Presbyterian Women of Synod Gather
at Centre College in Danville
Renewing and developing friendships combined with
learning through workshops and worship services comprised the purpose
of the Triennial PW Gathering on July 20-22, 2001. That mission was
accomplished.
Traveling to eastern Kentucky for this third gathering
of Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Living Waters was part of a plan
to experience the variety and distances in the four states of the Synod.
The first gathering was in 1995 at Maryville College in eastern Tennessee
and the second in 1998 was at Stillman College in Alabama.
Bible study and singing sessions were interspersed
with prayers and worship services. Workshop topics included: "Christian
Witness in a Shrinking World" led by Vernon Broyles; "Hope
for Small Churches" led by Betty Meadows; "Domestic Violence
in the Elderly" led by Lucky Collins; "Spiritual and Financial
Legacies" led by Penny Arnold; "Women of the New Testament"
led by Carole Knight; "Prayers from the Old Testament" led
by Barbara Roche; "Praying Through the Bothers" led by Barbara
Woody; "Presbyterian Response to Disaster" led by Stan Hankins;
and "Spiritual Leadership" led by Warner Durnell.
On the final morning of the event, Patricia Tull,
author of "Esther's Feast," the Horizons Bible study for 2001-2002,
presented an overview of the study.
In her sermon titled "Ministry from the Margins",
Betty Meadows traced the history of women being on the margins of society
in biblical times and beyond, and mentioned the possibility that today
the church itself is in the margins. Invisibility is one characteristic
she mentioned of people in the margins and the church today is not as
visible as it was fifty years ago. "Mission today is right at the
front door of our churches," she said. This gathering of Presbyterian
women heard her say: "No greater leaders are available to the church
today than women."
Five women ministers from the Synod led Saturday
night worship for the PW Gathering. From left to right: Carole
Knight, pastor of Christiana Presbyterian Church in Middle
Tennessee; Patricia Tull, author of Esther's Feast,
Horizons Bible study for 2001-2002; Betty Meadows,
Mid-Kentucky presbytery executive, who preached the sermon; Barbara
Roche, retired editor of Horizons magazine; and Kris
Bentley, Minister of Christian Education at Second Presbyterian
Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
From left to right, Ann Smith,
director of the Gathering; Carolyn Jordan, president
of Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Living Waters; Mamie Jones,
moderator-elect of the Synod of Living Waters.
