A unified body, many strengths—Day 3, June 20
Saturday, June 20 was the last full day of the Gathering. Attendees enjoyed another full day, with three more workshop time slots, a justice and peace march, two plenary sessions and a silent witness to raise awareness around discrimination. Plenary sessions urged them to view themselves as a small part of God's beautiful creation, and as members of a community of women, empowered by God's love.
Carol Winkler was installed as 2015-2018 moderator of Presbyterian Women. She was "loved into PW" and urges other PW to personally welcome, engage and support women into the organization. Photo by Michael Martin.
Loved into Presbyterian Women
By Kathryn Baker
During Saturday night’s plenary session, Carol Winkler was installed as 2015–2018 Presbyterian Women Churchwide moderator. Carol began her PW journey as a young married woman who started attending PW circle meetings and gatherings with her mother-in-law, a presbyterial president. Her mother-in-law and the other friends she made at circle meetings welcomed and encouraged her. Or in Carol’s words, she was “loved into PW.”
Since then, Carol’s PW career has been broad and varied. She has served as both a synod and presbytery moderator, a SPWEC (Synod PW Enabler Coordinator), Justice and Peace Coordinator for her synod, a Synod Representative to the CCT (from the Synod of the Covenant), a gathering planner for synod gatherings and a Churchwide Gathering planner from 1997 through 2012.
When asked what she enjoys most about PW, Carol replied, “The variety of people—people of all ages and stages.” She added, “PW needs people who want to be in community. We need everyone! It is through PW that we learn how to be together—working, playing and becoming better friends in the process.” She smiled, adding, “My best friends are in PW.” Read more.
Judy Record Fletcher spoke thoughtfully about the many instances of water in the Bible, which she encountered while writing the 2015-2016 Horizons Bible study on water. . She encouraged groups to talk about and tell her their water stories. Photo by Michael Martin.
An invitation to Come to the Waters
By Yvonne Hileman
Judy Record Fletcher, author of the 2015–2016 PW/Horizons Bible study, introduced herself to Gathering attendees on Saturday morning's plenary session during the 2015 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women. "I am honored to be the author of your Horizons Bible Study," she said before recounting her decades-long interactions with and support for Presbyterian Women. She introduced the study briefly, reflecting on water in the Bible. "The Bible includes over 800 references to water. The presence of water is seen as a blessing from God and the absence of water is seen as a part of the wrath or judgment of God. The subject of water can be seen as a unifying theme in both the Old and New Testaments."
She went on to say that while modern-day water issues are only one lesson in the Bible study, a lack of access to clean water heavily shapes the lives of millions around the world. She noted that 750 million people lack access to safe or clean water, and yet plastic water bottles are the largest source of trash in the water. She urged Presbyterian Women to learn about modern water issues with the study. She urged awareness "not to heap guilt . . . . but to learn the things we can do, both large and small, to improve this situation and make a positive difference." Read more.
PW: Where we've been and where we're going
By Hillary Moses Mohaupt
In their workshop about the state of Presbyterian Women, 2012–2015 PW Churchwide Moderator Mary Cook Jorgenson and PW Executive Director Susan Jackson-Dowd shared historical benchmarks and statistical data to highlight how PW continues to grow and evolve as an organization in order to remain a relevant and vibrant mission branch of the PC(USA). While the tone of their presentation was lighthearted, the presentation’s content and its aim were weighty. In the United States, where a Pew Research Center study recently noted the continued decline in Americans’ religious affiliation, Presbyterians are working together to stay applicable and connected. And Presbyterian Women is working hard to connect women with each other, with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the church worldwide. Read more.
"Never bet against Presbyterian Women," PC(USA) Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons commented. In addition to leading a workshop, Gradye took the stage during a plenary session. He officially brought greetings from the PC(USA) and also made good on a bet with PW Executive Director Susan Jackson-Dowd that attendance for the PW Gathering would not be more than 1,000 people. Photo by Michael Martin.
On the road to where?
By Debbie McCanna
In a workshop during the 2015 PW Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons gave attendees a lot of numbers, a lot of information and a lot of hope. The workshop, titled “State of the PC(USA),” was very popular at the Gathering, drawing hundreds to both sessions.
The numbers Gradye shared for the PC(USA) held with what has been reported for other mainline denominations—we have been losing members since the 1960s. Denominations even tend to lose members at about the same rate; of the total decline, 20 percent transfer, 20 percent dies and 60 percent drifts away.
The growth of the “Nones”—those who report their religious affiliation as “none” on the Pew Research Center’s 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study—has been a hot topic recently. Gradye said that in generations past, as young people drifted away from church, they often came back when they were getting married or having a baby. There’s no counting on that anymore; 88 percent of the Nones mark “Not Looking” when asked about their interest in finding a worshiping congregation. Read more.
Keeping the flame alive
By Louise Van Poll
Native American culture includes a heavy emphasis on the oral tradition for passing on teachings from generation to generation. During her workshop “Legends of the Flame,” at the 2015 Churchwide Gathering, Danelle Crawford McKinney used this tradition to lead participants through a spiritual exercise.
As Danelle talked about the cultural value placed on sharing knowledge, she also shared some of the Dakota beliefs about the natural world and exhorted everyone to take better care of Mother Earth. “She is our mother,” Danelle said. “The rivers are her veins. She feeds us and takes care of us and we must take care of her.” Read more.
