age, gender, and race. If your child is interested in this profession, this would be a great place to take them to get a glimpse into all the possibilities of this industry. Katie and I did our fair share of supporting the artists!!
- Hanging out with my daughter in a place where she knew way more than I did. She knew the names of authors and illustrators; characters in comics, games, and books; and issues within the industry. It was fun for me to learn so much from her.

    Finally, my most consistent observation from the whole experience was how kind and polite the very large group of people were as a whole. I had no negative or frustrating experience the entire day. People were just happy to be there and be somewhere they could be themselves. They could get their "geek on" and feel totally at home with people just like them. 
    We all need places where we can feel accepted for who were are and share our interests with others like us.
That is what Comic Con is about - celebrating stories and our love for them. Even if that love includes dressing up and looking a little strange.....

~ Pam

Comic Con is originally abbreviated from Comic Book Convention. These are elaborate fan experiences for people interested in the science fiction genre in all of its many forms including: traditional novels, comic books, graphic novels, gaming, TV, movies, and various web incarnations.

    As an outsider, I know the definition of this word. My daughter has talked about these events for years. Even before her interest I remembering hearing about Trekkie Conventions when people would dress up as characters from Star Trek and gather together to talk about the finer points of storylines and the impact of little-known characters on the entire series. I would chuckle and roll my eyes at those people. How crazy is that?! To dress up and spend so much time and energy on campy TV and movies?

    Well, now my daughter is into comics, graphic novels and science fiction media and I have a new appreciation for these enthusiasts. We will be attending Comic Con in Chicago this weekend. I am excited to go! 
    And I think I am as prepared for the experience as I can get:
- I attended the Twilight movie midnight premier with Katie. The teens and pre-teens did not dress up but the energy and anticipation was beyond anything I had experienced before.
- I went to the final Harry Potter movie (midnight premiere again): Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
with Katie and her friends. This time almost every person in the theater was dressed in costume...including me. Yup. I went as Professor Trelawney - the Emma Thompson character.
- Katie has peaked my interest in new collections of the traditional superhero comics. The New Earth series for both Superman and Batman include fresh tellings of a familiar story and the pencils, inks and coloring are beautiful!

    We decided not to totally dress up but we do want to fit in. (Ha!) So we will be wearing superhero t-shirts. Mine pictured above is perfect for me: old school Batman from the very campy Adam West TV series
from the late 1960's. My brother and I watched it everyday in reruns growing up. I loved it!

    So this Friday I will really learn through experience what Comic Con means. Next Wednesday you will read part 2 of this experience and my new definition of the word!

Live long and prosper!
~ Pam

    Last week I was part of a conversation that began like this:
        A Benedictine sister (Sister Paula) asked a young female theology student (Bailey) who are her models for leadership. Bailey quickly named a few people and the sister clarified her question: What women have been your leadership models? 
        This young Catholic theologian was stumped. She did not have those names on the tip of her tongue as she did with leaders who are men. Sister Paula agreed that the men Bailey named are good models of leadership but Sister Paula is very much aware that in their Catholic faith, woman leadership is not as obvious or prevalent.

    It got me thinking. What women would I name as models of  healthy, strong leadership for me? There are many professional
women in my life (in both church and secular leadership) who have leadership qualities that I admire. If that is true, then why is it also easier for me to name men leaders than women?
What qualities do I seek out as an example?
    ~ A heart for ministry and serving the people of God
    ~ Humility
    ~ An active deep listener
    ~ Confidence and courage in their own voice
    ~ Encouraging others to grow in their gifts and faith
    ~ Being comfortable with people in the wide range of our human experience
    ~ A healthy respect for the institution of church; seeing both her limitations and possibilities 

    These are the things I seek in both men and women leaders. So why do I have a hard time naming women
colleagues with all these qualities? It certainly is not because they do not exist! That is for sure. I think it is that we have had the practice for so long of highlighting leadership in men, that women (and our culture) have grown comfortable with that. Many women would say, "I don't need the attention. I just want to do the work." Yes. I agree that is important except for when we ask our young women (and our young men) to name us - they can't.
    We, as women, need to do a better job of striking a balance of doing the work that we are called to do but also having more of a leadership presence and helping others find their voice.

    As it turned out I was able to do this over the past weekend.  Just as I was finishing some continuing education in Minnesota, one of our new young woman pastors was being ordained in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I decided to make the 4 hour drive to attend her ordination. I don't know Sarah very well yet but she is called to a church in my same conference in suburban Chicago. I see potential for us to be colleagues in ministry. My decision to drive to Sioux Falls was about the future. I wanted to send a clear message to her that she is
already surrounded by colleagues who support her as she begins living out her call. It wasn't until that conversation with Sister Paula and Bailey that I could truly articulate why I needed to be there. It is in these small moments that women leadership is nurtured. I think I have some good qualities and experience that I can share with Sarah as she begins. But I am also sure that she will find ways to teach and challenge me in my ministry.

    This is what I learned from Sister Paula: Strong leadership is not about hierarchy, who has the power, or  even gender. It is about the mutual ways we lift each other up and challenge each other so that we all strive to do God's work for the sake of the world.
    I included pictures of me with both Sarah and Sister Paula. Thanks be to God for both women!

~ Pam