Young Feminist Network (YFN), a ministry of Women’s Ordination Conference, is a national, diverse and inclusive community of womanist, mujerista and feminist Catholics in our 20’s and 30’s. We are a Roman Catholic group who recognizes the issues we address affect people regardless of religious affiliation.

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What's New?

Meet YFN's New Leadership Team!

Faith Sharing CommUnion Resources

Join YFN's new Online Community!

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Our Mission

Our mission: to equip and moblize young Catholic women to integrate faith with feminism and to eliminate oppression within ourselves, society and the Roman Catholic Church.

Our Vision

As an education and advocacy ministry, our vision is to:

• Eliminate oppression: We work to eliminate oppression and discrimination in ourselves, our peers, our families, our communities and our church
• Create an inclusive Roman Catholic Church: We re-imagine and work toward changing and creating church structures that are fully inclusive, affirming and participatory
• Promote community faith life: We empower young women to participate in community faith life through parishes or faith sharing groups
• Provide leadership opportunities: We provide young Catholic feminists with training and opportunities to develop skills in leadership and prophetic witness
• Encourage healthy and diverse expressions of sexuality: We encourage young women to use their moral authority to make decisions about their sexuality, gender identity, and all other aspects of their body.

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Read an article on YFN's Ten-Year Herstory!

Read an article and view pictures of YFN's Leadership and Organizing Retreat

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Young Feminist Network Background Article

Polls repeatedly demonstrate that the current status of women in the Catholic church deters young women’s active participation in contemporary church life. Vatican policies which discriminate against women are a major hindrance to young women’s involvement. They often encounter both sexism and ageism and therefore have difficulty discerning how to respond to God’s call.

Leadership
Young Feminist Network creates leadership opportunities for young women. YFN participants are the key leaders organizing feminist programs in their area. Work at the national level is coordinated by a staff person and a dedicated Leadership Team. Regional coordinators and local activists link people by hosting various events.

The DC Metro Area Chapter of Young Feminist Network stands proudly with their labor of love -- giant protest puppets used in the prayerful protest outside the bishops meeting on November 14, 2005.

Participation

Realizing that an understanding of young people is important for everyone, there is no age limit to participation, though the majority of participants are in their 20's and 30's. Though YFN focuses on the experiences of Catholic women, any young woman or man seeking right relationships and justice is welcome to participate. By belonging to YFN, participants create communities and support one another through their journey of faith. As a project of Women’s Ordination Conference, membership in YFN includes membership in WOC with all its benefits.

Herstory

Young Feminist Network was founded by a group of young feminists in 1995 at the Gathering, the 20th anniversary celebration of the Women’s Ordination Conference. YFN continues to be led by young women deeply concerned about the spiritual and religious welfare of women. YFN works to ensure that young feminist women and men are playing a vital role in reshaping a Catholic church based on mutuality and justice.

Click here for more information about YFN's Her-story

Programs and Resources

YFN supports ways for young women to educate themselves in feminist theology by providing reading lists, articles, training, and one-on-one technical assistance. Educational programs also encourage community and personal consciousness-raising. Faith sharing communities, summer spirituality weekends, leadership training workshops, and mutual mentoring programs are ongoing features of Young Feminist Network.

Deva Kyle and Anice Schervish enjoy the DC Metro Area Young Feminist Network Holiday Party on December 11, 2005.

A leadership training booklet is now available. Gifted In The Spirit: Transforming Ourselves, Our Church, Our World is designed for a three-day workshop but can be altered to fit individual needs. The booklet contains step-by-step planning details: verbal introduction to exercises, structure and content of programs with corresponding worksheets - over 40 pages of material. Topics include the history of the women's movement in the church, identifying and building community, discerning your call, worship workshops and practical leadership skills such as organizing meetings, fund raising, public speaking and program planning.

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Join YFN's Online Community!

1.Send an email message to:
YFNofWOC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

2. You will receive email confirmation of the request, and it will ask you to register to Yahoo.

3. After you have successfully subscribed to the online community, you will receive an email confirmation and emails from the YFN online community.