wfn.org | Women's leadership applauded at breakfast

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

03-July-1996 
 
GA96049 
 
Women's leadership applauded at breakfast 
 
ALBUQUERQUE--Women are the backbone of the church and its overseas mission 
work, former moderator Marj Carpenter told close to 150 people at a 
breakfast sponsored by the Network of Presbyterian Women in Leadership 
(NPWL) July 2. 
 
    "As I've gone around the world and watched the women--both missionaries 
and women in the countries they serve--I continue to be impressed by their 
strength," Carpenter said.  She went on to tell story after story about 
women in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Venezuela whose faith had made a 
difference in the world.  The crowd responded to her colorful recounting of 
events with laughter, tears and spontaneous applause. 
 
    She told about a young woman pastor in the Philippines who stood in 
front of bulldozers to keep a powerful group of casino-operators from 
taking over peasants' land.  She also described a night-time visit to the 
grave of martyred Presbyterian minister Manuel Saquic in Guatemala with his 
widow, who is now receiving death threats herself.  She and her five 
children have been in hiding since Saquic's assassination last year.  "Pray 
for Manuel Saquic's family," Carpenter reminded her listeners. 
 
    "Marj, we'd like to pray for you," declared the Rev. Kathy Goodrich, of 
Reading, Pa., a member of the NPWL steering committee, after Carpenter 
stepped down from the podium.  She led the gathering in prayer for 
Carpenter's ministry. 
 
    The Network of Presbyterian Women in Leadership is a recently organized 
ministry of Presbyterians for Renewal.  Its purpose, as stated in a 
membership brochure, is "to foster personal, spiritual and professional 
support among Christ-centered and ministry-focused clergy women and lay 
leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)." 
 
 
Eva Stimson 

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