Oct, 2013 Report to Synod
The Vision of Presbyterian Women
Ann Barnwell, PW Synod of South Atlantic Moderator
Presbyterian Women are the women of our denomination; but
they are more than that. As a group that meets together they form
a powerful identity within our Presbyterian Church. In most churches
we are recognized as the hospitality element, welcoming all, men,
women, and children We know from scripture that God has given
each of his children gifts; the goal of PW is that all women,
regardless of their economic status, their racial background, their
educational level, or if their homes or churches are rural or urban,
will find a church where they are comfortable and secure; where
they can work together to develop the gifts they have been given as
they continue their spiritual journeys and work to further the
Kingdom of God. This is the vision of Presbyterian Women.
Leadership is the key to any organization. For years, if women
were to be leaders in the church, they had to do so within the
women's program. Here they could develop their skills and grow
into strong leaders. Now, we are able to be Deacons, Ruling Elders,
and Teaching Elders. With this change, there has been a greater
need for training for our women, for many feel they do not have the
time to be a leader in the church and a leader of PW at the same
time. Women must divide their time between home, work, and
church responsibilities, and there are only so many hours to give.
Many PW's have problems getting younger women and/or women
who have not accepted positions on their coordinating teams
before, to agree to become part of the PW leadership.. You hear
some say, "The same women do it all, all the time." Yet, it is these
same women who will not step up and take the responsibility of
accepting a leadership position. This problem has probably been a
blessing in disguise for it has forced PW to develop a new and
different leadership training.
When women take positions for the first time, they need
training for carrying out their responsibilities. If you are a treasurer
for the first time, you need training for that position; if you are a
moderator for the first time, you need training for that position.
This training is on -going; but a new type of training is developing
for PW. All women in the congregations are encouraged to take part
in leadership training to discover their God given gifts and talents.
These are basic leadership skills that everyone can use in everyday
life. Once these areas are identified, workshops can be provided to
develop these skills and help women use them in their work in their
churches and communities. Robin Powell is the leadership
Development Specialist for the PW Synod Coordinating Team of
South Atlantic and is doing this in our presbyteries. It is exciting to
think that someday, all the women in our churches could use their
talents as God intended.
Too often we think of PW as being just Circles. When women
were organized as Women of the Church and United Presbyterian
Women, the circles were the basic foundation for the women's work.
It was through the women who met as circles to study and plan
activities for missions that they were able to take part in the work of
the church. But now PW should and can be much, much more.
Think of an umbrella. The handle of the umbrella is the PW purpose
which binds us together.
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus
Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves: to
nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, to support the
mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace, and
to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens
the Presbyterian Church (USA) and witnesses to the promise of
God's kingdom.
Many times the women in a church will be asked about their
PW activities and they will say "Oh, we don't have a PW." As the
conversation continues, these same women tell you all the
wonderful things they are doing within their church that fall under
the four parts of the PW purpose. They may attend a Bible study,
and even if it is does not take place in a PW circle is does nurture
their faith through prayer and Bible study. One group may collect
money for the Blanket Fund and another sews baby items for a
mission project. These activities support the mission of the church
worldwide. Taking part in a prison ministry and speaking out when
they see injustice occurring are ways to work for justice and peace.
Providing meals for the bereaved, visiting the shut-ins, and
adopting a new family in the congregation are ways to build an
inclusive caring community of women. By doing these and other
such activities, women are strengthening the Presbyterian Church
(USA) and are witnessing to the promise of God's kingdom, which is
the focus of Presbyterian Women.
This shows one of the struggles of PW; too many women think
of circles and PW as the same thing. We need to start thinking of
circles as one of the activities of PW. Circles will always be an
important part of our organization for the churches that have
circles, for they use them to bind the women together, for support
and study. But unless a church has only one circle and .aJlwomen in
the congregation belong to the circle, then there needs to be a
Coordinating Team or planning body to organize the women's work
and ensure all women's interests are included in the yearly program.
But PW is much more and can be effective without circles.
Remember I started by asking you to think of an umbrella. The
cover over the top is the Presbyterian Women's Organization:
Churchwide, Synod, Presbytery, and Congregation; the spokes that
extend from the handle are the four areas that the purpose
mentions. From each of these spokes imagine markers hanging
down naming events or activities women are involved in. Some
maybe one time events and others may occur monthly. Events may
be for small groups, while others will be for large groups. This is the
joy of Presbyterian Women. The women of each congregation can
organize their group to reflect their interest, gifts, and talents.
Showing our young women that we care about them and providing
an activity that allows them to fellowship together would be a start
in encouraging their participation. Successful PW groups will be
careful to provide activities and events of interest for every woman
in their congregations. Everyone does not have to take part in
everything for the program to be success. Too often we judge
success on numbers; if a few take part in an event and receive
information that can be used, learn how to make a needed product,
or learn a new skill, then the event is a success. What the group
must remember is that they should remain true to the doctrines of
the Presbyterian Church and to the PW purpose in everything they
do.
Many of the problems Presbyterian Women are struggling with
are the same problems facing the Presbyterian Church. Searching
for ways to reach young women and to meet their needs parallel the
church's programs and services designed to appeal to younger
people. At times we seem to even be competing against each other,
instead of working together, to reach this segment of the
population. Using social media to reach younger people instead of
traditional methods of meetings or communication is becoming
more and more important for this is the center of their world.
Commitment is another area in which both PW and
Presbyterians struggle. As a society, church is no longer one of the
top priorities. Many times, we seem to be given the time, money,
and energy that are left from people's busy everyday lives. These
are only two of the problems that we share.
The activities promoted by PW support the mission of our
denomination and the fellowship developed among women provides
a support system for them. I want to repeat the statement I made
when I started. The goal of PW is that all women, regardless of their
economic status, their racial background, their educational level, or
if their homes or churches are rural or urban, will find a church
where they are comfortable and secure; where they can work
together to develop the gifts they have been given as they continue
their spiritual journeys and work to further the Kingdom of God.
This is the vision of Presbyterian Women.