Exploring the Divine Feminine
Grapevine Convention Center
April 22, 2023
Meet the Presenters
Jyoti Kapoor Subramanian
Class Title: “Goddess Shakti and Her Multiple Forms”
Class Description: Shakti is The Goddess and manifests in many forms, such as Lakshmi- the Goddess of wealth, Saraswati- the Goddess of knowledge, Kali- the Goddess who can appear at the right time to put an end to evil; Parvati, there is Durga, and the source of energy- Radha who is not just a form but the energizer to God himself, thus making them the doer! Jyoti, a Hindu mythology storyteller, will facilitate discussion and questions as she believes that we learn by being curious and honors all kinds of questions.
Presenter Bio: Jyoti has been sharing Hindu mythology stories for more than 15 years in the Dallas Metroplex, debuting originally at the Irving Public Library's programming in 2006. She was raised in a broad-minded family in the cosmopolitan city of Bombay. Her family did not follow a routine of worshipping in temples. However, Jyoti says she had the best of teachings from her family. Her mother, who was highly spiritual with personal experiences of miracles, taught her about faith in God, being open-minded to all religions, and accepting people of all colors and backgrounds, no matter their beliefs. Her father, who had traveled to faraway lands, taught her how to live a healthy life in society while maintaining boundaries. Jyoti is grateful for the Dallas storytelling guild, the medium between her and the public library in Irving, where she had her first experience as a Hindu mythology storyteller. Her most treasured storytelling experiences are the ones where she shared the stage with her daughter, Meena telling tales in tandem.
Reverend Winner A. Laws
Class: "If it Wasn't for Their Mama…A Womanist Perspective" (morning session only)
Class Description: This class will discuss the definition of womanism, womanist theology, and how womanist theology applies to daily living which impacts family, community, society, and religion, as well as how womanism centers Black Women’s experiences as Mothers.
Presenter Bio: Reverend Winner A. Laws is spiritually called to let ALL people (Black, LGBTQIA, American Indian, Hispanic) to know that God loves them unconditionally as a Womanist preacher. She serves as the Congregational Care and Spiritual Support Minister at The Gathering – A Womanist Church – Disciples of Christ in Dallas, TX. She also serves as Associate Pastor at Promise United Church of Christ in Dallas, TX. Initially she started her career at an Information Technology company where she held a Senior Project Manager position for more than 38 years. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctoral of Ministry degree at Memphis Theological Seminary in Womanist Preaching.
Originally from Houston, TX she currently resides in Plano, TX. Her passions include faith development, leadership, family, and golf.
Serge Frolov
Class Title: “Shekhinah: Feminine Divine in the Kabbalah”
Class Description: It is considered common knowledge that the monotheistic deity is strictly male – which, of course, is highly problematic from today’s feminist standpoint. Yet, in one major branch of Judaism – the oldest monotheistic religion that became the launching pad for Christianity and Islam – God is in fact both female and male. Jewish mystical tradition, the Kabbalah, teaches that the immanent, manifest aspect of the divine is a system of ten interconnected sefirot – entities, or emanations – half of which are female. Dr. Frolov’s presentation will explore the nature of these entities and the complex gender-based relationships between them, focusing especially on by far the most important and enigmatic female sefirah – Shekhinah, the divine presence.
Presenter Bio: A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Serge Frolov has lived in Jerusalem, Israel; Los Angeles, California; and Dallas, Texas. He holds PhDs in Modern History and Religious Studies; he worked at the National Library of Russia, the Shorter Jewish Encyclopedia in Russian, and the Open University of Israel. Currently, he is a Professor of Religious Studies and Nate and Ann Levine Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at Southern Methodist University. Dr. Frolov is primarily a Hebrew Bible scholar, although his research interests also include the religion and culture of the ancient Near East and Jewish history and thought. He has published two books and about 250 articles.
Dr. Myles Sandoval
Class Title: “Buddhism and the Divine Feminine” includes guided meditation
Class Description: While Buddhism has long been viewed as a gender-neutral religion, where people of all genders possess equal capacity for enlightenment, this talk dives into the life and legacy of Avalokiteshvara. Interpreted through different embodiments and genders in different cultures, Avalokiteshvara can consistently be described as The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. Learn how Avalokiteshvara's legacy invites us to integrate the divine qualities of compassion and mercy into our daily lives without giving away our own power in the process. This class includes a guided meditation.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Myles Sandoval has been involved with the Dallas Meditation Center for nine years. She started as a member of the sangha, which practices in Thich Nhat Hanh's style of Vietnamese Buddhism. After a few years of practice, she began facilitating guided meditations as well as dharma talks focused on integrating Buddhist principles into daily life. In her own life, Myles focuses on supporting women through the process of long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction through practical, positive coaching. Read more about her experience and services here.
McArthur Krishna & Martin Pulido (photo coming soon)
Class Title: “Heavenly Mother: a Cherished Doctrine of the LDS Church”
Class Description: The doctrine of a Mother in Heaven is a “cherished” belief among Latter-day Saints. In learning this truth, we discover a prototype for women’s lives, a model for men and women to work together, and our divine destiny as children of loving Heavenly Parents. Come celebrate!
Presenter Bios: McArthur Krishna graduated from BYU with both an undergraduate and a master's degree. She co-owned an award-winning ideas marketing firm for a decade until she retired, married, and moved to India. Over eight years, she has written 17 books; six co-authored with Bethany Brad Spalding at Deseret Book, including A Girl’s Guide to Heavenly Mother and A Boy’s Guide to Heavenly Mother. Along the way, she has coordinated some of the first art featuring women to be hung in the LDS Conference Center (Kathleen Peterson’s art from the Girls Who Choose God series), commissioned and curated the first art show focused on Heavenly Mother with artists from around the world. Her art was selected for the Church’s International Art competition. The art (by Caitlin Connelly) from their book “Our Heavenly Family, our Earthly Families” was the first art portraying Heavenly Mother published at Deseret Book. After its release, the LDS church purchased a 12’x8’ piece for their permanent collection— and it currently hangs at the Church History Museum on Temple Square. McArthur believes that unflinching hope, a lot of hours working with friends, and wifi can change the world… bottomless guacamole helps too. She’s (always) got more in the works to live up to her favorite titles of Holy Harasser and Hogwash Eradicator. Find McArthur’s books and more information here.
(Martin’s bio coming soon!)
Jared Rubalcaba
Class Title: “Mother, Queen and Priestess in Ancient Egypt”
Class Description: In Ancient Egypt there is no cosmos, no creation, no eternal life, nor even an afterlife without the goddess. She was a central figure all the people could approach and worship. She had her priests and priestesses; and though She was adored by kings and commoners, it was the queens, priestesses, and to some degree, every Egyptian woman who patterned themselves after Her.
We'll examine some of the art and Iconography pertaining to the Mother, Her symbols and figures, as well as looking at actual hieroglyphic texts and hymns concerning Her - including the first words ever attributed to Her in the oldest religious text in the world.
Learn about the roles, titles and functions of this figure called, 'The Mother of the Gods', 'The Shining One', 'Beautiful One', 'Giver of Life', 'Mistress of Heaven', 'Lady of the Stars', 'She Who Has No Equal', and 'Queen of All the Gods'; and discover how she not only shined in Her own right but paired seamlessly with Her companion to rule the heavens and the earth.
Presenter Bio: Jared started his spiritual tutelage at a young age and has continued throughout his adult life—finding Truth, Light, and Wisdom while exploring various religions and scriptural texts from many sects of Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Near Eastern Religions, Gnosticism, and Hermeticism. His years of religious studies have been the prelude to encountering the esoteric truths hidden in Egypt's symbols, rituals, hieroglyphs, and architecture. For the past several years, his focus has been on the oldest religious text in the world—the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts—and he has recently completed his own translation of the Pyramid of Unas. Learn more about Jared’s online Esoteric Egypt class HERE.
Alexandria Vontril McLemore & Vontril McLemore
Class: “You Don’t Own Me, I am a Woman(ist): Laywomen’s views from the Pews of The Gathering a Womanist Church, an Egalitarian Faith Community” (afternoon session only)
Class Description: Are you ready to disrupt patriarchy, misogyny & sexism? If your answer is “yes,” then come join Alexandria and Vontril (a dynamic mother-daughter duo) as they discuss how Womanism has transformed their lives and worship experiences. Since 2019, they’ve been ministry partners at The Gathering a Womanist Church (lead by co-pastors Rev. Dr. Kamilah Hall-Sharp, Rev. Dr. Irie Session & Congressional Care Minister Rev. Winner Laws). With creativity and thoughtful discussion, Vontril and Alexandria will demonstrate the ways in which The Gathering’s trauma-informed ministry centers Black women’s lived experiences (while being welcoming to non-Black & non-women allies), and how Womanist philosophy intersects with their Christian faith.
Presenter Bios: Alexandria & Vontril McLemore has been a ministry partner at The Gathering a Womanist Church with her mother since 2019. They’re also members of New Wineskins (a partner of The Gathering) faith community. They’re both part of The Gathering’s choir and help provide food for the Loaves & Fish ministry. They are both eternally grateful to have found a spiritual community which prioritizes intersectional justice and Womanist philosophy. In their spare time, they like to read, write, sing, watch movies and binge Netflix.
Rev. Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton
Class Title: “Divine Feminine Songs and Stories”
Class Description: Participants in this class will explore ways we can contribute to liberation, justice, and peace through Divine Feminine songs and stories. Through hearing excerpts from stories, participants will confirm the importance of the Divine Feminine to social justice and discover practical ways to include Her in rituals. Singing Jann’s Divine Feminine songs will help participants experience healing and liberating power. Words we sing have power to shape our beliefs and actions because the music embeds the words in our memories. Moving beyond theory to ritual experience, we convert our imaginations and our actions to support a new egalitarian culture. Songs and stories of the Divine Feminine contribute to a paradigm of justice and empowerment.
Presenter Bio: Jann Aldredge-Clanton is an ordained minister, author, teacher, and chaplain. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Richland College, Dallas, Texas, co-chair of Equity for Women in the Church, co-pastor of New Wineskins Community, and ministry partner of The Gathering, A Womanist Church. She received a B.A. degree from Louisiana Polytechnic University, an M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas Christian University, and an M.Div. from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Jann is the author of numerous books and songbooks, including Inclusive Songs from the Heart of Gospel; co-author with Irie Lynne Session and Kamilah Hall Sharp of The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies); co-creator with Katie Ketchum of Hersay: Songs for Healing and Empowerment; Inclusive Songs for Resistance & Social Action; co-author with Kendra Weddle of Building Bridges: Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Friends; co- editor with Grace Ji-Sun Kim of Intercultural Ministry: Hope for a Changing World; She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World; Earth Transformed with Music! Inclusive Songs for Worship; Changing Church: Stories of Liberating Ministers; Inclusive Hymns for Liberation, Peace, and Justice; Seeking Wisdom: Inclusive Blessings and Prayers for Public Occasions; Breaking Free: The Story of a Feminist Baptist Minister; In Search of the Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians; co-creator with Larry E. Schultz of Imagine God! A Children’s Musical Exploring and Expressing Images of God; Praying with Christ- Sophia: Services for Healing and Renewal. View her work and learn more on her website here.