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VOW
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On Behalf of Women!
I received a slick magazine this fall, at my home address, published with the PCUSA seal at the top, and the Women’s Ministries Program Area credited for publication at the bottom. Being very interested in the work of the WMPA right now, I read it immediately, at one sitting. It is a very impressive, colorful, appealing document. LOTS OF QUESTIONS When I had finished the initial reading, I had these questions: · On behalf of WHICH women?FEW DIRECT ANSWERS From the magazine itself, I could find few direct answers to any of the questions. The cover page was a letter addressed, "Dear Friends of Women’s Ministries,” and signed by Associate Director, Barbara E. Dua. And she announced that I held in my hand “an opportunity to share some good news about the Women’s Ministries Program Area!” Acknowledging that the year the GA review of the program area was in process, she offered this publication as a demonstration of material she has gathered to share with the review committee. WHO IS DOING THE REVIEW? First, I would like a membership list of such a “committee.” It appears now that the review is being done by one person. My immediate reactions to the publication were suspicion and resentment. Suspicion of the motives for publishing it, and resentment of the dollars spent on it. This piece of work is nothing but propaganda in support of a ministry unit run amok. ON BEHALF OF WHOM? I admit my bias in evaluating this work. I am clearly disillusioned with the WMPA, more, I am one who believes that the National program “for women” has left most of us Presbyterian Women far behind...or worse, is ignoring us altogether. That was affirmed in every page of this work. It is a page-by-page review of organizations, programs and materials under the auspices of the Women’s Ministries Program Area, specifically: · Celebrate the Gifts of Women materialsTraditionally, Presbyterian Women has purported that ALL women of Presbyterian membership are therefore “members” of Presbyterian Women, the cornerstone of the WMPA. That makes ME, or at least any member of the congregation I serve, a member of Presbyterian Women, and therefore, one of the women that the WMPA should be serving “on behalf of.” AS A CHRISTIAN MINISTRY, WMPA SHOULD BE CHRIST CENTERED I believe that Presbyterian Women are by definition of their membership vows, Christian women. And that thereby any ministry “on behalf of” them should be identifiably Christ-centered, Christ-promoting, Christ-motivated. So I searched the pages for his name. I found : · “all God’s children”WOMEN OF FAITH AWARDS -- SOCIAL WORK AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY, BUT NO MENTION OF FAITH IN CHRIST Regarding the Women of Faith Awards, an article remarks that the award is given to recognize life of faith and service to God and the church. Still no mention of faith in Christ. As I read the organizations and projects highlighted in this booklet as “on behalf of women,” I began to answer my own questions. The list reads more like the directory of a Department of Social Work and Political Advocacy than a Christian organization. Even granting the need to be “in the world” the work of this WMPA in no longer in any way on behalf of me, or the women I know in the Church. It grieves me to read the lifeless, ultimately hopeless projects we are spending our money and time on without providing the unique help and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just read the Calendar on the mailing label page, and see if it would sound Christian if you had no reference point. Even our Millennial Youth Event is so cleverly titled as to avoid any overt Christian purpose: “The Dawn ... An Epiphany!” This document demonstrates clearly that, though the WMPA staff would scream, “Christian faith is assumed, subsumed under every thing we do! After all, we are PRESBYTERIANS! – I say it is not enough to assume. Jesus said, “If my name will be lifted up...” That name above all names is barely mentioned in 12 pages of expensive, slickly produced rhetoric. CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA I believe that this publication was nothing but a piece of campaign propaganda. I have found no one else who has received it. I do not know who its target audience is. As a pastor I am highly involved in “women’s ministries,” yet I do not qualify as a “Friend of Women’s Ministries” as I read women’s ministries evidenced in this material. Mine was addressed to my home with my Associate Pastor designation number on the label. Yet my woman pastor friend not currently serving a church did not receive one. I have found no woman elder in my congregation who has received the flyer, the Moderator of our Presbyterian Women has not received it – you would have thought that all PW Moderators would have received it, since it chronicles where much of their mission dollars are being used. Which is one of the big questions many of us wanted reviewed in what was by General Assembly mandate supposed to be a more intensive particular review this year, than their normal review. AN INVITATION TO EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS TO WHICH WE MUST RESPOND The document’s last word at the end of its 14 pages of commending itself is a concluding request for readers to write their own personal letters to comment on the work of Women’s Ministries for the review process. At last, the purpose of the publication. To tell you how wonderful the WMPA is, and “invite” letters of commendation. HOW MUCH DID THIS PUBLICITY COST, AND WHAT DOLLARS PAID FOR IT? We must take that invitation seriously, and write personal letters to comment, to make our voices heard. Even if you have responded in a VOW survey earlier this fall, it is incumbent on all concerned with the direction of the WMPA as well as our denomination, to speak up, to write letters identifying our particular concerns and frustrations with the WMPA. Verbalize what an organization within YOUR denomination ON BEHALF OF YOU might look like, and specific ways WMPA is NOT that organization now. Comment specifically on materials and programs such as the Horizon Bible Study or The Gathering in terms its ministries to you, its ability to nurture your faith in Jesus Christ and further your ability and motivation to serve Him in and through the Church. The address cited in the magazine is: Research ServicesDID YOU GET THE MAILING, TOO? I intend to track down through the WMPA just who did receive this publication. If you did, I’d love to know! E-mail me at revkfox@vow.org |