First non-U.S. woman bishop preaches to United Methodists
Aug. 17, 2006 News media contact: Linda Green * (615) 7425470* Nashville {492}
NOTE: Photographs and related coverage are available at http://umns.umc.org.
By Sharon Fulmer*
CHICAGO (UMNS) - It began with the story of the stoles.
The Aug. 16 worship service at the 2006 International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation was one of unnamed women bringing forth stories told with stoles to the stage.
One came from a culture that would not allow women to speak from the pulpit; another was raped as a child and abused as an adult. One was lame, another blind, another deaf.
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, the first woman elected to the United Methodist episcopacy outside the United States, preached on the story of one such no-name, a woman who bled for 12 years. Wenner's message was based on Mark 5:25-34.
"In Germany, we receive many English words," Wenner said. The term "no-name" reflects that the person being discussed "lives a life that is not remarkable."
"What a pain," she said. "We cannot imagine what a pain, what a shame."
The bishop admitted she had never preached on this Scripture before, but was asked to do it for this worship service. "I realized it would be a privilege," she said, "for in God's eyes, there are no no-names."
The woman in Mark 5 "was a pretty powerful woman," looking for ways to be healed, and then she came toward Jesus, Wenner said.
The bishop shared stories she had read of African women stricken with AIDS who wrote letters to be given to their children so that they would one day know of their heritage. "What a power in the midst of disease," she noted.
Jesus wanted to see the woman face to face and hear her story. "Let us stop thinking those who are suffering are faithless, are powerless," Wenner said. "That no-name is a beloved daughter of God."
Jesus recognizes the faith of those no-names all over the world, she told the clergywomen during the worship service.
It was her own faith, not the power of Jesus, that made her well, the bishop said.
She challenged the denomination's clergywomen: "Live your faith in a healing relationship with Jesus Christ. Go in peace, your faith has made you well."
Wenner was elected to the episcopacy Feb. 16. The United Methodist Church in Germany has a membership of 65,000 and serves a constituency twice that number, organized into three annual conferences with some 500 congregations.
More than 1,500 United Methodist clergywomen from around the globe were in Chicago Aug. 13-17 to celebrate the advancements women have made in the 50 years since they were granted the same clergy rights as men in the denomination, and to see how women in leadership have influenced and are influencing the church.
*Fulmer is the director of communications for the North Central New York Annual Conference.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org