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VOW
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VOW’s Ministry at PW Gathering
‘03
Every three years Presbyterian women from all across the nation and around the world travel to a Triennial PW Gathering expecting to have a “mountaintop experience”. Once again, this year’s event was disappointing in many ways. (For specifics please see the articles by Sylvia Dooling and others posted in the "What's New" section of this web site.) Nevertheless, I am happy to report that Gathering ‘03 was a genuinely positive experience in at least two specific areas: OUR EXHIBIT BOOTH For the second consecutive PW Gathering, VOW hosted a booth in the Exhibit Hall, offering words of encouragement to our sisters in the faith who are concerned about upholding the historic faith of the PCUSA. Conversations at the booth can begin in a variety of ways: Sometimes with a visitor’s boldly inquisitive “What’s VOW?” Sometimes with our simple “Hello” to one who has slowed her steps as she passes by, pausing long enough to take a cautious look at the materials on our display table. Three years ago the usual response to our explanation of who we are was, “Oh, thank God -- I thought I was the only one at this Gathering who has a problem with what’s going on here.” Now, three years later, our greeting, “Are you familiar with our ministry?” frequently brought a smile and a warm affirmation, “Oh yes, I know all about you -- keep up the good work!” What a blessing it was to us to have our network partners stop by and share such kind words of encouragement! Thank you. OUR HOSPITALITY SUITE So many of our conversations were with women whose hearts were heavy with the disappointment of a Gathering that was falling far short of their hopes for a “mountaintop experience”. Some of our visitors already were involved with our network while many others were discovering VOW for the first time. In either case, it was great to be able to invite them to stop by our Hospitality Suite in a nearby hotel. This place of refuge was available during the day for prayer and conversation with the VOW team. It also was the site for evening fellowship with kindred spirits, and for many of us these evening mini-gatherings were the high point of each day. We began each evening session with a brief hymn sing, including many of the great old hymns of the church that are systematically excluded from the plenary worship services. We shared prayer and Scripture and much helpful discussion about the often-troubling events of the day. This Hospitality Suite, which is made possible by the many donations of network supporters, was utilized by ever-increasing numbers of women as the week progressed. We had to deal with the delightful “problem” of finding more chairs to accommodate the growing numbers as word spread about this special gathering place -- an oasis in the desert of another disappointing Triennial event where, once again, faithful women of the church were being stunned by the dramatic disconnect between Gathering planners and the majority of women in PW Circles and congregations around the world. OUR MESSAGE The VOW team communicated a consistently positive and proactive message to our sisters to stay involved, to stand firm, and to hold accountable those in positions of leadership. Those evening debriefings always included words of encouragement to the attendees to prayerfully consider and to thoroughly respond to the Gathering evaluation form, adding specific comments to the mostly-multiple-choice questionnaire. Women were encouraged to take the forms home and mail them back to Louisville in order to have sufficient time to be thorough and specific in expressing their concerns. We are hopeful that the women in positions of national leadership will
hear and respect the voices of all those orthodox women -- each of whom
expended precious resources of time, money and energy to be there for Gathering
'03. And, with trust in the transforming power of Christ alone, we
look forward to a much better experience for all in 2006.
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