The Wisdom of Women

The Wisdom of Women.

Great title, awesome project!  This Wisdom of Women project started in 2009 when I was hired by the Office of Disciple Women (Women’s Home Missions, Indianapolis, Indiana) to create a video about the life of Reverend Nancy T. Heimer.  A very skillful team of women was assembled for the project, and I played the role of videographer and video editor..  The result of our work became a DVD titled, The Wisdom of Women Volume 1:  The Reverend Nancy T. Heimer, which we finished in 2010.  

Nancy’s story is inspirational and powerful.  I hang on her every word.  She is a beautiful feminist matriarch, with a fabulous Massachusettes accent and a fantastic, quick sense of humor.  I came out of the project feeling totally respectful of her era of feminism, and grateful for all of the work that women have done to pave the way for the lifestyle I enjoy!

In this short video clip, Nancy talks about the use of the term “men” to describe both women and men, and how confusing it becomes for women when the generic masculine form is supposed to include women too.

It's All About Language, Isn't It? from May Videography on Vimeo.


As a mother of three very young children in the 1960s, Nancy began to lose her ability to see.  She became legally blind and over the years lost her sight entirely.  But Nancy raised her children, went to seminary and became an ordained minister.  She had a meaningful career in the Disciples of Christ, Office of Women’s Ministries and travelled the world in order to learn about the lives and missions of women of faith, and to bring the lessons home to integrate.  

The video we created was a huge success and was shown during the Quadrennial Women’s Assembly in North Carolina in 2010.  Nancy was there to experience the event and sign autographed copies of the DVD!  The video and accompanying study guide is now used widely as a discussion tool within Christian women’s groups.  

Nancy lives in Bloomington with her husband, Roger, who is also a retired minister.  One of the things I find most fascinating about my work is learning about how people become who they are.  In this video clip, Nancy describes growing up in the church:


BelongingBeginning from May Videography on Vimeo.