by
Sylvia Dooling
Just a handful of days ago I was in Louisville for the 2003 Presbyterian
Women’s Churchwide Gathering. Like many others who were there, I returned
weary and worn out from the whirlwind of events that PW packed into the
four-day-long meeting. However, after taking some time to rest and to
ruminate on what I saw and heard, I have decided to reflect on it in a more
public venue.
The first thing that was apparent to those of us who have attended previous
PW Gatherings was that this was a scaled-back version of what we had seen
before. There were 20% fewer women in attendance, and the elaborate programs
and backdrops were missing. My immediate thought was that PW must be facing
financial difficulties, and PW’s leadership confirmed my suspicion during
the business meeting which, of course, is the main purpose for the triennial
event.
However, in spite of a trimmed-back budget, the program was full, and
provided a variety of activities that were engaging to women of every age.
It is clear that the Churchwide Coordinating Team spent a great deal of time
and effort to ensure that the attendees are both welcomed warmly and kept
thoughtfully engaged during the entire event. I particularly appreciate the
fact that beginning three years ago, PW has opened its Gathering exhibit
hall to special interest groups within our denomination such as Voices of
Orthodox Women. At the VOW exhibit booth, I had the opportunity to meet
women from all over the world. Many wanted to learn more about our network,
or to thank us for what we have accomplished. On the other hand, some wanted
to engage us in serious debate. But their diverse points of view
notwithstanding, I was impressed by their comprehension of the issues that
are currently facing us as a denomination, and their willingness to talk
thoughtfully about them. .
I too have a point of view that I am willing to talk about. Let me begin to
do that by saying that there were parts of the Gathering’s program that I
genuinely appreciated and benefited from. For example, twin sisters,
Jacqueline Robinson and Jocelyn Thompson, were not only well qualified to
lead the group singing, they were also both gracious and joyful. The musical
theme for the Gathering was well written the lyrics were meaningful, and the
tune was easy to learn and remember. We also sang a number of other songs
that were new to this ‘maturing” Presbyterian woman. My one disappointment
with the music is that we did not sing more of the familiar hymnody of the
church, because on those occasions when we did the hall resounded
exuberantly with the sound of 4000 voices raised in praise of God. It was a
beautiful sound!
Janice Catron led a solid Bible study from the book of Ephesians. She is
winsome, soft spoken, and thoughtful in her presentation. She was easy to
listen to, and led us in a careful study. I occasionally disagreed with her,
but that’s OK. What is important is that she stayed well within the
legitimate theological and biblical boundaries of our confessional heritage.
Saturday morning’s presentations on racism were also important. They raised
issues that all of us need to consider and take to heart as we strive to
grow as mature Christian women learning to be obedient to God’s command ‘to
love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”
Anna Rhee, advocacy project coordinator for the Churches for Middle East
Peace (and daughter of Syngman Rhee, former moderator of the General
Assembly) introduced us to a list of helpful, concrete suggestions on how to
work for peace. The ones that have particularly stuck with me were her
encouragement:
· To identify accurate and reliable sources of information;
· To look for balance; and
· To think for yourself.
These were but some of the things that I appreciated about this year’s PW
Churchwide Gathering. But, to be honest, I was also left with a number of
important and disturbing questions. For example:
1. While the Bible study and music were great, why did the remaining
times of prayer and worship as well as other presentations speak to us
only about a generic ‘god” who accepts everyone and just about
everything? Why is it that evangelism was never mentioned as a component
of the mission of the church? Is Jesus no longer central to our faith?
Are the cross and resurrection no longer important. Is the Great
Commission no longer relevant?
2. Why did the event’s planners invite presentations from plenary
speakers who oppose the Constitution of our church relative to
homosexual practice and ordination? PW is not an independent special
interest group. It is accountable to the church under the umbrella of
the Women’s Ministry Program Area, and should uphold the church’s
scriptural and constitutional standards.
3. Why were the presentations on various political issues so unbalanced?
War, peace, the Middle East conflict, Iraq, global economic policies
these are all complex questions that deserve complex analysis. Instead,
we listened only to exponents of a radically liberal political and
economic agenda that blamed the United States for most of the world’s
problems. America, they told us, is greedy and warmongering. Large
corporations prey on the world’s poor. Those among us who are well off
are self-serving. The military is unnecessary. The redistribution of
wealth will solve all of the world’s problems. If the defense budget
were dismantled, the government would be able to provide housing,
transportation, childcare and checks to everyone. Not once was a word
mentioned, or a prayer uttered in support of our national leaders or the
young men and women of our armed forces who are currently in harm’s way.
4. Why did we hear the message repeated time and again that women have
it within themselves to usher in the Realm of God? They don’t need
anything outside of their own political and ‘spiritual” gifts to
accomplish this goal. They can do it themselves, because they are
sufficient unto themselves thank you.
These are just a few questions that were rattling around in my head as I
headed home from Louisville.
I long for the day when I can pack my bags at the end of a PW Churchwide
Gathering, and thank God that it is has been a conference that has offered
accurate, reliable and balanced information about the very serious issues
that we face as Presbyterians and as Americans. But to do that, we need to
be presented with balanced information and the opportunity to dialogue not
propaganda.
Fortunately, however, many women did appear to think for themselves. There
were many, of course, who were not offended by the political indoctrination
that issued from the platform. But there were many others who were. And,
they voted with their feet, walking out of the hall in protest.
Many of the women with whom I spoke felt emotionally bruised by the
anti-American rhetoric. Many of them have husbands, sons, daughters, nieces
and nephews in the military, and they felt like their loved ones had been
intentionally vilified and demonized. They were angry, and they were
frustrated, and they refused to listen to any more. And I kept wondering if
PW’s speakers understood that the only reason that they were able to deliver
their venomous, anti-government message is that they were in the United
States. But, I digress.
Toward the end of the meeting, time was set aside to acknowledge the new PW
Churchwide Coordinating Team. It is my hope and prayer that, as they begin
to plan for the Gathering in 2006, they will listen to all the women of PW,
and create a program that will offer political balance and theological
integrity vis–vis our church’s constitution. As Janice Catron taught us,
we, as Christians, look at the world through the lens of the cross and Jesus
Christ, and we see God’s grace. As Reformed Christians, we know that God is
Sovereign. In turn, that means that we are never victims. It also means that
we have a message that the world needs desperately to hear a message about
the saving grace and compassion of our Lord.
As Presbyterian Women, it is the Triune God who should be our focus not a
radical political and economic ideology.