GA06087

Towner addresses some of her 4,750 daughters at National Association of Presbyterian Clergy Women luncheon

by Janet Hilley

BIRMINGHAM, June 19 — Women's voices filled the air as the National Association of Presbyterian Clergy Women (NAPC) luncheon Monday began by singing "Here I Am, Lord" with a reformed refrain.

In harmony, and with a sprinkling of men's voices adding depth, the new refrain was "Here we are Lord. It is us, Lord. We women heard you call our name. We will go, Lord, where you lead us. And your church and world are not the same."

Addressing the gathering was the Rev. Margaret Towner, known to this gathering as their "mother and grandmother in faith." Ordained in 1956, she became the first woman minister in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Shortly after her ordination, she recalled, she was told that all subsequent clergywomen would be her spiritual daughters. She reported that those daughters now number 4,750.

Remembering difficult times early in her ministry, she spoke of being a member of Lehigh Valley Presbytery. The ministers there had a colloquium before presbytery meetings when they would study a paper together. It was made clear to her that she was to stay in the kitchen with the wives. Being tenacious, it was not long before Towner was where she said she belonged, studying with the ministers.

Other challenges through the years included male colleagues going for coffee, passing her door and not inviting her; a church treasurer forgetting her presence on staff and not paying her; and lay women fiercely reprimanding her for being in ministry. Through these challenges, Towner came to understand that she was "paving a way for women and men to work equally as colleagues in ministry."

Towner also spoke of the deeply gratifying times in her ministry serving as moderator of Milwaukee Presbytery, vice-moderator of the 193rd General Assembly (1981) of the PC(USA) and her devoted presence with families in times of both joy and sorrow. However, this satisfaction is dulled by her grief that clergywomen "still experience discrimination," and by the pain she feels that our denomination struggles to embrace the diversity of our church.

Looking forward, Towner charged her listeners to "work together as persons called to speak the truth in love. That is the plan for unity in all things."

Following Towner's remarks, the moderator of NAPC, Kathy Keener-Han, presented Towner with a stole designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women to the ministry of Word and Sacrament.