Presbyterian Women

Quarterly mailing for PW moderators, leadership coordinators, CCT and staff

Third Quarter, 2007

Share this Quarterly Mailing with your PW Coordinating Teams, post it on your congregations’ bulletin boards and use the information in your newsletters.

Download this newsletter

Contents in this issue.

Together in Service offers a new mission project

The Presbyterian Women Palm Project is a new mission program to develop palm plantations in Congo, once the world’s largest producer of palm oil. The destruction of agricultural capabilities in Congo has forced the country to import the cooking oil from Malaysia for its domestic use. This change in the market has opened up an opportunity for our Presbyterian partners to develop income-generating projects that do not require huge financial investments, but can have great returns.

With funding from this project, women’s groups and hospitals of the Presbyterian Community of Congo will be able to plant new varieties of palms that produce more oil than current varieties. These new plants grow low to the ground, allowing women to participate in the planting, maintenance and harvest of the crop. Presbyterian Women has made a three-year commitment to this project.

Come to Louisville October 2-6 to celebrate world mission!

World Mission ’07: A Celebration of Grace will transform your heart, mind and soul. You will experience an extraordinary gathering of mission volunteers, mission network participants, congregational, presbytery and synod mission leaders, mission trip leaders and other mission supporters. You will hear inspiring speakers, talk with mission personnel and meet international church partners. You will gain new resources for mission participation, and you will worship God amid the sights and sounds of the global church. During the celebration the PC(USA) will commission more than 30 missionaries who are participating in Mission Challenge ’07, the denomination’s most expansive mission itineration effort in decades.

The celebration will conclude with the largest-ever simultaneous gathering of PC(USA) mission networks.

PW Mission Pledge - Blessings without Boundaries

In August, PW moderators in the synods, presbyteries and congregations and Celebration Giving representatives will receive a mailing that will help them inform women in their congregations about the PW Mission Pledge. The materials will help explain the ways in which the PW Mission Pledge financially supports both Presbyterian Women and the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Pledge cards and pledge forms will also be included for women to make their individual pledges.

For 2008, the giving goal is $2.7 million, which will help fund programming at all levels of PW as well as the mission work of the PC(USA).

Does your PW in the Presbytery have a Celebration Giving Representative?

Basic Function
Interpret the giving opportunities of Presbyterian Women

Responsibilities

• Identify Celebration Giving representative/contact person at the congregational level
• Provide resources to congregations
• Provide programming and workshops at the congregation and presbytery level
• Work with PWP moderator to distribute mission pledge and Creative Ministries Offering Committee materials
• Follow up with PWC about receiving materials and actions taken
• Provide feedback to the funds development group on CCT through the synod coordinator who will make an annual report

Skills

• Leadership
• Communication (electronic, written, verbal)
• Organizational
• Familiar with PW and PW funding streams

Relationships

• Synod coordinator of PWP Celebration Giving Representatives
• PW national treasurer

If you need more details or have questions about this position, contact Ann Ferguson.

New resources from PW!

PW Budget brochure

Presbyterian women take seriously the commitment “to support the mission of the church worldwide,” “to work for justice and peace,” and “to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.” This awesome and awe-inspiring commitment is given life with the generous sharing of time, talent and treasure. The free, newly-revised PW Budget brochure provides a succinct overview of Celebration Giving (the sharing of money) and where this money goes. A brief resource list is included.

Revised PW Manual

Newly revised, the PW Manual is the essential guide for PW circles and leaders. The 2007 edition includes the fundamentals — structure and relationships, sample bylaws, sample budgets and more — as well as a new guide for treasurers and tips for leaders.

Above and Beyond Horizons Bible study resources are now available

Large-print version with Suggestions for Leaders
HZN-07-150
$10.00

Audio CD
HZN-07-172
$15.00/set

Spanish translation
HZN-07-110
$6.00

Note cards
HZN-07-412
$7.50/pk of 9

See a full list of the resources available for Above and Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth.

Story stoles and paraments for Jonah and Ruth

Looking for a creative way to engage the stories of Jonah and Ruth? Invest in a story stole or parament for Presbyterian Women in your congregation, presbytery or synod!

InStitches: Center for Liturgical Art has created two new story stoles and a banner, based on the 2007/2008 Horizons Bible study, Above and Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth. These colorful, multi-textured pieces of fabric art are handcrafted, with appliqued and embroidered images to prompt the imagination.

Jonah Stole: Call and Response, $185
Ruth Stole: Above and Beyond, $165
Jonah and Ruth Banner, $195

Order from
InStitches: Center for Liturgical Art
17092 Sunset Dr.
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
(205) 727-0092 (fax)

Visit the PW Web pages

Did you know that the bulletin covers for the 2007–2008 Horizons Bible study are free for download on the Horizons web pages? Did you know that you can give online to the various programs under Celebration Giving (Thank and Birthday Offering, Together in Service, PW Mission pledge)?

Save the Date!

July 11–15, 2009
Plan now to attend the 2009 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Louisville, Kentucky!

Take note:

• The Business Meeting will be held during the Gathering, not prior to it as it was in 2006.
• The National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen (NAPC) will participate in the Gathering, holding a separate business meeting, but joining PW for plenary sessions, workshops and programming.

Thank Offering

Thank Offering resources for 2007 are available to order.

NEW promotional material this year:

• PowerPoint Presentation — included in the promotional packet and available here.
• Promotional Postcard — a Web Exclusive available here.

We need your help! Do you know of an agency or agencies in your area that would benefit from receiving the Thank Offering or Birthday Offering? Please email the contact information (name of agency, director’s name, email address or phone number) to Cindy Goodman so that an application can be forwarded to them. View the complete list of criteria.

A Racial Ethnic Multicultural Event

From the Justice and Peace Committee:

The members of the Churchwide Coordinating Team (CCT) have been learning about immigration issues at each CCT meeting. This complex subject is fraught with issues of justice and it has become very divisive in many communities. Presbyterian Women are encouraged to become as informed as possible about this topic, and while Congress failed to pass any legislation this session, it is a topic that will continue to be before our Senators and Representatives.

REYWT Looking for Core Team Members

Racial Ethnic Young Women Together (REYWT) has two openings for the Core Team designated for young women between the ages of 18 and 35 — one opening for a Middle Eastern sister and one for a Native American sister.

The Core Team is REYWT’s 12-member decision-making body. Core members are selected in the spring and serve a three-year term. The group meets each spring and fall in order to plan and guide the direction of the mission and ministry of REYWT. The two co-moderators conduct business meetings, assist the intern and make executive and administrative decisions. Members benefit from leadership development, networking and advocacy opportunities.

The women in the group represent various racial ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The group must include two Asian American women, two African American women, two Hispanic/Latina women, two Native American women and two Middle Eastern American women. One member must also come from another denomination.
Download the application.

For more information, email REYWT.

Racial Ethnic Young Women Together (REYWT) Retreat! Loving Ourselves: Discovering Our Identity and Exploring Our Places

October 4–7, 2007
Shaker Village, Lexington, Kentucky

How much time do you really spend thinking about who you are? Are you looking for ways to be more intentional about discovering, exploring and finding yourself as a young woman of faith?

REYWT has an exciting opportunity for you. This October, REYWT will offer a retreat that will allow you to spend time and space in personal and spiritual reflection, discernment of your gifts and much more. This event will be a wonderful opportunity to spend time and share with other young women.

From the Office of Women’s Advocacy
Calling All Advocates!

"So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2:17 - NRSV)

Are you concerned about issues affecting women? Do you have experience working towards gender justice? Do you believe that “acts of compassion, done corporately and individually, are the work of the church as the body of Christ … The church is also called to engage those structures and systems which create or foster brokenness and distortion. Christians respond to these calls through acts of advocacy and compassion, through service in common ministries of the church, and through cooperation with agencies and organizations committed to these ends” (Book of Order, G-3.0300 and W-7.3003).

Join our ministry of advocacy! Become a part of a network of Presbyterians committed to advocating for women’s full inclusiveness and equity in all areas of life and work in the church and society. Send your contact information to Molly Casteel.

Are you scheduled to attend an event in your area that addresses women’s concerns? Are you hosting an event? Let the Office of Women’s Advocacy know about the event, and committee leadership will consider placing information about your event on the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC) web pages to encourage networking among advocates.

Send information about events addressing women’s concerns to Leigh Harper. The event can be at the congregation, presbytery or synod level, or an ecumenical or secular event at the local, regional, national, or international level. All events may not be posted.

The National Network of Presbyterian College Women Seeks Talented Young Women to Apply for Coordinating Committee

Why apply?
The work of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW) is led by a Coordinating Committee (CoCo) of 12 college women from around the country. Guided by NNPCW’s mission, commitments and objectives, these young women serve as the national organizing body of NNPCW.

In addition to providing direction for the work of NNPCW, CoCo members benefit from leadership development, networking opportunities, a supportive and collaborative community of young women of faith, and involvement in the work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the national level.

Who should apply?
Each year four new CoCo members are selected for a three-year term as four members complete their tenure and rotate off the committee. Nominees must be college women who are available to attend a four-day committee meeting each semester and who have a commitment to promoting the mission of NNPCW throughout the year. The fall 2007 meeting is scheduled to take place in Louisville, Kentucky, September 27–30, 2007.

Members from denominations other than the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may apply for one ecumenical position per year.

How?
Interested individuals are requested to submit an application. Selection is based on, though not limited to, the following criteria: geographic representation; racial-ethnic diversity; size and type of college/university represented.

Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2007.

Join NNPCW's Facebook group

Do you have questions about the National Network of Presbyterian College Women? Would you like to meet other members from around the country? Are you interested in sharing what’s on your mind? Join NNPCW’s Facebook Group! Meet other young feminists, start discussions about whatever you’re wondering about and find out about events around the world for young women like you.

Go to NNPCW’s Facebook page.

Fanning the PW Birthday Offering Flames - Living Waters for the World

Living Waters for the World, one of PW’s 2007 Birthday Offering recipients, has developed a three-point awareness strategy, with support resources, for use by local PW groups. Built around three pieces — the Watermarks devotional guide, the film Clean Water for All of God’s Children and a public service announcement on YouTube — the strategy works to educate PW groups and other people about Living Waters for the World work of training and equipping volunteer mission teams to share the gift of clean, sustainable water with communities in need.

Watermarks devotional guide

This 32-page book features poems centered around the theme of “living water” each based on selections of scripture. Accompanying the poems are pictures of those helped by the gift of clean water from the Living Waters for the World mission. The guide contains pages for journaling and may be used for group study or for personal reflection.

Clean Water for All of God’s Children
This newly released promotional film debuted at the Synod of Living Waters PW meeting in June. Filmed on location at the Clean Water U training program and in four communities in Mexico, the DVD provides a comprehensive look at the LWW mission. This is an excellent resource to show to any group interested in learning more about Living Waters for the World and how to get involved.

Order Watermarks and Clean Water for All of God’s Children, through Living Waters for the World; click on the “Order Materials” button.

Public Service Announcement on YouTube
A two-minute public service announcement (PSA) about Living Waters for the World has been uploaded to the video sharing site, YouTube. We can help spread the word about LWW by viewing the clip, then forwarding the address to others.

- Files marked with this icon can be downloaded in printable Adobe Acrobat format. This file requires the free Acrobat Reader. For best results, right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select " save target as" and save the document to your desktop for viewing and printing.