It began as a support system for Black clergywomen, a way to support one another in a male-dominated field. Over the years, however, the group Women Who Soar has evolved from a meeting in 2009 into an organization for women of faith that has made its mark around the world. 

But its founder, Rev. Dr. Karen Bethea, says Women Who Soar has meaning beyond just being a source for online tutorials and a clearinghouse for women of faith. 

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“Our vision is to empower women to make healthy life choices, become financially independent, become physically fit, and be examples of how to overcome various life obstacles,” says Bethea, who co-leads the faith-based Set the Captives Free Outreach Center in the metro Baltimore area. 

After stops over the years to minister in places as far-flung as Paris to Nashville, Women Who Soar is taking on SIn City itself — Las Vegas — for its upcoming gathering in March.

Bethea says Women Who Soar came together about 15 years ago to help Black women support one another in a field that has seen few women rise to leadership. While there isn’t much data on the plight of Black women in ministry, the support and encouragement they receive is generally akin to that of Black women in other professional situations: non-existent.

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Surveys have found that while Black women make up between 70% and 85% of most Black Protestant congregations, Black men, more than 83% of religious leaders for Black Protestants are men. That demographic — and the culture around it — hasn’t changed, even though church attendance among Black men has been on the decline for decades. 

“When asked if women can be religious leaders, 56.4% of respondents said yes while 40.9% voted no,” according to the study. But even though more women are gradually entering the ministry as bishops, pastors, deacons, and elders, “many men and women still resist and fear that development,” according to the paper. 

Against that backdrop, “we came together in the early part of 2009, with women who were led by the Holy Ghost to be a part of this conference,” Bethea says. The goal, she says, would be to “travel from place to place bringing strength, encouragement and empowerment.”

But Bethea says that any woman who wanted access to the Women Who Soar network wouldn’t face cost as a barrier. 

“We wanted to make sure the conferences were edifying and affordable,” she says. 

Attendees’ reactions are recorded on the WWS website. 

“As a single mom, the struggle gets real a lot…lol,” one attendee named Cheryl wrote. “There have been times when I wanted to give up but attending WWS and hearing all the women of God preach, I always leave motivated, strengthened, encouraged and ready to soar!”

Others, like Angie T., wrote that they were equally as inspired. 

“Women Who Soar conferences and preachers have been life-changing for me,” she wrote  “Helping me to be fearless, more faithful and to embrace the turning point to my transformation and transition.”

What began as a local endeavor in Maryland soon spread out as invitations came to hold the conference in other cities and countries. To date, they’ve been to Greensboro, North Carolina; Albany, New York; Toronto, Canada; Hamilton, Bermuda; Milton Keynes, England, in the U.K., and Berlin, Germany; not to mention Israel, Rome, France, and Spain This year they will meet in Las Vegas, Berlin, and in Baltimore.

Bethea is known for her love for travel, so she is enthused by the expansion of the conference. 

“My dad took us on trips a lot when we were young. And when I met my husband, he expressed a desire to travel, and we have pursued this goal. We have now been to all seven continents and in all 50 states. It’s truly been wonderful,” she says.