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Spring 2006
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The Table is Set: Celebrating Women and the 217th General Assembly (2006)
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Words May Dis-include Me
By Jerri Rodewald
A concern for inclusive language bespeaks the church's emerging conviction both that the diversity of the people of God is to be acknowledged and embraced in such a way that all may feel included, as well as the realization that every reference to God is limited in its capacity to express the reality and mystery of the One who has so variously encountered us.
The quote above was taken from Definitions and Guidelines on Inclusive Language. This study piece was prepared by the Office of Theology and Worship, adopted by the 197th General Assembly (1986), and reaffirmed in by the 212th General Assembly (2000). The Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns is charged, among others, with the responsibility to monitor the use of inclusive language for the people of God, and expansive language for God throughout the church.
For many, the lifelong experience of referring to God as male becomes a stumbling block for others. Recognizing that words cannot describe the magnitude, wonder and mystery of the Holy One, we seek ways to refer to God other than Heavenly Father or using the male pronoun. Expanded language when referring to God can enhance our understanding of who God is and can strengthen our relationship with the One who calls us into ministry.
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Recognizing the diversity of folk within our denomination, and the expressed commitment for equality for women and men in the church, it is essential to always be aware of our language for the people of God. Male and female, God created all equally. Affirming that, we must remember that how we speak reveals what we believe. Living into the belief that all are equal, we will be careful to express that inclusivity in our language.
Two pamphlets may be helpful as you become more aware of the language issue. Both pamphlets are available and helpful as we seek a more inclusive and expansive understanding of God and all people.
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"A trinitarian understanding of God makes it clear that the Creator of gender is not subject to it."
The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing;
Office of Theology and Worship, Congregational Ministries Division
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- Well Chosen Words (revised 2005), prepared by the Women's Ministries, National Ministries Division and Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns provides samples of language used in scripture and the creeds, and offers suggestions for expanding our use of words.
- Definitions and Guidelines on Inclusive Language, prepared by the Office of Theology and Worship provides the directives and rationale regarding language that have been adopted by past General Assemblies.
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Time to Celebrate Anniversaries of Women in the Church
by Heather Grantham
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As a young woman, contemplating seminary, I was never told "no" when expressing the idea of becoming a pastor. Never once has someone said to me, "You are a woman, therefore you cannot be ordained!" Being female is neither a barrier for my leadership in the church nor in my educational pursuits, but it was not long ago when being a female meant having no voice in the church. Many of our foremothers did not sit back and ignore the fire in their hearts. These women did not let others discount God's call on their lives.
Strong women over this century became advocates for all women who are called by God. These trailblazers made it possible for large numbers of women to enter seminaries today. We celebrate and join our voices with theirs. The year 2006 marks the 100th anniversary for women being ordained as deacons and the 50th anniversary for women being ordained as ministers of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors. In the year 2005 we celebrated the 75th anniversary for women being ordained as ruling elders in the PC(USA). These landmark celebrations are possible because of remarkable women's sweat and tears. We honor them, named and unnamed.
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"The women are coming ... knocking at the doors of various denominations for admittance. They say, this subject is a flame in our hearts, and a fire is kindled in our bones."
(1891) Rev. Louisa M. Woosley (1862-1952) Cumberland Presbyterian Church
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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) celebrates women such as Louisa M. Woosley who was the first woman ordained in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1889); Katherine Bennett who, in 1916, was the first woman to speak at General Assembly (the 42nd General Assembly); Katherine Bennett and Margaret Hodge who produced a study about the status of women in the Presbyterian Church in 1926, Causes of Unrest Among Women in the Church; Margaret Towner, the first woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church (1956); and Katie Cannon, who in 1976, was the first African American woman to be ordained.
In this spirit, we call you to celebrate women leaders in your life as well.
Now is a time of celebration, a time to look back on gifted women who came before us and lift their stories up. Pioneering Presbyterian women helped build an encouraging church where young women are nurtured for leadership and prepared to hear God's call in their own lives. A place where all are encouraged to listen to the still, small voice.
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She-Roe Quiz
Test your knowledge of women and Presbyterian history!
Answers (and more questions!) can downloaded at the Women's Ordination Celebration Web site.
1.) Who was the first woman elected moderator of the General Assembly of the PCUS?
2.) Who was the first Hispanic woman ordained as clergy by the UPCUSA (1959)?
3.) Who was the first Native American woman (in 1987) ordained as clergy?
4.) Who was the first Asian woman (in 1944) ordained as clergy the US?
5.) In what year did the first woman graduated from a seminary?
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"Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade."
Constance Baker Motley
First African American Woman in the U.S. to become a Federal Judge
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What Will Women Be Talking About At The 217th General Assembly (2006)?
The Advice and Counsel (A&C) team of the Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns (ACWC) will be very busy during General Assembly this year as usual! The team is busy preparing A&C memoranda for the 217th General Assembly (2006). The memoranda consist of resources for the "purpose of providing information about existing policy, current work on specific topics, recent developments, and other factors useful to commissioners as they consider issues before the assembly" (from the GA Standing Rules, A.4.d., on Advice and Counsel Memoranda).
At this writing in mid-April, there are 129 overtures to the 217th General Assembly (2006). Overtures dealing with abortion policy seem like an obvious choice for ACWC to weigh in on. Although women's advocacy should not be limited to women's bodies, ACWC's A&C team will be vocal and articulate on the need to preserve our denomination's stance on the moral agency of women, including both their responsibility and their ability, guided by the Holy Spirit, to make good moral choices.
Other issues the A&C team is discussing are the overtures dealing with sexual misconduct. Overture 42 in particular seeks to name certified Christian educators as mandated reporters in cases of sexual abuse cases. Another issue before the Assembly is the topic of Christian educator becoming an ordained position.
The church continues struggling over using inclusive language for the people of God and expansive language in reference to God. Overture 111 seeks to develop an online denominational hymnal and ACWC believes inclusive and expansive language needs to be a part of that conversation.
Other issues the A&C team is taking a stance on include international trafficking, globalization, systemic power, international health, and peace to name a few. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is at a fascinating point in its history, as this is the first biennial General Assembly. ACWC looks forward to discerning where the Spirit is leading the Church.
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Events of the 217th General Assembly (2006)
Events of the 217th General Assembly (2006) If you plan to be in Birmingham, Alabama, June 15-22, here are some special events related to women's issues you will want to attend. Get pricing and order tickets.
Women's Orientation Breakfast
Thursday, June 15, 7-10 a.m.
Sponsored by the Women's Ministries Program Areas. This orientation will provide attendees with a "Red Book" that details issues coming before the Assembly and will discuss how to advocate in the process on behalf of women.
Women of Faith Breakfast
Sunday, June 18, 8-10 a.m.
Sponsored by the Women's Ministries Program Areas. The faithful witness of six women who have served as elders, deacons and ministers of the Word and Sacrament will be recognized. This is a time to celebrate the witness of women in the greater church and society.
Clergywomen's Consultation
Tuesday, June 20, 8-9 a.m.
Sponsored by Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns. Take this opportunity to meet with ACWC members in an open forum for an ongoing discussion of the Clergywomen's Experiences in Ministry: Realities and Challenges report and other issues facing women clergy in the church.
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Help New Immigrant Women of Faith and NNCPW Members Attend College
Contribute to the National Network of Presbyterian College Women Scholarship Fund!
These undergraduate college scholarships will help women who are making a difference in the spiritual lives of their peers and will provide funding for the immigrant women most desperately in need of assistance to make a college education a reality. Learn more information on how to support this fund or call the NNPCW Office at (888) 728-7228, x5848.
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Upcoming Events
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2006
Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women
July 7–11, 2006
Louisville, Kentucky
Creation! Celebration! God's
Word—Light for the Journey
(Genesis 1:1a, 3, 31a and John 1:1,
3-4)
This is a time for celebration of many things:
creation; 100 years of ordaining women as deacons, 75 years
as elders and 50 years as ministers of Word and Sacrament;
and the 50th anniversary of the Least Coin Offering. It is
also a time for being inspired, nurtured and educated; a time
for making new friendships and renewing old ones.
Plan now to attend the next Triennial Churchwide
Gathering of Presbyterian Women! |
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2006 Leadership Event
of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women
(NNPCW)
July 7–11, 2006
Louisville, Kentucky
Women Among Them Astounded Us! A Celebration in All Generations
How
do we break down the barriers of ageism to unite as women
against injustice? What can women learn from one another about
our victories of the past and our challenges for the future?
Where is the space for fruitful dialogue that leads to change?
Learn the answers to these questions and more at the NNPCW
Leadership Event which has teamed up with the PW Gathering!
Contact
Kelsey Rice for more information. |
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Terrorism in Our Time: The Response of Church and State Young Adult Travel Seminar to Russia
July 29–August 11, 2006
Learn more at the Presbyterian Peacemaking Web site. |
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Sign Up for Action Alerts!
The Office of Women's Advocacy, in partnership with Presbyterian
Women, periodically sends out email action alerts on women's
health, economic justice, child advocacy, war and HIV/AIDS. Subscribe
to receive these alerts by email.
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The New Mission Work Plan
by Molly Casteel
" ... [T]he emphasis throughout the Mission Work Plan is twofold: developing partnerships and strengthening congregations." — Rev. Karen Breckenridge, ACWC Corresponding Member to GAC
In February 2006, the General Assembly Council adopted the 2007-2008 Mission Work Plan [MWP] consisting of four goal areas and eight objectives. The breadth of the plan required the Office of Women's Advocacy to look carefully at our work. In so doing we identified places that gender and women's advocacy were essential in meeting the objective. For example, in the Justice and Compassion goal area poverty is one of the objectives where our work intersects in important ways. Women are paid on average $0.77 for every dollar a man earns for the same job expectations and experience. These numbers fall when you factor in race and income levels in an American context for working women. The important work of the Office of Women's Advocacy and the Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns [ACWC] finds connections throughout the goal areas. Applying the lens of the Mission Work Plan allows staff to find natural affinities that may not be readily apparent within the divisional and departmental lines of the GAC. Stay tuned in coming months to the Women's Advocacy Web site for further discussion of the Mission Work Plan as it intersects and interacts with gender justice and advocacy work.
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... Loose Threads
For more copies of Threads
of Justice, to subscribe, send
submissions or feedback, contact Leigh
Harper or
call (888) 728-7228, x5385.
Published by: The Office of Women's
Advocacy Women's Ministries, National Ministries Division,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street , Louisville,
Ky. 40202. A Ministry of the General
Assembly Council. Printed twice a year on recycled paper. |
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