A place where all things are spoken : making the Vernon BC Stake Relief Society a place for her voice

Abstract

This qualitative, action-oriented research project aimed to examine women's leadership capacity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The research question guiding this inquiry was: How might women in the Vernon BC Stake Relief Society enthusiastically take up their roles as leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ? Using a systemic action research (SAR) methodology—paired with the principles of appreciative inquiry—members of the Vernon BC Stake Relief Society engaged in a series of online, anonymous, and asynchronous discussions. Data collected from three distinct/disjoined collaborative circles and a World Café-like event indicated that learning about and understanding the history of women in the Church, cultivating collaborative principle-based reasoning, and collectively crafting an inclusive and judgement-free environment—where women have each other’s backs—can positively enhance women’s leadership sentiment and scope within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Royal Roads University’s research and ethics policy guided the design and implementation of this study from start to finish.