Justice for Women Representative
Nancy Duffield, nanduff@core.com
248-673-3403
Synod of the Covenant's Justice for Women Webpage, includes links to many
women's resources! Visit
www.synodofthecovenant.org/JFW.
As the old saying goes, “We have come a long way, Baby” and we really have.
It was only 75 years ago that no female could be a ruling elder in our
Presbyterian Church. There were no women clergy. Some churches did
have female deacons, but no wonder, women were good in mission roles and as
hostesses, but everyone knew they were too emotional and too flighty to lead …
other than to teach children in Sunday School or manage the kitchen. Few
people would voice these stilted, old fashioned ideas now, but some, both men
and women, still keep these sort of thoughts hidden deep in their hearts.
Do the men in your church or Presbytery ever host a reception for any reason …
new Presbytery Exec? New pastor? Martin Luther King Day Service?
Are they capable? Of course they are. No one asks them. That
is a woman’s job. I think we might be very surprised and pleased if we
took more of these stereotypical roles and switched them. If nothing else,
it would clear some of the cobwebs out of our thinking and perhaps give all
God’s children a new way to serve in God’s Kingdom.
This year Justice for Women is promoting a time of celebration in each
Presbytery and each church to honor the women who were the first deacons, elders
and pastors in our denomination. Perhaps a special worship service could be
planned to honor those women who were the “firsts” in your church, or a special
time to honor “firsts” at a Presbytery meeting. As your representative to the
Justice for Women committee, I have a litany that can be used and a copy of a
list of the women “firsts” for PC (USA) that you could have. Just let me know
how to get this to you.
Justice for Women has another equally important focus. Domestic Violence or
Relational Violence as we prefer to call it is far too prevalent in the world
these days. Yes, it is being reported more often, but there also is an increase
in the incidents. Most often the person being violated is a woman or girl, but
some men and boys also need help. We need to be more aware of this issue and
learn better ways of dealing with it. Church people don’t want to think this
could be in their church, but it is and unless we begin to address the issue it
will only get worse.
Relational Violence may end up with some one in the hospital or worse yet,
dead, but that is not where it starts. It starts with “put-downs”. One person
in a relationship (marriage, family, friendship, dating) begins to undermine the
other’s clothing, speech patterns, choice of friends, work, family, school,
anything about the other person … put downs. Gradually the offender works to
isolate that person from all family, friends, neighbors. Yes, the offender
does need help, lots of it, but seldom is anyone aware at this point. Often the
abuser has a background of being abused either verbally or physically and sees
this as the only way to be in charge, to be popular or well liked. When nothing
is done in these early stages, things do escalate and life gets worse for all.
Our job is to be aware. Listen to what your co-worker has to say about how
some one is treating her. Does your neighbor appear to be afraid of her
brother, her father, her husband? Listen and be supportive of her. Does some
one in your Sunday School class constantly belittle another? Use class time to
talk this problem out.
At the Synod Gathering this June 24-26, Barbara Glasson who works for “Open
Doors”, which is an agency that deals with this sort of thing, will have a
workshop about this growing concern. If you would like to learn more about what
you could do to understand and help in this all too prevalent problem, sign up
for her workshop.
In 2005 and 2006 we Presbyterians will be celebrating the milestone in the
progress women have made in the church. Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery
Moderators have a list of the national fists, but it would be great if each
church would honor the firsts in their congregation. Who was the first woman
deacon in your church, the first elder and the first woman to preach from the
pulpit? Make a display honoring these modern-day pioneers. Have a special
program or service to remind all Presbyterians of some of milestones in our
history.
Ways to recognize women:
