About the Gathering
What is the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women?
The Gathering, held once every three years, is an opportunity for Presbyterian women from across the country (and around the world!) to gather for worship, education, community-building, fun and renewal. Participants will enjoy workshops, tours, forums, plenary sessions with inspiring speakers and worship. PW’s triennial Business Meeting also takes place during the Gathering, where budget, leadership and programmatic emphases will be decided.
The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be held August 2–5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2015, the Gathering was held June 18–21 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Themed “One Body, One Spirit,” the 2015 Gathering included worship, community-building, education and fun—all exploring 1 Corinthians 12:12–27:
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Read the frequently asked questions about the 2015 Gathering.
The first PW Gathering was held in West Lafayette, Indiana at Purdue University in 1988. This was the first Gathering for the then newly formed Presbyterian Women.
Gathering Sponsors
A number of organizations and businesses graciously offered financial support for the 2015 Gathering. Thank you to our generous sponsors!
The Board of Pensions
The Board of Pensions is the agency legally responsible for administering the pension and benefits programs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Cambey & West
Cambey & West provides circulation fulfillment and integrated database management solutions to the publishing industry, including Horizons.
Individual Donors
Many PWs have given generously of their time for this Gathering, but a number of them also gave monetary gifts to ensure extra programming. Thank you to our anonymous, generous donors!
Michael E. Martin
The official Gathering photographer, Michael E. Martin is donating his time and photography skills to show how Presbyterian Women connect with one another and make a difference in the world. Michael photographs weddings, family portraits, senior portraits, baptisms and other special events.
The Presbyterian Foundation
The Presbyterian Foundation cultivates, attracts, and manages financial resources of individuals and institutions to serve Christ′s mission.
Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program
The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program is a nonprofit corporation of the PC(USA), created to provide low-cost loans to congregations, governing bodies and related entities of PC(USA).
Shanley & Associates
Shanley & Associates are marketing consultants in the publishing industry, specializing in not-for-profit and niche publishing. They provide circulation management and ad sales for Horizons magazine and Bible study.
Welch Printing
Welch Printing is a Louisville, Kentucky-based full-service commercial printer, who prints many of Presbyterian Women's resources.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church is a vibrant, open-minded congregation of 3,000 people, worshipping in the heart of Minneapolis on Nicollet Mall (just across the street from the Hyatt!). Committed to being a welcoming community, Westminster generously extended help to the Gathering, offering meeting space, local connections and hosting for special meals.
The Gathering in five minutes
Get a taste of the Gathering—watch this five-minute video that offers a look at the fun, worship and fellowship that you can have at the 2015 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 18–21, 2015.
