wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 552

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (558
notes).

Note 555 by UMNS on Jan. 20, 1998 at 17:18 Eastern (4446 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Green					28(10-71B){555}
	    Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	Jan. 20, 1998

	
Few women attend first regional 
Promise Keepers clergy conference

by United Methodist News Service

	Women were not excluded from the first of nine regional Promise Keeper events
for clergy, but few attended.
The one-day session in Philadelphia Jan. 15 attracted approximately 3,400
evangelical Protestants from New England and the Middle Atlantic states. It's
stated purpose was to inform and equip clergy to improve men's ministries in
local churches.  
The Rev. Coleen Brandt, pastor of C.C. Hancock Memorial United Methodist
Church in Springfield, Pa., said the gathering "was like going to any of the
fundamentalist churches that don't ordain women but try to be polite."
	She said there was an absence of presenters from the mainline denominations
that have a theological affinity with United Methodism. "There was no
representative of a denomination that baptizes babies among the presenters,"
she said.
	Unlike the stadium/revival events which the Promise Keepers organization has
sponsored for men, the regional clergy events are focused more on how-to
advice and workshops aimed at getting men active in their own churches.  There
was also no charge for the clergy gatherings.
In published reports, Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney, said the
movement has changed course in extending an invitation to women, because "we
have learned that 13 percent of our churches are pastored by ladies."
Promise Keepers officials said they wanted clergy women to attend these
conferences because some men who attend Promise Keepers events return to
churches pastored by women.
	According to McCartney, the organization needs "pastors who will turn their
churches into training camps for men.
	The Rev. Debra Gildart, pastor of Thorndale (Pa.) United Methodist Church,
said she attended the clergy conference because the men in her church are
interested in the Promise Keepers movement. "I went to see for myself why they
were excited.  I found it positive and helpful."
	Equal Partners in Faith, a national network of clergy and faith-based
activist formed last year to challenge the claims of Promise Keepers, held a
press conference in Philadelphia to voice their concerns about the men's
organization and its philosophy. Particular concerns included the
organization's position on gender and racial equality and gay rights. 
"Women pastor were not invited or encouraged. They were allowed to come," said
Laura Montgomery Rutt, a United Methodist seminary student who is coordinator
of Equal Partners in Faith. 
McCartney acknowledged in a press conference that most women learned of the
clergy conference through word of mouth.
In addition to the nine clergy conferences, women will be welcomed at clergy
meetings held prior to the men's stadium gatherings planned for this year. 
The second regional clergy conference is scheduled for Denver Jan. 22.  Others
are scheduled at San Diego, Jan. 29; Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 5; Charlotte,
N.C., Feb. 10; Dallas, Feb. 12; St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 19; Portland, Ore.,
March 10; and Indianapolis, March 12.
	Gildart supports the concept of men gathering to network among themselves. "I
think white men are disenfranchised and are trying to find themselves," she
said. "Through Promise Keepers, they are stepping up to try themselves.  Men
need a place to gather and network as women do. Promise Keepers is a positive
way that they are doing this. It is affirming for men, the family and the
church."
Equal Partners in Faith argues that the movement's  leaders follow "hand in
hand" with the conservative agenda of organizations such as the Christian
Coalition and the Moral Majority.
	"The leaders claim the movement is not political but all of the leaders are
involved in politics," said Rutt. "The movement is being used by the political
religious right as a new way to promote a political agenda under the guise of
religion."
	Rutt also said that Promise Keepers, with a literal interpretation of
scripture, is out of step with her understanding of Wesleyan theology.
	Rutt said the press conference in Philadelphia was held because Promise
Keepers has "marginalized" groups such as the National Organization of Women
which have protested their philosophy. 
	"We are mainstream people of faith and we have concerns about this movement,"
Rutt said.  "The people of faith have been silent too long."
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