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Note #6691 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Abundant gifts of clergywomen celebrated at National Association of
Presbyterian Clergywomen lunch

14-June-2001
GA01130

Abundant gifts of clergywomen celebrated at National Association of
Presbyterian Clergywomen lunch

by Emily Enders Odom

LOUISVILLE, June 14 – Warmth, generosity and affirmation were the
order of the day at the National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen
(NAPC) lunch, held Thursday afternoon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the
occasion of this 213th General Assembly.

	Following words of welcome and prayer by the Rev. C. Wylie Smith, president
of NAPC, and Aleida Jernigan, NAPC representative at General Assembly, the
clergywomen in attendance stood to celebrate the anniversaries of their
ordination.  This annual tradition revealed the newest woman to be ordained
(in April 2001), and the clergywoman of longest standing.  She was the Rev.
Arnaldy R. Quismundo of Tulsa, Ok., ordained in 1951 by the United Churches
of Christ in the Philippines, the umbrella under which are included the
Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Disciples of Christ and Evangelical
denominations.  Each honoree received a gift, among several that were
awarded throughout the course of the luncheon.

	Smith also announced plans for the NAPC Triennial, featuring Marjorie
Thompson, to be held April 26-29, 2002, in Albuquerque, N.M.

	Joanne Sizoo, membership secretary for NAPC, introduced with humor and a
collective expression of gratitude and support, the speaker of the day, Mary
Elva Smith.  Smith, who joined the Women’s Ministries Program Area
(WMPA) several months ago as associate director, is a certified Christian
educator with over 30 years’ experience, who most recently served as
interim general presbyter for San Diego Presbytery.

	“I’m a preacher’s kid,” Smith began, “who
rejected the initials ‘PK’ and self identified as a
‘GTO,’ ‘great theological offspring.’  From there,
it’s been an uphill battle.”

	Speaking of her own tenacity and struggles in pursuing a vocation in
ministry and in advocating women’s concerns, she said she is called to
this place at this time.  “I’m real tired of the war,”
Smith confessed, “I’m not tired of the issues.”  She then
lifted up two specific concerns, racism and abortion, which she hopes to
emphasize in her work on behalf of the WMPA.

	As clergywomen responded to Smith’s open invitation to share ways in
which they support one another in their respective communities, stories of
both isolation and celebration among colleagues were related.

	“Back when I was a seminary student at Duke Divinity School,”
said Janet Adair Hansen, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Cortland,
N.Y., “I attended a conference in the spring of 1978, either the first
or second conference held, where I first met Wylie Smith.  It was a vital
connection for me when I was experiencing problems in the candidacy
process.”

	“General Assembly,” Hansen said, “is a good reminder to
renew that relationship.”

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