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.”
Carol talked about the look of PW, noting that today many younger women belong to moms’ clubs. She said, “For me, PW was a moms’ club.” When asked what PW in the future might look like, she said that PW needs to keep all pieces of the Purpose visible and in relationship. She mentioned that PW leaders needs to be aware of stereotypes or limited views of PW, offering information about the range of PW programs. But she cautioned that information must be given in a thoughtful way that won’t overwhelm someone new—perhaps only three to five programs or emphases at a time. And she stressed the importance of being willing to move beyond what’s always been done.
“PWs should learn what they can do and what they do well. No individual or group needs to do everything,” Carol said. She was encouraging of PWs trying something new, and when it is a success, be willing to hand it off and try something else.
Partnership with the larger church is important to Carol, and, she thinks, to PW. She wants PW and the PC(USA) to build partnerships together and not duplicate ideas and programs. She illustrated this thought with recent disaster preparedness and response training that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance gave to members of PW’s 2012–2015 Churchwide Coordinating Team. It is hoped that this training will be passed along through the PW network, teaching congregations to be prepared and how to respond in the event of a disaster.
Carol noted also that PW giving patterns could be enhanced. Traditional ways should be maintained but new approaches could be looked at. For instance, younger people are generous donors, but they might be more inclined to give through an app or online as opposed to through the traditional method of putting money in envelopes passed out at circle meetings.
Ultimately, PW, to Carol, is all about people. She likes the smiles on women’s faces. One of her goals is to move those smiles from their comfort zone to a willingness to try something new, to change their lives, and to move their faith to new places. She says all PW has to do is to give people opportunity; then mentor that opportunity by offering a hand of friendship and love.
Carol Winkler lives in Dayton, Kentucky. She is married with three children and six grandchildren, and is retired staff from the Presbytery of Cincinnati.
