wfn.org | A Call to Faithfulness

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

21-April-1999 
99158 
 
    A Call to Faithfulness 
 
Editor's Note: In response to comments generated by the selection of this 
year's Women of Faith award recipients, the Rev. Cathy Chisholm, chair of 
the General Assembly Council, has issued the following communication to the 
church at large: - Gary Luhr 
 
    Whenever I've been  asked to name what I thought would be the most 
important issues facing the General Assembly Council, I have refused.  My 
conviction is that what is most crucial is the manner in which we make our 
decisions, especially when approaching topics we had never imagined would 
be on our agenda. My goal this year has been to  nurture our  relationships 
through open communication, prayer and worship, seeking to discern the will 
of God in all our actions and decisions. 
 
    An unexpected topic of  concern, initially reported in a Presbyterian 
News Service story,  is the announcement of  this year's Women of Faith 
Awards. Even though the official announcement of the selections had not 
been released, we are  a close-knit denomination with many networks along 
which news travels. In light of the  diversity of sincere and passionate 
responses which have already been expressed, this letter is an attempt to 
identify the values and issues involved and to call us as a children of God 
to approach our discussions with  mutual respect. 
 
    Although recognition of women at General Assembly has a long history, 
for the past thirteen years the Women of Faith Awards have been presented 
by General Assembly Council while the actual selection  has been made by 
representatives of various women's groups. Following the announced theme of 
"On Behalf of Women:   Reforming Through the Word,"  the committee chose 
this year's three recipients: Dr. Letty Russell, Dr. Jane Dempsey Douglas 
and Dr. Jane Spahr, evangelist for  "That All May Freely Serve." 
 
    For the staff and elected members of the General Assembly Council, this 
year's selections present an unusual dilemma. On the one hand, the 
selection process followed established procedures and was solely  the 
decision of the committee of women selected by their groups for this 
purpose, seeking to be faithful in their task . On the other hand, the 
choice of a woman  who is closely associated with advocacy for the 
ordination of gay and lesbian persons was  likely to be interpreted by some 
as endorsement of that position. To simply proceed with the public 
announcement of the awards without consideration of the potential impact 
would have been  an abuse of  the goodwill and trust of the church at 
large. 
 
    As a woman in a leadership position, I identify with the experience of 
so many women in the church who have struggled to be heard and to make 
decisions for themselves. As Chair of the General Assembly Council, I am 
committed to serving the whole church in all its diversity. 
 
    What is the right thing to do in this situation? First of all, we each 
must respect the sincere views and opposing opinions which have and will be 
expressed whatever decision is made. Second, we must each redouble our 
efforts to pray for our church and be open to the working of the Spirit in 
our midst. An essential tenet of our polity is that we believe God is at 
work in the decision-making of committees and governing bodies of the 
church. As elders and ministers, we have vowed to honor these decisions 
while not relinquishing our own right of conscience or ability to work 
within our polity to change particular policies or decisions which do not 
represent our personal views of God's will and intentions for the church. 
Finally, we must make sure we are fully informed, refusing to base opinions 
on gossip or speculation. 
 
    Although  the decision is still under review, the intense interest 
already generated demands that complete information be provided as openly 
and as quickly as possible. This item will be on the agenda of the General 
Assembly Council Executive Committee at our  scheduled spring meeting, 
April 23-26. I can assure you that our meeting will be enveloped in prayer, 
our discussions conducted openly and respectfully, and that all voices will 
be heard in a spirit of partnership with each other and our Lord. 
 
Yours in Christ's service, 
Cathy C. Chisholm 

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