From the director

Why Do We Have Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries?

… For in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. (Galatians 3:26)

Tiffany Gonzalez is a young adult intern serving in Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women this year. Following are some of her reflections.

At first this question appears to be a simple question, and one that I should be able to answer quickly. The answer is quite complex, though — probably far beyond my ability to put into words. The answer requires us to believe that God, the Creator, intends for us to live in relationship with one another, to learn from one another and to act justly and mercifully with one another — that God has, in fact, created us to be Community.

Racism and sexism have allowed the world to feel justified in excluding persons of color and women (and those of us who live at the intersections of those identities) from full participation in private and public arenas. Women and racial ethnic people have historically been denied full-life within the community of faith.

So, why is it important to have Racial Ethnic Ministries and Women’s Ministries? It is important because there is need for people of color and women to have spaces all their own, where we can develop and utilize our voices — and have a more clear and significant avenue for incorporating those voices into the life of the larger church. I believe we have this ministry area so that the voices and experiences of those who have too often been left out of God’s intended community might have fuller life in the church and in the world to which we minister.