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The nature of nurture
GA04090
July 1, 2004

The nature of nurture

Luncheon celebrates abundance of church women in leadership

by Alexa Smith

RICHMOND, July 1 - As the National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen
revs up to mark the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in the church
in 2006, the Rev. Janice Catron is calling for clergywomen to celebrate their
gifts for leadership.

	Secular organizations are affirming what women have always known
about leadership, the communications and public-relations officer for
Presbyterian Women told a crowd of clergywomen at the luncheon of the
National Association of Clergywomen.

	"The language of leadership has changed because of women in business
and in the church," she said. "... There's less hierarchy and more
relationship."

She said the leadership language of women jives with descriptions of
"abundance" in the epistles and in the Gospel of John.

	It is a nurturing style that has always been under-appreciated, she
said.

Second Corinthians lists the promises of gospel living, among them an
abundance of consolation, love, joy, equality, balance and grace, Catron
said, while Peter and Jude promise an abundance of peace, and John adds to
the equation an abundance of love.

	"And the leadership books say that women paved the way," she said,
describing the crossover of nurturing values into even secular styles of
leadership.

While acknowledging that women in the church have "a long way to go," she
urged her listeners not to forget the progress already made and told them to
"give thanks for who you are and the ministry you bring."

Several women at the luncheon were recognized for service in ordained
ministry - for periods ranging from one year to 46.

Mary Elva Smith, the associate director for women's ministries, said five
members of that staff were lost in the recent down-sizing at the Presbyterian
Center in Louisville. She said Presbyterian Women will meet in a strategy
session to decide how to address the loss.

Smith said she's proud of the leadership of Susan Andrews, the moderator of
last year's Assembly, and Jean Marie Peacock, the current vice moderator.

"My dream for 2006," she said, "is to see a moderator and a vice moderator
who are women" - something that has never occurred. "I hope you all will be
thinking about and praying for that."

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