In 1998, I became part of the Presbyterian Women/Racial Ethnic Dialogue, a group that meets annually and includes representation from National Asian Presbyterian Women, National Hispanic/Latin Presbyterian Women, National Black Presbyterian Women, National Korean Presbyterian Women, Native American Presbyterian Women, Middle Eastern American Presbyterian Women and the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women. Together, we come to the table to work for justice and peace as we build an inclusive, caring community of Presbyterian women.

Officially organized in May 1998, the dialogue grew out of discussions during the 1994–97 triennium of Presbyterian Women in response to concerns raised by National Asian Presbyterian Women and National Black Presbyterian Women. Originally, the group addressed issues related to inclusion of racial ethnic women in all facets of the work of PW. Today, we seek to

• Intentionally find ways for women to share together and dialogue as partners in ministry
  
• Honor the gifts, perspectives and heritage of all God’s people
  
• Speak truth to power as we explore ways to form the “inclusive, caring community of women” spoken of in the PW Purpose
  
• Find new paradigms for working together as members of Presbyterian Women
  
• Celebrate our oneness in the living Christ

With seven racial ethnic groups, including European American, gathered around the table, we share each other’s struggles, joys and concerns as we express our vision for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and for Presbyterian Women. We are partners in ministry, working together to address some of the issues that we face as racial ethnic women and as Presbyterian women. Our differences in cultural backgrounds, languages, family customs and origin of birth of our ancestors do not divide us as much as they add to the richness of our relationships. These are the treasures on which our wholeness is being built. We are united in Christ and have found many ways to live out our witness as we work together on issues of common interest and responsibility.

Taking part in the Racial Ethnic Dialogue reminds me of the important role of the Committee of Women of Color (CWC) in early 1990s. The CWC was the successor organization to the Committee on Racial Ethnic Women (CREW), part of the former Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1981 and the Third World’s Women’s Coordinating Committee (TWWCC), of the former United Presbyterian Church in 1972. The CWC worked to empower women of color and enable their full and equal participation in the church and in society. Many of the publications from the former CWC continue to be excellent resources. Although the national CWC no longer exists, some synods and presbyteries have active Committees of Women of Color.

A Need for the Dialogue

The questions arise, “Why is there a need for this dialogue and for the racial ethnic women’s organizations? Isn’t this divisive? Aren’t we all one?” The answers are no and yes, respectively. We need the dialogue because the larger body of PW and women of various racial ethnic groups have hopes and dreams that have not been realized.

While we are concerned about the status of women in the whole church, our initial focus has been on the opportunities for leadership in Presbyterian Women. We envision an organization that is truly representative of its community of faith, where all persons of color are visible, heard and active witnesses in every program/activity. We see a Churchwide Coordinating Team (CCT) that “walks the walk” as well as “talks the talk” as it models inclusivity at all levels of PW. We challenge the CCT to intentionally share power and model ways of sharing that power in everything it does.

To accomplish our vision, we support and encourage the churchwide search committee’s effort to present a racially balanced slate of nominees to the 2003 business meeting of Presbyterian Women. We challenge the CCT and our PW sisters throughout the country to make the triennial business meeting more representative of the racial ethnicity that exists within our organization and to ensure that racial ethnic members-at-large are included in all aspects of the life and work of the CCT.

What Do Racial Ethnic Women Bring to PW?

One of the challenges for many racial ethnic women is the same faced by women everywhere—we are genuinely interested in PW but have limits on our time because of professional responsibilities. Racial ethnic participants in PW bring a sincere love for the organization and its purpose, in addition to potential for empowerment of women throughout the world. We bring a concern for the struggles of our people through knowledge of the oppressive cultural systems that our ancestors withstood. We have feelings of being caught between two cultures—our own and that of the larger American society that is more accepting today of our diversity, yet not totally accepting. We bring skills and abilities that have been tested and proved at the local, presbytery and synod levels of our denomination. We are professionals with skills and abilities suited to management, organization, teaching, business and finance—skills that can be transferred and used in the work of PW. But most of all, we bring a strong faith in God and in a world that is diverse in all of its facets. We believe in each other and in the God that will bring us all into true communion with one another that we might live out the purpose of Presbyterian Women as we work faithfully together.

What Can We Do to Improve Relationships?

Intentional involvement will go a long way toward improving relationships, within PW and beyond. The natural tendency is to be with people like ourselves. When we work with women from other racial ethnic groups we not only get to know them but we learn to appreciate them and the gifts that they bring to our common community of faith.

To help coordinating teams, governing bodies and other ecumenical groups and entities work successfully with women of color by honoring their gifts and perspectives, the Committee of Women of Color of the Synod of Mid-Atlantic prepared the brochure “Expanding the Sacred Table.” Here are some of the principles included in this brochure:

1. We recognize each woman as the face of God, knowing that she has particular gifts and we encourage each woman to use her gifts fully.

2. We recognize each other as leaders in some area—family, church, profession, committee, circle, etc.

3. We seek to involve each other in all kinds of concerns, including racial ethnic concerns. We realize that racial ethnic women are skilled in mission as well as issue-related areas and can fill a multiplicity of roles.

4. We make every effort to build relations with women of diverse backgrounds, by deliberately sitting next to each other and making pleasant conversation with each other.

5. We try to discover each other’s skills and abilities.

6. We treat each other with respect and humility, recognizing that all persons have gifts to share and that we can always learn from each other.

The dialogue reflects these principles of behavior as the participants relate to each other, providing a variety of opportunities for growth, exchange and development. At the January 2002 meeting of our group at Mary Holmes College in West Point, Mississippi, the group established a team leadership concept that will rotate among the members to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to facilitate at some time during their three-year term. The group has initiated and will provide leadership in planning a national Women of Color Consultation to be held in 2004. In addition, dialogue participants have sent a request to the PW Churchwide Coordinating Team to develop a model for establishing a racial ethnic dialogue group in each of the synods.

We are working toward a time when the position “racial ethnic member-at-large” is no longer needed to ensure a diverse leadership team. We have reached new levels of understanding and commitment to each other, wrestling with the tough issues, such as racial ethnic women being excluded from or overlooked for the leadership in PW at the congregation, presbytery, synod and churchwide levels. In struggling together to address shared concerns, the participants have found that love, faith and hope transcend all else. When we work and pray together we can accomplish many tasks that some might have thought to be impossible.

We have work ahead of us before our vision becomes reality, so the Racial Ethnic Dialogue will continue

• to provide a forum to communicate the concerns of racial ethnic women
  
• to identify talent for leadership in PW
  
• to make recommendations that further the peace and unity of PW and our denomination
  
• to support and empower each other as we work with PW sisters throughout the country.

Middle Eastern American Presbyterian Women

The same year participants in Presbyterian Women traveled to the Middle East for the 1999 Global Exchange, Middle Eastern American Presbyterian Women (MEAPW) organized in the United States. As one of the newest organizations for racial ethnic members of Presbyterian Women, there is much to learn about MEAPW and its members—knowledge that is best acquired through conversations with our Middle Eastern American sisters. The coordinator for MEAPW, Salam Lebbos, shared these insights in a recent interview.

How do Middle Eastern American Presbyterian women worship and pray together?

For a long time, Middle Eastern American Presbyterian Women (MEAPW) were not able to pray together alone—the pastor had to be present—and this is still happening in some of our fellowships and churches. In the last few years, things have changed and we have a few free-standing women’s groups in our churches. Part of this is because these women provide a plan for their husbands that coincides with their meeting time. They can be quite creative, inventing things to keep the men busy with constructive things while the women meet together alone, allowing them to pray their own way.

As to how they pray, most Middle Eastern American Presbyterian women follow the traditions of their countries of origin. They sing their own hymns in their own tunes and their Bible study involves the Old Testament most of the time. These women have a very deep and profound faith, and their commitment to the teachings of the Bible is applied in daily life.

How do participants in MEAPW contribute to the life of their circle or congregation?

Except for the decisions made by the church sessions (which are all-male, except for a few congregations), women run most Middle Eastern American Presbyterian congregations. Pastors rely on them and accept the contributions of women, as long as the women do not hold offices.

As for women’s groups or circles, they offer one another support, sisterhood and caring. If one of them is in need of something they all help. They are especially helpful toward new immigrants and feel responsible for their well-being. In most middle eastern countries, Christians are in the minority and are persecuted, which makes our women stick to each other for protection and solidarity.

What are some of the joys and challenges experienced by Middle Eastern American Presbyterian women when relating to other racial ethnic women?

Many women are open-minded and fun to work with. I have learned a lot from them; things that made my life easier as an immigrant. I have made friends who went beyond my color and my accent and appreciated who I am. I also appreciate the fact that the CCT is trying to understand racial ethnic women. It also breaks the isolation that we feel.

At the same time, some of our racial ethnic sisters still resent us and we feel it no matter how much they try to hide it. It takes a few generations of learning tolerance to get over this, but I am sure they love us as much as we love them.

This material was originally published in the March/April 2002 issue of Horizons, the magazine and Bible study of Presbyterian Women. It is used here by permission.

New Resource: Building an Inclusive Caring Community through Dialogue

In June 2003, Presbyterian Women published a resource designed to help women initiate a dialogue group in their presbytery, synod, or coordinating team. Prepared by the Presbyterian Women Racial Ethnic Dialogue Team for PW groups, the resource can be used by any group interested in dialogue. This resource includes “Expanding the Sacred Table” by the Women of Color, Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. Order from PDS, (800) 524-2612, #PWR-03-121.

Click here for printable/downloadable version.