wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Presbyterian Women are 'called' together

[Deeanna Alford <dalford@CTR.PCUSA.ORG>]

 03280
July 10, 2003

Presbyterian Women are 'called' together

Louisville Gathering lifts up group's 'vision of justice for the world'

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE -The 2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women got off to
a rousing start Wednesday night with spirited worship, thundering drums and
a thought-provoking speech.

Thousands of women and some men from around the world chanted hymns,
exchanged hugs and greeted each other in a host of languages while gathered
at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville for the
event, whose theme is "God's Vision, Our Calling" (Ephesians 4:1-6).

 About 4,000 women registered for the five-day triennial conference, which
started on July 9.

 "We are called to meet the real issues of life without denying the world
and (without) becoming complicit in its injustice and evil," said the Rev.
Joan Martin, a Presbyterian minister and author from Massachusetts who was
the principal speaker for the evening.

"Ephesians heralds the news that God's purpose in Jesus Christ is the
renewal of humanity and all of creation," she said. "Christian calling and
formation is for life in the church, and is also the church's witness and
empowerment to struggle against the powers of evil in God's world and
universe."

The last Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women (PW), in 2000, also
was held here.

Participants chanted during the opening prayer from "O Sing unto the
Lord," and sang a hymn based on the event's theme: "This is the place and
this is the time. God has a vision for us and God is waiting."

More than 60 "global partners" from around world, including Asia, the
Middle East and South America, turned out for the event.

"In partnership with the various divisions of the wider church.
Presbyterian Women is able to bring to you the challenges and the joys that
we face as people of Christian faith living in a multiethnic,
multicultural, multifaith world," said Karen Fritsch, moderator of the
Churchwide coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women.

PW is an organization of women in the church that sponsors and supports a
broad program of ministry, education and fund-raising for mission.

A number of workshops are scheduled on topics ranging from AIDS to Native
American-related issues to challenges facing women in the Middle East.

A seemingly mile-long precession of international and ecumenical partners
of the PC(USA) made its way through the plenary hall and onto a stage, many
dressed in the clothing of their homelands.

 Large screens beamed images of the diverse delegation as they took to the
stage, joined by plenary leaders, PW officers and a drumming ensemble of 19
women from the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

A theater company made up of former mission workers from around the globe
was featured in the procession. The Sinikithemba Choir from South Africa,
whose members are HIV-positive, also participated, signaling that a major
thrust of the gathering is to be raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Participants are being encouraged to attend workshops on the issue and
contribute to an offering that will benefit programs aimed at assisting
women and families impacted by the fatal disease in the United States and
in Africa.

"Our God has a vision for each of us," said Gerry Taylor, PW's vice
moderator for justice and peace concerns, "a vision of justice for the
world we share, a world where each person has secured space in which to
live, enough food to eat, and clean, safe water to drink. A world without
poverty and the diseases of poverty, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDs."

For additional information about the gathering, visit the Web site:
http://www.pcusa.org/pwgathering/index.htm. For information about
Presbyterian Women, visit: http://www.pcusa.org/pw/index.htm.

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