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VOW
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2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women
[EDITOR'S
NOTE: As women report to their own congregations, presbyteries
and synods on their experience as this year's PW Churchwide Gathering,
VOW is privileged to publish their statements as they are sent to us.
It is VOW's continued hope that the Churwide Coordinating Team will listen
both to the positive and negative concerns expressed by Presbyterian women
to the end that the next Gathering will be one that lifts up the Lordship
of Jesus Christ -- educating women on alls sides of the issues that are
brought before us and that demand our involvement as women of distinctly
Christian faith.]
I am truly thankful to the Women of Westminster for providing me the opportunity to attend the 2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, the headquarters for our P.C. (U.S.A.). Louisville is a charming city, although I had little time to see anything other than the convention center and my hotel room, because of the full schedule of events that was scheduled each day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Over 4000 women from around the world were in attendance, quite an impressive sight in itself, as we gathered together in plenary sessions to sing, pray, worship, and listen to featured speakers. Our days each began with two-hour plenary sessions in the morning, followed by three-hour breaks, during which time we had the opportunity to visit the Great Room exhibit hall, the “Amazing Heritage History” Room, the Cokesbury Bookstore, the Prayer Room and Labyrinth, and lunch. From 2:00 to 4:00, various workshops were offered, followed by another three-hour break, including dinner. (Lots of long breaks—too long, in my opinion!) Our “official” activities of the day concluded with another plenary session from 7:00 to 9:00. However, my day was not yet done. On the first morning during one of my visits to the Great Room exhibit hall, I happened to find a booth sponsored by a delightful group of “kindred spirits” in the organization called “Voices of Orthodox Women” (V.O.W.). They invited me to visit their hospitality suite at the Seelbach Hilton, which happened to be the hotel where I was staying. Each night after the plenary sessions, a group of the more “conservative” women would gather to discuss the day’s events, sing a few traditional hymns, voice concerns, and pray. I’m sorry to report that during much of the planned PW Gathering activities, I really felt philosophically, theologically, ideologically, and politically estranged by both the speakers and the women who seemed to wholeheartedly support their views, whereas I felt a common bond with the women I encountered at the V.O.W. hospitality sessions. They were truly an encouragement to me. Before I begin my discourse as to why I was disturbed by much of what occurred at the Gathering, I will first describe the positive side of my experience. This year’s theme was “God’s Vision/Our Calling.” Twin sisters, Jacqueline Robinson and Jocelyn Thompson, both highly talented and trained in voice and piano, led the group in singing. The songs were primarily non-traditional: simple tunes in contemporary language, many of them of non-western ethnic origin. While I am more comfortable with the traditional hymns, the joy, “soul,” and enthusiasm with which these two sisters led the singing were contagious. I would love to add one (or both) of them to our music department at Westminster! One evening our group was treated to a performance of the colorfully costumed Sinikithemba choir from South Africa. The choir is made up of HIV-infected young adults, who sang from their hearts songs of freedom, faith, hope and Jesus. Proceeds of the Gathering’s Churchwide Offering will be used to help women and families affected by AIDS in both the United States and Africa. I especially enjoyed the series of Bible studies based on Ephesians 4:1-6, led by Janice Catron, a Presbyterian minister. Her style of speaking was soft, gracious, engaging, and easy to follow. Her thoughtful and scholarly interpretation of scripture seemed to be consistent with our Reformed theology as she integrated the themes of God’s vision for his people from Genesis to Revelations as spiritual wholeness—“shalom.” Each participant at the Gathering was allowed to attend a total of three afternoon workshops, which were divided into categories: (1) Prayer, Bible Study, Spirituality; (2) Mission; (3) Justice and Peace; (4) Building Community; and (5) Tools of Leadership. Two of the three that I attended were not very useful or inspiring to me, although Houston Hodge’s course on “Forces that Divide and Unite Us” was quite an informative and balanced overview. The plenary sessions were built on themes: Globalization, HIV/AIDS, War and Peace, Anti-racism, Healing and Wholeness. While I am truly concerned with world’s troubles (e.g., AIDS, poverty, oppression, injustice, orphans in Ethiopia, poverty in the Philippines, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, global economic policies, the homeless in Los Angeles), I did not come to the Gathering to hear a one-sided assessment of the cause or solution to these complex and politically charged issues. Unfortunately, that is exactly what we were given, and I suppose that I am particularly disappointed and incensed because my personal position on these issues is the polar opposite of that of the zealous women who held the microphone. Day after day we were indoctrinated with the propaganda that the United States of America, its government, its president, its corporations, and its military, (and maybe just “Males” in general) are the root cause of all the problems in the world. It seemed that the speakers had taken a concept that was pure, noble, and holy (that is, to discern God’s vision for the world, and our calling to play a role in the fulfillment of His vision) and twisted it into some distorted mutation that espoused their own personal political or social agenda. For example, Ross and Gloria Kinsler, missionaries in Costa Rica and Guatemala, stated that “Economic injustice is the sole reason for terrorism and violence…and the U.S. corporations are responsible for economic injustice.” How absurd! They seem to be saying that we should do away with our system of capitalism and free enterprise in favor of some communistic or socialistic form of Utopian government. I would agree that our system is far from perfect, but I don’t believe that the U.S government and our corporations are the root cause of terrorism and violence. I would certainly prefer that we “tweak” our own system rather that have a revolution to overthrow it. History has demonstrated time and again that communism and socialism simply do not work effectively, efficiency, or with any real justice. Probably the speaker who offended me most was Joan Chittister, a Catholic author and member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. There was nothing subtle in her speech, deceptively entitled “Ministry to a Wounded World.” She blamed our government in general and our president in particular for being “warmongers.” She suggested that our military was unnecessary, and that the dollars in the defense budget should be spent to provide housing, food, cars, childcare, medical care, and maybe a little extra spending money to everyone except those who were receiving tax breaks, which she termed “welfare for the rich.” (Is this Democrat-Speak, or what?) She touched on the subjects of capital punishment, gun control, strategic nuclear weapons, “the questionable war in Iraq,” and other politically charged topics. I felt especially offended and outraged by her comments regarding our military because my daughter Amanda is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Intelligence. She spent six months last year in the Middle East and could be sent again at a moment’s notice into harm’s way. My greatest admiration, gratitude, and respect go out to all the men and women serving in our military, and I truly appreciate their service in defense of our country, as well as their defense of our American principles. I don’t always agree with everything that our president or military leaders say or do, but I would never denounce them for doing what they believe is right for our country, especially after a crucial decision has been made, nor would I suggest the overthrow of our government. Not once during the Gathering was a prayer offered for our president, our country, or the men and women serving in our military. Statements regarding the redistribution of wealth, privatization, “womanist” theology, and self-aggrandizement all made me cringe. Even the concepts of inclusivity, tolerance, and diversity have been so denigrated by personal political agendas of the liberal PW leaders that their original meanings are totally lost. They have metamorphosed the real meanings of the words with meanings that embrace behaviors that are sinful in the eyes of God. Sometimes subtlely, sometimes “in your face”, the homosexual lifestyle was repeatedly affirmed. I respect the right of others to have political or philosophical opinions different from mine, but I do not believe that politics or philosophy is what PW should be about. At a time when the PC(USA) is struggling for its very survival, I question the wisdom of a leadership that would promote such an inflammatory and controversial platform. What are they thinking?? The Gathering agenda was one of moral elitism: totally one-sided, radical opinions; in essence, pure propaganda. As a new moderator of the Women of Westminster, I was hoping to receive some valuable insights, useful suggestions on leadership, encouragement, and perhaps some new ideas that could be used in our church. I wanted to be charged up with a “mountain top experience,” to be spiritually renewed. While I did meet some wonderful women, and actually did glean a few good ideas and new information, on the whole I was disappointed with the Gathering. In fact, I was more than disappointed. I was so upset and angry during a couple of the plenary sessions that I had to walk out in protest. Because others in the audience seemed to be so enthralled with the speakers and their visions of social justice, I was seriously beginning to wonder if I were in a church gathering or some political rally. I do appreciate our affiliation with the PW in the Indian Nations Presbytery,
but I have trouble supporting our national organization the way it exists
today. It is for this reason that I have recommended to our Budget
Committee that the contribution from the Women of Westminster to the PW
Churchwide Mission be significantly reduced, and that the mission be clearly
specified. The PW mission of social justice is not congruent with
our mission, the way I see it. We must pray for our church, stand
firm in our convictions, and trust that God is ultimately in control.
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