by
Sylvia Dooling
Sylvia D. Dooling
Recently, Voices of Orthodox Women teamed up with Presbyterians Pro-Life to
purchase and evaluate a series of videotapes (_Love All That and More_) that
were produced using monies collected as part of the 1997 Presbyterian
Women’s Birthday Offering. The critiques were published online and in the
VOW newsletter. Shortly thereafter, The Presbyterian Lay Committee ‘picked
up” one of the VOW pieces and ran it as a full-page essay in their
newspaper, _The Presbyterian Layman_.
Both VOW and Presbyterians Pro-Life wrote unfavorably about the videotapes
because although paid for with Presbyterian mission money, they endorse an
understanding of human sexuality that is neither biblical nor in accord with
our Presbyterian standards.
VOW ended its assessment of the videotapes with the salutary advice to ‘make
it your business to know how your mission dollars are used.”
Evidently, a large number of you took our advice and began to ask questions.
In fact, there were enough questions asked that PW found it necessary to
write a memorandum to its Coordinating Team, as well as to PW moderators in
the Synods and Presbyteries. Signed by Ann Ferguson, PW Program Coordinator,
and Jean Cutler, PW Mission Interpretation Associate, the memo reads in
part:
As a result of critical and *misleading* (emphasis added) articles
recently published by The Layman (June 2002), Voices of Orthodox Women
(Broken Trust [1] ) and Presbyterians Pro-Life
(http://www.ppl.org/PW_Apr2002.html), the PW office has received a
number of questions about the 1997 Birthday Offering grant to The
Societal Violence Initiative, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Enclosed you will find a concise information sheet to help you answer
questions you may receive about the grant. The sheet describes the
Creative Ministries Offering Committee as directed by the bylaws of
Presbyterian Women, the purpose and recipients of the 1997 grant, and
the outcome of the project.
Attached to the memorandum was a one-page fact-sheet that describes the
mechanics of the decision making process, and that continues to maintain
that the videos describe ‘healthy” relationships for young people
notwithstanding the fact that it never disputes VOW’s assertion that the
videos endorse both homosexual and pre-marital relationships. (You may read
the sheet below).
The fact-sheet also doesn’t answer the pivotal theological and
ecclesiastical question raised by VOW why was Presbyterian mission money
used to finance the production of a curriculum that undermines our biblical
and constitutional understanding of human sexuality. Nor does it ever
explain what was misleading about VOWs editorials.
So, I decided to call Ann Ferguson and ask.
As always, my conversation with Ann was pleasant and forthright. When I
asked her to tell me what she considered to be misleading about the VOW
article, she said, ‘That’s easy. Some people thought VOW was writing about
the 2002 Birthday Offering.”
With that, I explained to her that I would soon publish a piece about the PW
memorandum, and about its allegation that our articles were misleading. I
also invited her to write a more comprehensive answer to my question, gave
her until the end of last week to do so (August 9, 2002), and promised her
that VOW would publish it as part of our series. To date, however, VOW has
received nothing from Ms. Ferguson, or anyone else in the PW office.
But, the offer to PW still stands. Tell us what was misleading about our
critique and we will publish your answer.
In the meantime, our previous advice is still relevant ‘make it your
business to know how your mission dollars are used.” And, don’t stop asking
your questions until you receive answers that make sense.
+ + + *
Love – All That and More Information Sheet**Birthday Offering*
�In recognition of Presbyterian Women’s heritage, a Birthday Offering
shall be received in the spring. Proposals are received, selections made,
and interpretive materials prepared by the Creative Ministries Offering
Committee� (Bylaws for Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), Article VIII, section 2.A).
*Creative Ministries Offering Committee (Bylaws, Article IX).*
� The Creative Ministries Offering Committee (CMOC) of Presbyterian
Women churchwide selects all projects to be funded by the Birthday
Offering and the Thank Offering (including health ministries).
� CMOC meets twice each year and is accountable to the organization of
Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA) through the Churchwide Coordinating
Team of Presbyterian Women (CCT/PW)
� Committee membership: chair, appointed by the churchwide moderators;
six members of the Churchwide Coordinating Team including the financial
secretary; one representative each from Congregational, National,
Worldwide division committees; staff (PW mission interpretation and
program development associate (without vote) and assistance, as
appropriate, from other General Assembly Council staff to review
proposals and from governing bodies to endorse projects.
*1997 Birthday Offering*
� One of the five projects supported in 1997 was The Societal Violence
Initiative, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
� Funds supported a two-part project to develop a comprehensive
program to address violence against women and children:
1. A national program for training and equipping Presbyterian
leaders to respond to the needs of women;
2. A series of educational videos designed specifically for youth
ministries, and for racial ethnic churches and service
organizations.
� Partners in the project were the Societal Violence Initiative Team,
PC(USA); the Center for Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle;
Presbyterian Women, Seattle Presbytery.
*Societal Violence Initiative Team, (SVIT)*
� In 1991 the General Assembly Council appointed SVIT as a response to
a General Assembly mandate to address societal violence against women.
� Working with the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic
Violence in Seattle, Washington, SVIT trained one hundred Presbyterians
about domestic violence issues and how churches can respond (part 1. of
the 1997 Birthday Offering funding to develop a comprehensive program to
address violence against women and children).
� In January 2001, SVIT and its related network became part of the
Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) of the
PC(USA) and was renamed Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network
(PADVN), part of the National Ministries Division, (PC(USA)
*Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, Seattle,
Washington*
� The center is an international, private, nonprofit, interreligious
organization that addresses issues of sexual and domestic violence.
� Unique in its mission, the center’s goal is to engage religious
leaders in the task of ending abuse, and to serve as a bridge between
religious and secular communities.
� Since 1977, the center has worked with more than 85,000 leaders and
produced numerous award-winning videos.
� The PC(USA) and PW have partnered with the center on several
projects.
*Love � All That and More*
� A six-session curriculum and three-part video series on healthy
relationships for youth and young adults.
� The resource is designed to inform young people about the elements
that make up healthy relationships, increase awareness and understanding
about violence and abuse; and motivate youth and young adults to seek
relationships based on equality and mutual respect.
� The video was produced with funds from multiple sources, including
the 1997 PW Birthday Offering (part2. of the funding).
[1] http://layman.wpengine.com/Documents/Doc0144.aspx