On International Women’s Day 2021 we are invited to ‘choose to challenge’. We celebrate Susanna Wesley, the namesake of the Susanna Wesley Foundation and pioneer of what would become Methodism. Find out more below:
Born in 1669 into a Puritan family, Susanna influenced what would become Methodism through her sons John and Charles.
Susanna challenged the boundaries of traditional roles, multi-tasking as a theologian, preacher, mother and manager of a household.
Susanna challenged authorities, speaking, writing and acting where she perceived injustice and wrong thinking.
Susanna challenged gender injustice in education, making sure all her children could read and write.
Susanna challenged self-pity and wasting time. Despite a difficult life, she fiercely believed in hard work, personal discipline, and serving others.
These values are nurtured at Southlands College, where students are encouraged to be informed, bold change-makers in the community and to choose to challenge injustice.
The Susanna Wesley Foundation is a Methodist centre for dialogue and scholarship on faith, management and ministry based at Southlands College. Like its namesake, it blends the active and contemplative life, examining how faith and practice inform each other.
Who inspires you to choose to challenge?