Korean Presbyterian Church of San Rafael hosts PADVN
By Nancy Troy
Participants at the domestic violence training for Redwoods Presbytery. Front row: Ann Menzie, Anne Sayre, Sandi Thompson-Roye, Bonnie Orth, Bob Goossen
Middle row: Dorothy Washington, Mary Dousharm, Joan Fenton
Back row: Leah Hrachovec, Willa Mae Taylor, Kevin Frederick
Photo by Nancy Troy.
The chatter around the table went something like this:
“How do you say that in Korean?”
“These plums came from your garden?”
“Will you share this recipe?”
When the date for the domestic violence training for Redwoods Presbytery was set, the Rev. Ann Rhee Menzie asked the PADVN Leadership Team, “How about having our meeting at the Korean Presbyterian Church of San Rafael and asking them if they will host us in their homes?” And that began quite an adventure of generous hospitality and unexpected delights.
The PADVN Leadership Team works hard to implement the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s policy, “Turn Mourning into Dancing! A Policy Statement on Healing Domestic Violence,” that was approved by the 213th General Assembly (2001). PADVN is one of the ten networks of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA). Leadership Team members are volunteers from around the country who are passionate about making our homes safe sanctuaries and our churches places of healing for those who are victims of violence and for those who perpetrate that violence.
The occasion of meeting at the Korean Presbyterian Church came when Redwoods Presbytery invited the PADVN Leadership Team to facilitate a session on domestic violence. The Presbytery was to meet at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California, for their September meeting, making it also possible for seminary students to attend. The Presbytery docketed three hours for the session that was followed by a spirited question and answer time. Many presbyters shared experiences of tackling these issues in their congregations.
The Rev. Ann Rhee Menzie facilites domestic violence training. Photo by Nancy Troy.
The model of meeting at seminaries, presbyteries and synods is not new to the Leadership Team. They have facilitated sessions at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary and look forward to broadening their reach to other campuses. Members of the team have led workshops at conferences, in congregations, colleges and at community gatherings.
Our time in California was an excellent example of how our connectional Church works — a PC(USA) national program providing support and nurture to a network of volunteers, a presbytery equipping their congregations, a congregation opening their door and homes, good cooks sharing the bounty of their gardens — each doing a part to turn mourning into dancing!
Interested in partnering with the PADVN team? Contact Nancy Troy at (888) 728-7228, x5794. |
