Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, front, of Congregation B'nai Abraham, and the Rev. Tara Lynn, pastor at Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church, formed a group serving women clergy just over a year ago. The group has expanded but still doesn't have a name.

It's been a little over a year since the formation of a woman's clergy group in Butler County. And while the group has expanded, the members still don't have a name for it.

“We continue to grow. We keep finding new members,” said Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer of Congregation B'nai Abraham, 519 N. Main St., who co-founded the organization with the Rev. Tara Lynn, pastor of Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St.

Gray-Schaffer said the group is open to any female clergy in Butler County, as well as recently retired female members of the cloth.

“Tara has kept it going. She has been the guiding force,” Gray-Schaffer said.

“We have 15 people on the list, active and retired women clergy,” said Lynn. “We have a meeting every six weeks for networking and mutual support.” The group meets at various restaurants.

It also meets once a month for members to hone their leadership skills.

“We are working with a trained facilitator around the issues of leadership and professional support,” Lynn said, “it's designed to help us be the best clergy leaders we can be in our churches and with our congregations.”

“The group started in July 2015 when “Michal and I had lunch and I asked if there was any interfaith clergy groups,” said Lynn.

Gray-Schaffer said, “We are active. There does seem to be a need that is answered by this.

“People are glad to come. It's the fellowship of someone who understands what we do,” Gray-Schaffer said.

“We're often so busy, we don't have time to put a lot of energy into personal friendships,” Gray-Schaffer said. “This kind of fills some of that hole in our lives. Just being with people doing the same thing we do, even though we are interfaith.”

The Rev. Kimberly van Driel, pastor of First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St., said, “I went to my first meeting a couple of weeks ago. I've not been involved in it, but it is something I would do again.”

Gray-Schaffer said that despite the religious differences, the group's members face many of the same problems such as dwindling church attendance.

Gray-Schaffer said the group can provide mutual support, education and networking.

Those interested in joining can call Lynn at Grace@Calvary at 724-283-0830.