2001 Wellsprings Journal Fall issue
Transcription
2001 Wellsprings Journal Fall issue
A Journal for United Methodist Clergywomen EDITORIAL CIRCLE Susan Beehler Marion Jackson EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sandy Walker DESIGN Lisa Moore COVER ILLUSTRATION Chris Suerdick is published periodically by rhe Section of Elders and Local Wellsprings: A Journal for • Pastors, Division of Ordained Ministry, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, P.O. United Methodist Clergywomen Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 POSTMASTER: • Send address changes to Wellsprings, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 invitation ___-'!II,_ ou are invited to create a journal of clergywomen. This journal is a forum for our collective experience and emerging stories as women in ministry Our hope is to: • make connections with other clergywomen; • exchange our imaginings, knowledge, and ideas; • call forth the creative spirit that exists in each clergywoman; • nurture creativity through worship, music, visual arts, dreams and dance; • share our pain and anger; • dance our joys and laughter; • speak grace and compassion; • seek authentic expressions of spirituality and celebrate our diverse experiences of the divine; • reclaim the essence of the gospel as revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; • provide for inclusiveness and affirm our diversity; • advocate for women and all of creation; • engender dreams, transformations, and a vision of wholeness in the church. 1 We proclaim with Bishop Leontine Kelly, "Wellsprings of hope-it may well be the women of The United Methodist Church." This journal is dedicated to that hope. ~ FALL 2001 • VOL. 9 NO . 2 "Women's Gatherings" the journal guide THE INVITATION 1 THE EDITORIAL CIRCLE 4 spinning the sacred yarn SABBATH: Contemplation, Companionship and Compassion Barbara Troxell 7 A N N 0 TAT E D B I B L I 0 G R A P H Y Barbara Troxell 13 gathering the clouds of witnesses I M AG I N E A T I M E Kathy Sage IN THE BEGINNING 16 21 CONSULTATIONS 197 5-1995 2 23 connections CLERGYWOMEN'S CONSULTATION-2002 Meet the Design Team 28 Interview with the Co-Chairs Garlinda Burton The Preachers Workshops 37 37 San Diego Attractions Telephone Numbers STATISTICS MAP 48 44 41 42 34 27 ;/ii. mists-margins-meditations TIME 0 UT K<rl• Kill~ 50 actions/ref Iect ions SA B BAT H C ER EA L Rebecca Carnpney Carver 54 THE SABBATH QUESTION DonnaFadolvery 55 1995 IN ATLANTA SusanRuach 58 DOING NOTHING Maria Coleman 60 RECOLLECTIONS ON DALLAS Nan Self 61 GLORI ETA MaryAnnMoman 62 WOMEN'S WORSHIP Marsha Wiggins Frame 63 the creating spirit T H E W0 M E N M U ST B E GAT H ER I NG Susan Beehler 15 BONDING, REFLECTING, AND SEWING MarilynPoteHutton 43 COME AWAY AND REST AWHILE PeggyGarrigues-Cortelyou 64 high I ights NEWS/AN NOU NCEM ENTS 65 Anna Howard Shaw Center Clergywomen's Retention Study 3 Georgia Harkness, Women of Color, and Dempster Scholars National Council of Churches CORRECTIONS 70 CONSULTATION REGISTRATION FORM 72 editorial c ire Ie 4 The Women Must Be Gathering. The frrst issue of Wellsprings came out in the Summer of 1988. It was birthed by Kathy Sage, along with Susan Beehler and Liz Lopez. The focus of that first issue was the Consultation of 19 8 7, and to commemorate that event Susan Beehler wrote a song, "The Women Must Be Gathering." It became the official mantra for subsequent gatherings. "I can feel it; feel the movement. The women must be gathering!" We are pleased to include in the pages of this issue a retrospect of the Consultations written by Kathy and a reprint of Susan's wonderful song. From 197 5 to 1995 the Clergywomen's Consultations have been held every four years, the year before General and Jurisdictional Conferences. These gatherings have been important events. This edition will highlight the upcoming event as well as celebrate and remember all the previous ones. The theme for the Consultation in January is: "Creating a Woman's Sabbath: Come Away and Rest A While." Barbara Troxell has written a fme article on the history and meaning of Sabbath in preparation for our time together. In these pages you can meet the design team, review the workshops, and sample the creative works and thoughts generated. There is music, poetry, and musings on the need for Sabbath time. Karla Kincannon, who had planned to be a part of the editorial circle, has had new developments in her life and is unable to be a part of the team. We are sorry she had to leave before starting, but we are grateful for her contribution toward the generation of ideas for this edition and her stellar article "Time Out." We round out this edition with a walk down memory lane. We have listed dates, places, themes, and names of the design team members of the six Consultations held since 197 5. Additionally, women who have attended all or many of the past Consultations share their memories from these events. The last Consultation was in I 9 9 5 in Atlanta, and much has happened in the past seven years. The number of clergywomen has almost doubled, there is a new category of ministry - deacons in full connection - and six women have been added to the ranks of the episcopacy. We have worked hard. We hope this edition encourages you to come away and rest a while. "I can feel it; feel the movement. The women must be gathering." Marion Jackson Greater New Jersey Annual Conference I try to take my three mile walk each morning before the sun comes up in this part of the world. We who live in west Texas know well the concept of "global warming" : it occurs daily in July and August when the sun rises on the desert! I tend to be an early morning person by nature. It is my time! I can be totally observant with nothing interrupting my reflections and thoughts. It is indeed my Sabbath in each day. Even more wonderful than these daily Sabbath moments is having an entire day of Sabbath when nothing is scheduled. Now, when that presents itself to me, well bring on the heat, the humidity, and whatever other challenges the environment might present - they don't bother me a bit. Unscheduled time is good, it is very good. It is one of the most incredible gifts I can experience. And even though I might con myself into thinking otherwise, I do have some control over that. "But I like to produce and create and read and practice and teach and counsel...and there's the new movie just out ... and I have a lot of responsibility with mom," I say to myself I can come up with a lot of reasons why I can't have a full day of Sabbath. So I truly cherish my early morning moments of Sabbath, just being connected to creation and spirit. As I have been reading about the clergywomen's gathering set for January, 2002, I have been caught about how closely that feels to my 5:00 A.M. walk time. It is time to just be, to experience openness and light and cool breezes from the ocean. Singing songs of creation, women will seek the spirit in the midst of laughter, serious and not so serious thoughts, alone and together. Each woman being who and how she needs to be to breathe in Sabbath for herself or for others. "Come away," they say, before the desert of your soul heats up. Come away to drink deeply of the well of the spirit, our Sabbath together calls us to us. Reflecting on all that may be possible in January, this issue of Wellsprings explores some of the spirit and activities of that event. My prayer is that my reflections on my own quest for Sabbath might open up possibilities for you. There is some great stuff in this edition. Read on, sisters! Susan Beehler Baltimore Annual Conference Send all editorial circle correspondence to: 6 ~ Wellsprings Division of Ordained Ministry Section of Elders and Local Pastors P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 Wellsprings is sent free to every United Methodist clergywoman. For all others, subscriptions may be purchased at a cost of $7 .00 for two issues. Checks should be made payable to the Division of Ordained Ministry, U.M.C., and sent to: Wellsprings Division of Ordained Ministry P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 SABBATH: contemplation, companionship, and compassion "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." (Jesus to his apostles, who had recently returned from active ministry in the villages, as reported in Mark 6:3 la) As we move toward the 2002 International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation, we are invited into a "woman's Sabbath." But what is Sabbath? It is a gift of God and a space in time, greeted often in Jewish tradition as a feminine presence. Sabbath is both imprinted in the human soul and celebrated in history and, thus, it is essential to our lives. But as we are busy about many things and moving fast to get everything done, how often do we forget, to our peril, the gift and necessity of Sabbath. I will not spend words on the ways we forget this gift, for we know these all too well. Rather I will share a story from my own life that offers an image of my own need for Sabbath; and I will outline where I find the Sabbath gift in biblical tradition and in contemporary living. In 1980 while I was serving as superintendent of the beautiful and diverse Golden Gate District of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, I began to sense that I was moving too fast, getting minor illnesses too often, and becoming abrupt with people with whom I worked. One late afternoon, standing on a busy San Francisco boulevard waiting for a bus, I saw in a pawnshop window an image that 7 ~ 8 called out to me. A large, gray cat slept peacefully on a faded green velveteen cushion. A neatly hand-printed card taped inside the glass window directly above the cat read: "Please do not tap on this window. The cat needs her rest." Suddenly I was aware of the necessity in my own life for a sign that would read, "Please do not tap on me; my soul needs her rest." After that small revelation, I began to find more ways to "remember the Sabbath." Though I had read those words many times, now it was getting serious. I needed to honor that ancient commandment in my own life for deeper healtl1 and wholeness. I read again, with more intentional attentiveness, the biblical texts on Sabbath. I searched for and found helpful books on the theme. I began to repeat inwardly a holy sentence of God's speaking to me, "Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46 : 1Oa) This has continued to be a centering text in my life. Gradually it dawned on me: Sabbath is a God-given time and place for rest, renewal, and restoration of ourselves, others, and the earth. These are the elements of Sabbath - in the Bible, in the tradition, and in our own lives : Sabbath as a time of contemplation (resting in God); Sabbath as a time of companionship (renewal with others); Sabbath as a time of compassion (restoration and reconciliation of divided ones, of a wounded society, and of a bruised earth). As women how do we celebrate Sabbath in all its fullness and how may we help Sabbath be a more conscious part of our lives? Let's look at the rhythms of Sabbath within each of the three elements noted above: contemplation (rest), companionship (renewal), and compassion (restoration and reconciliation) . Consider these not in a linear way, but in a wondrous cycle or rhythmic spiral that continues throughout all time. We are heirs, after all, of a tradition that is both "fixed in nature, in the created cosmos, and found in history, in the commandment at Mount Sinai" (James Ashbrook, Minding the Soul, 18 3) . First, Sabbath is a time of contemplation - of resting in God, of setting aside our everyday work, for a given period of time. Indeed rest is holy, grounded in God's way for us.A fanlliiar text (Genesis 2:2) tells us that God finished the good work of creation by resting, which also can be interpreted as "catching one's breath." Creation is only complete when there is menuha - stillness, serenity, peace, rest. Some rabbis teach that on the seventh day God indeed created rest. Thus our active, doing modes are not the whole story. Jesus knew this well and prac- ticed Sabbath rest regularly. Consider the many accounts of Jesus going off alone for prayer, early in the day, all night, and out in a boat with his disciples.(See, for example, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 6: 12.) The time of Sabbath may be a day each a week, a retreat time each month or year, a morning or night quiet time, a full school term or year, or simply a few moments of mini-sabbaths in the midst of busy days or nights. People who have studied brain functions have noted that our brains need a Sabbath every 90 to 120 minutes; that's why when our meetings go too long, we find ourselves tuning out. Our brains need their rest. Our bodies and souls know what our biblical forebears knew: Sabbath rest remains for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9) as an essential pattern written in our genes. Within the resting, contemplative times, we are often silent and sometimes in solitude. We may be praying wordlessly or reading scripture or singing a melody. We may be walking or bathing, gardening or hugging a tree, sipping a cup of tea or washing a dish mindfully, aware that all is of God. We may be sitting still or gazing out a window. We may literally be sleeping, for we recall the wondrous ways God works in us through dreams and other unconscious processes even as we sleep. What a great and helpful shift after we have been talking, preaching, teaching, organizing, and sometimes feeling bombarded by words from others and from ourselves. Sabbath rest is indeed a "pause that refreshes." As a morning person I find that a quiet time of prayer, journaling, and review of my day ahead, after I shower and before breakfast, is an essential daily contemplative practice. Before sleeping at night I reflect briefly on the day, considering what was graced in the day and what was disturbing; each element can be offered to God in gratitude and in hope. In between, there are many mini-sabbath moments of deep breaths, inner quick prayers of thanks or of intercession, as I move through my days. These are but some of my ways; you have yours that renew your spirit as you rest, by the grace of God. Remember Sabbath as contemplation, as resting in God. Second, Sabbath is a time of companionship, of renewal with others with whom we share abundant life. Sabbath involves solidarity and friendship, keeping company with those who are dear to us and those with whom we reach out in hospitality. Remember Jesus going apart with his disciples in a boat on the Lake of Galilee, because it was a place where they would be quietly together yet not surrounded by the crowds. Remember also that in Jewish tradition the Sabbath begins at sundown Friday night with a special meal in the family home to which guests are often invited. Sabbath is a holy time of companionship and friendly communion with others. These are some of the ways of Sabbath companionship that I have found to be special blessings in my life and in the lives of other friends : 10 ~ • worshiping with the gathered community, for times of corporate worship are central to Jewish Sabbath on the seventh day and to the Christian Sabbath on the first day, as well as at other times of the week; • preparing and sharing meals with family and friends where we enjoy the presence of our companions (literally, those with whom we share bread); • collaborating in times of play with laughter, dance, spontaneity, and joy; •being with spiritual companions who are soul friends supporting our journey with God, offering us their grace-filled presence, and holding us accountable for who we are; • making love with an intimate partner (incidentally, one of the traditional elements of Sabbath activities enjoined in the Talmud for righteous Jewish couples); •blessing our children, our partner, our elderly parents, our siblings, our friends with gentle touch and other signs of God's mercy and healing; • remembering dear ones who live in other places with letters, phone calls, and visits; • serving meals and eating with persons in soup kitchens and community feasts; • enjoying concerts, films, theatre that reflect God's wondrous world. You may want to add to this list and elaborate upon each element for yourself. Companionable Sabbaths offer an alternative to legalistic, restrictive rules about Sabbath that too often evolved in both Jewish and Christian communities. The joyous possibilities of companionable Sabbath practices may grow and grow as we recall the biblical affirma- tions of delight in the Sabbath (see Isaiah 5 8: 13-14) and as we revel in the renewal of relationships given to us here and now. Remember Sabbath as companionship, as God-given renewal with others. Third, Sabbath is a time of compassion - restoration of all creation. In Jewish tradition Sabbath was never individualistic but rather was given for the sake of everyone's rest, everyone's freedom from bondage. Sabbath was a time for healing the terrible wounds of separation, alienation, misery, and oppression. Even the land was to have regular years oflying fallow. Not only was Sabbath celebrated every seventh day but also every seventh year, with a connection of the Sabbath year with the Jubilee year - seven times seven plus one. (Read Exodus 20:9-11; 21 :2; 23:10-13; Leviticus 25 .) Jesus affirmed and celebrated the Sabbath day, which also included healing and feeding on the seventh day as a continuation of the Sabbath commandment. (See Luke 13:10- 17; 14:1-6; Mark 2:23 -3:6.) Movements for justice and peace in caring for all of creation are an essential aspect of Sabbath. The restorative justice aspect of Sabbath reveals a "double purpose in life: to rest in God joyfully, and to direct the holy energy of that rest into caring for the creation with whom we share community" (Tilden Edwards, Sabbath Time, 81) . We women in ministry know well this sense of caring. May we also know that part of Sabbath restoration includes compassion for ourselves. Sabbath reminds us that we are not superwomen nor are we expected to do everything. Dorothee Soelle, in an article written years ago, wrote of Sabbath as "an interruption of life's repetitiveness ... a break in our daily patterns." I am so very grateful for friends who remind me to honor the close relationship of soul and body by urging me to take a break when I get compulsive about completing a task. Take a brisk or a slow walk, they say, stop and gaze at a bright spring flower, listen attentively to a bird's song or a beautiful piece of music, welcome a back rub or a foot massage. We forget Sabbath compassion at our own peril and at the world's peril. A statement I heard years ago remains with me as a vivid reminder: "We contemplate or else we exploit." To live lives of compassion in which we are intentionally seeking the restoration of others (even those different from ourselves), of the 11 ~ earth, and of ourselves, is a strong aspect of Sabbath celebration, for Sabbath witnesses to the promised rest and fulfillment of all of creation in God's peaceable kin-dam. Sabbath rest enables us to be present in a creative, compassionate way to persons in need, and to the earth that requires our care. Remember Sabbath as compassion, as restoration of all creation. So come away by yourselves to contemplate, to rest in God. Come away by yourselves with companions, for renewal with others. Come away by yourselves offering compassion, for the restoration and reconciliation of others, of the world, of yourselves, and of God. So may these be our invitations to Sabbath, as women in ministry! Barbara B. Troxell Senior Scholar in Spiritual Formation, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois California-Nevada Annual Conference Barbara is retired, but she continues to teach part-time, to offer spiritual direction, to lead retreats, and to be more aware of celebrating Sabbath. 12 SABBATH: annotated bibliography Ashbrook, James B. Minding The Soul: Pastoral Counseling as Remembering. (esp. chapter 13, "Sabbathing: Integrating Experience") . Fortress Press, 1996. Written by a wonderful pastoral counselor and seminary teacher, the late Dr. James Ashbrook, this book gathers up his learnings on "minding the soul," the links between soul, the brain, memory, gender differences, and Sabbath as we affirm our origins, our endings, and our journeys in God. Edwards, Tilden. Sabbath Time: Understanding and Practice for Contemporary Christians. Upper Room Books, 1992. Edwards (one of the founders of The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation) explores the roots of Sabbath in Jewish and in Christian traditions, and demonstrates how deeper understanding and practice of Sabbath can provide an alternative to our societal pulls between driven achievement and abdicating escape. Good historical material as well as practical applications. Heschel, Abraham Joshua. The Sabbath. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 19S1 (reprinted for twenty-second time, 1995). A classic by the well-known late Jewish scholar, teacher, writer, mystic, and activist, this beautiful book illumines the holiness of time and holiness in time. Muller, Wayne. Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest. Bantam Books, 1999. Written by an ordained minister and therapist, this book offers wise and poetic reflections on a deep tradition that has enormous implications for releasing stress and affirming needed healing in our lives today. "Sabbath" Alive Now! July/ August 1989, The Upper Room. Helpful quotations from some of the books listed here as well as brief stories and poems on Sabbath. Schaper, Donna. Sabbath Sense:A Spiritual Antidote for the Overworked. Innisfree Press, 199 7. Written by an area minister of the United Church of Christ, who is also a wife (married to a Jewish man), mother, gardener, and writer, this book is a refreshing, challenging, and hopeful account of the value of Sabbath in our busy and often-cluttered lives. Schaper is practical, reflective, and insightful. Sorensen, Christina Marie, "Sabbath as Re-Creation: Discovering Sabbath as a Way of Life". Unpublished MTS thesis , Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, May 1998 . Sorensen invites us into Sabbath spiritual practices, rooted in the historical traditions of Sabbath. In each section she offers "suggestions for action." Waskow, Arthur, David, and Shoshana. Before There Was a Before (esp. last section, "Resting"). Adama Books, 1984 Rabbi Waskow and his children open our eyes to the wonder of the seven days of creation and to God's sense of humor in the process. 14 women must be gathering the Susan R. Beehler Swing with hope and cxpcctlll1on. .. E~ . .... oJ . .. .. G7 Ab feel the movc·mcnl. ..... -.. 'a -mo.,·- ing. The m111t be -,. lick: 1~ .. -,. .. • can feel it; G7 tJ G7 .... .... The wom-cn must be r Hear glth • et - ing 1 -6 the call; r l Smell the ·ion , . I G7 .. Feel \ "U I I •l can feel it. the world! t:\ I ' 1 I • must gath - cr wom - en mu.•t be: • ., J I Ji J. J. be the move · mc:nt. The .. . ... ..,. s•th - u · in @ • •. ing. I ;1 ?: The= w I he ...---;r ·- G7 J J. feel ..... I 18 the wa-tcr I Sec - the pow -.:r. G7 ,," ~5. Fee:! Eb - ,g -.. .. .. ... gath-ct - insl 3 - en l II (Copyright) Completed 9 Dec. 85 in anticipation of Clergy Women Consultation, 1987. "Wellspring of Hope." Swing it, Sisters! 15 ~ Cf) Q) Cf) Cf) Q) c -+-' '+- 0 Cf) "D ::) 0 u Q) ...c -+-' . . 1mag1ne a TIME b.O c lo....... Q) ...c -+-' ("Q b.O 16 ¥ Can you imagine a time when there were no women bishops, no women District superintendents, few women on seminary faculties, and quite likely, not a woman in sight when you appeared before the Board of Ordained Ministry? If you actually remember such a time, you might also remember the first UM Clergywomen's Consultation at Scarritt in 19 7 5. One of the many legacies of COSROW is the wisdom of advocating with GBHEM for a gathering where clergywomen could be present in enough numbers so that male leadership in the above mentioned groups (bishops, DSs, seminaries and BOMs) would be forced to say "something new is happening here." The something new was the number of women graduating from seminaries. The something new was the ferment provided by the women's movement in the church. The something new was liturgy, theology, and career expectations for ministry shaped by women thinking together about the church in a new way. I needed the rainbow that appeared boldly over the Scarritt campus at the end of the 19 7 5 Consultation. Six months out of seminary and serving a two point charge in rural Michigan, I needed a booster shot of hope and inspiration in gigantic proportions. Women preached every service, dancers embodied the transformation, and women managed heated legislative debate, women of color demanded to be heard, and we learned that by listening together to the voices, silences, and contradictions we could find a way to sustain and grow a vision of ministry through the dry spells of sisterhood. I shared the car trip from Michigan to Tennessee with one who graduated seminary before the influence of the women's movement and a "local preacher" who spoke in tongues. These differences did not create a barrier to community in the late 7Os. We were fairly representative of the diverse ages, theology, and training of women in ministry, and our trip back was full of appreciation for the common experience and plans for regular meetings of the clergywomen of the conference. Groups of women in ministry emerged in many annual conferences because we "saw ourselves" together at that first Consultation. Every consultation has its rich heritage of women arriving in the company of Ezekiel, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost," (3 7: 11). Our numbers grew in Dallas and a tradition was established, "Come from the four winds, 0 breath and breathe upon these slain, that they may live" (Ezek. 3 7: 9b) . The 19 79 ice storm in Dallas seemed to symbolize the icy reception to our optimistic petitions from the Scarritt 19 7 S Consultation regarding the numbers of women bishops, DSs and BOM chairs that we had expected over the quadrennium. Our numbers had grown, and there was equally a hunger for women in leadership positions and for practical, yet inspired ideas of how we could be about the everyday ministry of the church at all levels. Workshops, caucuses, and plenaries suggested that education; strategy and collaboration would help us achieve our goals. The theme that emerged: power. Women preached with such power, exerted with such clarity, and inspired with growing creativity so that we could even laugh off the question someone asked us on the homeward bound plane, "What are you, Mary Kay consultants?" One more time, with the Spirit within, each was placed in our own land. Soon enough I learned the awesome responsibility of planning such an endeavor as my "land" of the 1980s became the portfolio of BHEM that included clergywomen's issues. To listen more carefully to the voices of African American, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian American clergywomen, the Consultation planning committee needed to represent such growing diversity Wonderful hours of listening, planning, and dialogue created the shape of the Consultation in February, 1983, at Glorieta, New Mexico - following a huge snow storm. If you were there, you consider Habakkuk one of the major books of the Hebrew Scriptures as "Make Plain the Vision" was used in 17 >-<J 18 ~ every worship service, sung in original compositions, and dramatized in the appearance of our first woman bishop. We did make plain that the vision was a future concerned with global issues, ethnic diversity, and growing leadership in the church by women. The Ballet Folklorica welcomed and entertained us at the opening ceremony. We wore out the "panel" mode of presentation in the middle. Like the first two Consultations, by the end we had caucused, petitioned, and worshiped with renewed vision and "if it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3b) . Innovations in our style of gathering marked Great Gorge in 198 7. We moved with the dancers, sang with the choir, learned to listen to our own hearts and, through the constancy of the fountain, embodied Wellsprings of Hope. Spirituality groups provided an intimate gathering each morning. Proclamation workshops reminded us of the importance of preaching. Nearly 1,000 participants listened as stories that could not be shared openly were brought in sacred vessels and poured into our midst. Stories that previously had been hidden and silenced now asked to be welcomed, just as other differences and gifts had been recognized and woven into the whole. In the closing, we lifted the chalice and paten and blessed the journey. Of course we caucused and petitioned - more women bishops and DSs were in our midst, we were finding places of creativity, we were finding ways to bring the vision to life. So it must be working and we spiraled out. Planning for St Charles in 1991 proved more challenging. Was it the caucusing, petitioning, and strategizing in the previous four Consultations that had sparked the increased numbers of women in leadership? Or was it simply inevitable that call, competence, and creativity among clergywomen would be recognized and become commonplace at all levels ofThe United Methodist Church. Our increased presence and influence are threatening to some and efforts were made to remove the "political" nature of the Consultations. The women gathered once again bidding je vous en prie, renew us by rituals that match the power of the call to justice, transformation, and hospitality. Korean drums invited us to enter and make sacred our answer to the call to be in ministry. Music, dance, puppets, preaching, spirituality, sisters from many lands, and old friends renewed us - some at our fifth consultation and others attending their first. This was my last Consultation. Atlanta in 19 9 5 added new elements such as the building of a Habitat for Humanity home. And once again, women answered the call to gather and be renewed in familiar liturgy and song with traditions confirmed, friendships renewed, and dreams rekindled. Another call sounds, this one promising the gifts of a woman's Sabbath. Hints of Sabbath renewal and offerings of soothing ointment have been a part of each Consultation. This seventh Consultation offers time for weary and weathered souls to discern the depth of their ministry call. By the sea in San Diego in 2002, the small trickle of women in ministry from the first Consultation in Nashville will indeed have gathered new generations to meet at the ocean Pacific. We have held many visions and hopes for the church. Some have been realized while others have eluded our most fervent efforts. Disappointments live alongside the faithful witness-bearing ministry of so many sisters along the way. From the beginning, we petitioned and projected our power onto those in leadership. And the wise ones in our midst pirouetted and lined back the songs of hope, the words of inspiration, and the courage to be the transformation. It is amazing to reflect that the babies clergywomen held in Nashville will be twenty-seven years old if they accompany their mothers again to this the seventh United Methodist Clergywomen's gathering. We claim those twenty-seven year old "children.'' In our midst, little boys grew up to be gentle, little girls learned to be strong, and so many learned that differences were okay. Likewise, churches have been transformed and ecclesia renewed. UM clergywomen pursued Ph.D.s and write books that challenge us and shape a new generation of seminarians women and men who benefit from the vision proclaimed creatively and lived boldly by clergywomen claiming our power and wholeness throughout these years. A generation has passed since the first Consultation. May Sabbath renewal be found as first time Consultation goers discover the rituals and power of gathering. May this recounting of our history through the very personal lens of one remind us of the power of our herstory: We stress different events as having been decisive at different times in our life history and, as we do so, we give those events new meanings . .. What we remember, what we stress as significant, and what we omit of our past defmes our pre- 19 ~ sent. And since the boundaries of our self-defmition also delimit our hopes and aspirations, this personal history affects our future. If we see ourselves as victimized, as powerless and overwhelmed by forces we cannot understand or control. we will choose to live cautiously, avoid conflict and evade pain. If we see ourselves as loved, grounded, powerful, we will embrace the future, live courageously, and accept challenges with confidence. 1 Kathy S. Sage Kathy was Kathy Nickerson when she was on staff of DOM in the 1980s. A Unitarian Universalist minister since 1997, she has just accepted a call to be parish minister in Kingston, Ontario, Canada 20 ~ ' Gerda Lerner,; Why History Matters. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997 . p. 199. 1n the BEGINNING Consultation on Women in United Methodist Ordained Ministry The task force faced up to the question of the increasing number of ordained women in The United Methodist Church and the implications of this for the church. It was believed that the purpose of such a gathering of these women would be to provide: • an arena of mutual support • clarification of issues •highlighting of problems of women "post-ordination" •"caucus empowerment" • directions for boards of ministry and cabinets • recognition of lifestyle shifts which are not satisfactorily understood • sensitizing the church to the ordained woman It is believed that such a Consultation should be held nationally and that hopefully "spin-offs" might occur at jurisdictional levels for continuing support of ordained women in relationship to the particular jurisdictional problems that they meet. (Since approximately 2 5 0 ordained women were listed in the 1970 Study Commission figures, it is estimated that about 300 ordained women throughout United Methodism would be invited to such a Consultation) . The Consultation would include ordained women on trial and in full connection. It was therefore recommended that such a consultation be called as soon as feasibly possible, but within the next 18 months at least, and that other agencies concerned with the ordained woman be invited to share in the sponsorship. (Board of Higher Edu~ation and Ministry, Women's Division) Approved 21 ~ It was hoped that boards of ministry of annual conferences might also contribute to such a Consultation, particularly with travel funds for ordained women from their respective conferences. The Commission voted to include an item of up to $2,000 as seed money for this Consultation. Primary contribution from the Commission on the Status and Role of Women, however, would be in terms of staff and "Commission members" work time. Will Hildebrand will develop the proposal for the consultation. From the minutes of the Task Force on Women Employed by the Church September 21-23, 1973 This information provided by Nan Self. 22 ~ consultations 1975 - 1995 The first Consultation was sponsored by the Commission on the Status and Role of Women, the Division of Ordained Ministry of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and the Centers for Continuing Education and Women's Studies at Scarritt College. Resolutions passed: •Asking COSROW to develop strategies for electing one bishop in three jurisdictions in I 9 7 6. •That ten women be appointed district superintendents in each of the five jurisdictions by 19 7 6. • Upon leaving or upon retirements, all seminary presidents and deans be replaced by women until half the seminary presidents are women and half the women are third world. Following is a list of all the Consultations, the theme when specified, and members of the design teams. The asterisk (*) indicates people who became bishops. 23 January 6-10, 1975, in Nashville, Tennessee Design Team Members Harriet Miller Lynne Morrison Jeanne Audrey Powers Robert Reber Robert Thornburg Louise Weeks Martha Wilson Doris Jones, Staff Phyllis Bird George Butchee Jeanne Conover Jesse De Witt Ethel Johnson Ellen Kirby Mary Kraus Helen McKune January 2-5, 1979, in Dallas, Texas Design Team Members Sharon Zimmerman Rader,* Co-Chair Susan Ruach, Co-Chair Trudie Preciphs Reid, COSROW. Staff Doris Jones, GBHEM, Staff Esther Edwards, Registrar Bishop Ralph T. Alton Thomas Lane Butts Wesla Fletcher Gerald Heilman Janice Riggle Huie* 24 Mary Hurmence Lydia Martinez Velma Smith Judy Weidman Bishop Melvin Wheatley, Jr. Highlights: Worst ice storm in Dallas in SO years, Marjorie Matthews* was drafted to run for the episcopacy. Preachers included: Liz Lopez, Leontine T. C. Kelly,* Sharon Brown Christopher,* and Tullulah Fisher Williams. February 7-11, 1983, Glorieta, New Mexico Make Plain The Vision Design Team Members Sharon A. B. Christopher,* Co-Chair Leontine T. C. Kelly,* Co-Chair Kathy Munson-Young Liz Lopez Spence Gessel Berry, Jr. Joethel Jeannette Cooper Patricia Farris Susan Henry-Crowe Bishop Earl G. Hunt, Jr. Sue B. Ralph Barbara J. Ruth Evelene "Tweedy" Sombrero Naomi P. F. Southard Mamie Alethia Williams Kathy(Nickerson)Sage, GBHEM Staff August 17-21, 1987, Great Gorge, New Jersey Wellsprings of Hope Design Team Members Deanne Bleyle, Co-Chair Marnie Alethia Williams, Co-Chair Martha Randall Jo Ann Black Susan Davies Susan Hart Lynne Josselyn Charlene Kammerer* Hea Sun Kirn Kathy (Nickerson) Sage, GBHEM Staff Anna Kpaan Bishop Herbert Skeete Gloria Soliz Patricia Toschak Susan Beehler Michele Sue Shumake Evelene "Tweedy" Sombrero 25 ~ August 5-9, 1991, St. Charles, Illinois Illumination of the Holy Design Team Members Minerva Garza Carcano, Co-Chair Judith Craig,* Co-Chair William W Hutchinson* Susan R. Beehler Karen Y. Collier Sade Davis-Reynolds Caroline B. Edge Diana Mason Facemyer Donna Friesen Sharon Rhonemus Hausman Billie Nowabbi Joanne B. Mendheker Tumani Mutasa Nyajeka Annette Sowell Barbara B. Troxell Ana Awilda Vargas Lily Malonzo Villamin M. Lynn Scott, GBHEM Staff August 7-11, 1995, Atlanta, Georgia Women of Spirit: Transformed and Transforming Design Team Members Janice Riggie Huie,* Co-Chair Nobuko Kiyake-Stoner, Co-Chair 26 ~ Carol Roettmer Brewer Elaine Eberhart Martha Forrest Barbara Harper Linda Thomas Lydia Salazar Martinez Mary Ann Moman Susan Johnson Morrison Bishop Mary Ann Swenson M. Lynn Scott, GBHEM Staff clergywomen's consultation 2002 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." - Mark 6:30-31 The 2002 International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation is an invitation to clergywomen from around the world to enter a time of Sabbath. Come reflect and study the biblical mandate for a Sabbath in light of Jesus' command to his disciples in Mark 6 :30-31. Workshops will provide practical suggestions and opportunities to experience what it means to rest in God. A flexible schedule provides the time and space. The other scripture passages that inform the consultation are Psalm 23 , Matthew 11 :28, Ecclesiastes 3:9-13, Isaiah 40:29-31, Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrews 4 : 1- 11, and John 10 :9- 10. All of these biblical references will be reflected in our worship, workshops, and gathering at various times. 27 Throughout the week you are invited to participate in daily worship, workshops, seminary gatherings, and informal moments of connecting with women from around the world. There will also be displays featuring books and liturgical garb. Continuing Education 2.5 CEUs are available at no cost to those attending the Consultation and who complete an evaluation form and reflection questions. A textbook and study guide will be provided for individuals or groups to use to reconnect with learning as a creative process. Visit our site at: http:/ /www.gbhem.org/clergywomen/ Meet the Team Carol Roettmer Brewer, Co-Chair Elder, Nebraska Annual Conference Pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska Attended Seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is that we will be an international gathering of women who share a time of prayer, presence, and play." 28 Dorothy Watson Tatem, Co-Chair Elder, Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference Director, Office of Urban Ministries Attended Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY D. Min. from Eastern Baptist Seminary, Philadelphia "My hope for the Consultation is that through the spiritual disciplines including worship, the arts, and play that clergywomen will be wondrously invigorated for service wherever they fmd themselves in the world." Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader Elder, Wisconsin Annual Conference. Elected to the episcopacy in 1992 Attended Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. "My hope for the Consultation is: 'Renewed hope, friendship, theology, and spirit.' Praise God!" Nancy (Nan) L. Allen Elder, Iowa Annual Conference Senior Pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Des Moines, Iowa Attended seminary at Duke Divinity School and United Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is that women leaders ofThe United Methodist Church will experience a time of renewal and that we can give each other support and the courage to regularly practice the spiritual discipline of Sabbath." (Nan is also a part of the Consultation Worship Design Team.) Lori Doyle Elder, California-Pacific Conference On Family Leave Attended Claremont School ofTheology "My hope for the Consultation is that we all get a little taste of Sabbath Rest." Delia Estrada Deacon in Full Connection, Rio Grande Annual Conference Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Rio Grande City, Texas "My hope is to see unity and peace among all clergywomen and that peace reign over our Consultation and that the Sabbath renews us to go and serve the people of God." Marva Jean Hutchens Elder, Minnesota Annual Conference Faith United Methodist Church, Farmington, Minnesota Attended seminary at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities "My hope for the Consultation is that United Methodist Clergywomen truly will 'come away to rest for a while' in order to be renewed and energized for their ministry. We each have said yes to God's call and claim on our lives. We need to pause to check our course." (Marva also serves on the Publicity Committee for the Consultation.) Lynne Josselyn Elder Senior Pastor of Gray Memorial United Methodist Church, Caribou, Maine Attended Drew Seminary 29 "My hope for the Consultation is that this Sabbath time together will be playful and pleasing, filled with worship and wonder, and that our personal connections can be strengthened and our professional selves renewed." Kabama Kiboko Elder, Southern Congo Annual Conference Lee Tabernacle United Methodist Church (ministry setting) Attended seminary at University of Denver and Ph. D. candidate at Iliff School ofTheology "I hope this Consultation will be a spiritual quality time in the presence of God for spiritual growth." (Kabama is a workshop leader, preacher, and member of the International Committee.) Jenny T. Lannom 30 ~ Elder, Texas Annual Conference and Endorsed by the Section on Chaplains Under appointment in Extension Ministries to Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico as the CPE Supervisor (Director of Pastoral Education) Attended seminary at Candler School ofTheology at Emory University. "My hope for the Consultation is that women from all over the nation and the world will come to re-connect with themselves and one another and worship the Lord in creative, exciting, and life-renewing ways. As a member of the Design Team I have witnessed the mysterious and wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in leading and directing us as a group toward this goal. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us as we gather together in San Diego!" (Jenny is a member of the Publicity Committee for the Consultation.) Carmen Lile-Henley Elder, Tennessee Annual Conference Coordinator of Love and Justice Ministries Attended seminary at Vanderbilt Divinity School D. Min from Wesley Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is that we can all come closer to seeing that we are sisters, with gifts that complement each other and the Body of Christ, and that Sabbath is indispensable to our individual and corporate wholeness." (Carmen will be the leader for the Creative Writing Workshop at the Consultation) Miyoung Paik Elder, South Carolina Annual Conference Associate pastor at Lexington United Methodist Church Attended seminary at Drew Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is to experience Sabbath together with women in ministry and to learn to honor our Sabbath time when we come back." (Mi young is also a member of the Worship Design Team.) Barbara "Bobbie" Rambach Elder, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Senior Pastor, Manasquan United Methodist Church, Manasquan, New Jersey Attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is that we may come together with our diverse experience and share with wit, grace, power, and faith ." Sharon Rubey Deacon in Full Connection, North Georgia Annual Conference Director of Conference Relations with the Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministers, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Attended Saint Paul School ofTheology in Kansas City, MO. "My hope for the Consultation is to share stories with other women of faith and ministry; enjoy the rich, creative diverse worship and plenary gatherings; and to expand relationships, friendships and networks between and among deacon and elder clergywomen." Evelene "Tweedy" Sombero Elder, Desert Southwest Annual Conference Rural ministry setting Attended Seminary at Iliff School ofTheology "My hope for the Consultation is that it will reconnect us to ourselves and to each other in a very spiritual way" . (Tweedy is also a member of the Worship Design Team and will be one of the preachers for the Consultation.) Lydia J. Waters Elder in the California-Pacific Conference 31 Senior Pastor, Crossroads Njia Panda United Methodist Church Attended seminary at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas and the School of Theology at Claremont. She received a Doctor of Divinity from Southern California School of Ministry in Los Angeles. (Lydia will be one of the preachers for the Consultation.) Mamie Alethia Williams Elder, District Superintendent in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, Annapolis District Attended seminary at Wesley Theological Seminary "My hope for the Consultation is that all those who attend and participate feel the presence of Christ in new and refreshing ways that will help to sustain all of us for the journey back to God. And that each of us take the time to be with ourselves and with our God." Worship Design Team Kay F. Albury Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference 32 ~ Pastor to a 550 member predominately African-American congregation in the "hood" in West Baltimore, Maryland Attended seip.inary at Gammon Theological Seminary "I am looking forward to this 'Sabbath' at the Consultation. I anticipate singing, listening, sharing, playing, learning, praying, dancing, and best of all, doing some self-care. There is something exciting that happens to me when women who love God get together. It is a birthing experience." SeHee Sarah Han Elder, California Pacific Annual Conference Euro-American urban middle class congregation "My hope for the Consultation is that it provides a time for renewal and an opportunity to celebrate the womanize in God." Barbara Day Miller Deacon in Full Connection, North Georgia Annual Conference Assistant Dean of Worship and Lecturer in Liturgical Practice, Candler School of Theology, Emory University Attended seminary at Candler School ofTheology "My hope for the Consultation is that through times of quiet reflection and moments of worship, we might know a stronger connection with each other and a greater assurance of our own vocation." Meeting Planner Paula J. Garber Western North Carolina Annual Conference Director of Inside Sales and Customer Service, Travelink, Incorporated Attends Central United Methodist Church and Jubilee Church in Asheville, North Carolina "My hope for the Consultation is that as the meeting manager, Travelink can work with the design team and the hotel to provide the atmosphere and environment appropriate for 'Creating a Woman's Sabbath,' and thus allow the United Methodist Clergywomen a true opportunity to come away. .. and rest a while." Staff Marion A. Jackson Elder, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Director of Continuing Education for Ministry, Section of Elders and Local Pastors, Division of Ordained Ministry, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Attended Princeton Theological Seminary, D. Min from Wesley Theological Seminary Sandy A. Walker Coordinator for Marion Jackson Attends Brentwood United Methodist Church and Hobson United Methodist Church Graduated from Middle Tennessee State University 33 INTERVIEW with the CO-CHAI RS "And !Will Give You Rest" The design team of the upcoming Clergywomen's Consultation invite clergywomen to come, reflect, retreat and renew. 34 ~ When nearly 1,300 participants gather at the seventh United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation set for January 7-11, 2002, in San Diego, their experience will be a little different from what we've come to expect from church meetings. Instead of gulped meals, long plenary session and jammed agendas, the women - and men - who attend will be invited to discover the holistic meaning of Sabbath, and the ways Christians can live that out everyday. The theme, in fact, is "Come Away ... and Rest a While" (based on Mark 6:30-31). The Rev. Dr. Carol Roettmer Brewer and the Rev. Dr. Dorothy Watson Tatem are co-chairwomen of the Consultation planning team. Brewer has attended all seven Clergywomen's Consultations; this will be Tatem's first. They recently spoke to M. Garlinda Burton, editor of INTERPRETER magazine, about their hopes for the San Diego gathering and the importance of the Sabbath experience in the lives of clergywomen. Q: Why is the Sabbath experience the centerpiece of the consultation? Carol: The emphasis on the Sabbath is also an emphasis on what it m eans to be women and how we care for ourselves while caring for others. We want to lift up the great attributes of Sabbath, not only biblically but also experientially. Dorothy: Our call to Sabbath is an invitation for clergywomen to gather and let go of what they're dealing with at home, not as a way of escape but for renewal. Observing a Sabbath is a way for our souls to become refreshed and refilled. Then we are able to go back to our workplaces with more courage and creativity Sometimes we women forget that need for refreshment because we are conditioned to take care of everybody else's needs first, and we're last on the list. The Sabbath experience teaches us that renewal is part of our calling. Q: What components of the Sabbath will be shared at the San Diego meeting? Carol: Worship and prayer are, of course, important to the Sabbath experience. This time there will be even more emphasis on the worship experience. Because clergy are responsible for designing worship, we don't get a chance to participate, so it will be wonderful to experience worship together. There's nothing better than singing with 1, 200 other women. Dorothy: Since this is an international, multicultural consultation, we will be worshiping from several cultural perspectives, which most of us seldom have the opportunity to do. We want to encourage women to move readily into new cultural spaces and worship together. I may not be Korean, but when we worship in a Korean context, I want to experience the spirit along with my Korean sisters. We have a very creative group of women from diverse backgrounds planning worship in Native American, African American, African, European, and Asian contexts, but the common goal is to create Sabbath. Q: You've got lots of workshops to choose from. What are some of the offerings and what have they to do with the Sabbath experience? Carol: As in the past, we will offer opportunities for women to do mission in the San Diego area, but we're also offering opportunities to be creative and open ourselves for new experiences. I read somewhere a description of Sabbath as a time for "prayer, presence, and play." The workshops at the consultation allow clergywomen to tap into all three elements. Dorothy: There is a strong emphasis on creativity and nurturing the child within. Carol: We'll have workshops on creative writing, on "the gospel of music," on different cultural expressions on the faith - Hispanic praise music, traditional Korean folk songs and dances, and the Native American "sweat lodge" - and Sabbath in various African traditions. 35 There's also a lot on self-care for clergywomen, such as the workshops on nutrition, Sabbath for senior or lead pastors, and walking the labyrinth. Dorothy: We will also offer free time for people to go and explore San Diego. So many times at meetings, people never get out of their hotel rooms. As part of the renewal, we want to allow time to enjoy the city. Q: It sounds great. Still, some people will wonder why it's particularly important for United Methodist clergywomen to gather together. What do you say to them? 36 ~ Dorothy: Although The United Methodist Church leads the way in terms of ordaining women, we are still a relatively new group in this denomination. Some of us know one another, but many of us are isolated in parishes and appointments across the nation and around the world. Many times, in our "home bases," we are still the only clergywoman at the table. That is hard work, emotionally and physically. Just coming together and sharing our stories is a way to heal and grow. That's not to bash our brothers, it's just to say the sisters need time to affirm and appreciate one another. Carol: Somewhere in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible there's a reference to the "sound of sheer silence." This Consultation offers an important opportunity for women to meet in a wonderful setting full of hospitality, share with old friends, and make new ones. Each Consultation is a new experience - I've been to all of them - but the common theme is coming together to experience God through communion with our sisters. It is important - claiming that Sabbath experience. Our hope is that clergywomen will read this and say, "I can figure out how to get to San Diego" and "I can encourage other women to go, too." Dorothy: We also hope that women who can will add a little extra money to their registration fee to help with scholarships for clergywomen coming from outside the United States. To have a truly global conference, people have to travel great distances at great expense, so we need help from as many of us as possible. Garlinda Burton, Editor INTERPRETER Magazine Preachers for 2002 Consultation Monday Evening Bishop Charlene Kammerer, Charlotte Area Tuesday Morning The Reverend Dr. Minerva Carcano, District Superintendent in the Oregon Idaho Annual Conference Tuesday Evening The Reverend Kabamba Kiboko Wednesday Morning The Reverend Dr. Lydia Waters Wednesday Evening The Reverend Dr. Ha-Kyung Cho-Kim, Director of Resourcing Ministries, New England Annual Conference Thursday Morning Bishop Linda Lee, Michigan Area Thursday Evening The Reverend Dr. Heather Murray Elkins, Associate Professor of Worship and Liturgical Studies at the Theological School of Drew University Friday Morning The Reverend Evelene "Tweedy" Sombrero 2002 Clergywomen's Consultation Workshops Workshop 101: Creative Writing. Carmen Lile-Henley. This workshop will focus on using our everyday experiences, joys, struggles, longings and images to create personal and corporate liturgies, reflections and devotionals around the theme of Sabbath time. Bring paper and pencils. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 102: "Jesus in the Movies:' Melissa Nelson. A night at the cinema will never be the same when we ask the question "Where can we find Christ in the movies?" We will view scenes from all types of movies, listen to comments from actors and movie makers, and bring our belief in Jesus into dialogue with this geme of storytelling as a new resource for preaching and teaching the Christevent. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) 37 Workshop 103: Painting of the Soul (2 sessions). Lydia Martinez. "In Search of the Soul" is to help clergywomen who are helping others with spiritual growth. This workshop will help as we search deep within ourselves to explore our own soul and to make a visual interpretation of that vision on canvas. (Tuesday only, sign up for both morning and afternoon) Workshop 104: Journaling. Sonia Jermaine. This workshop is for those who already journal and for those who would like to but just haven't found the time. This experience will provide helpful hints for content and ways to get started, as well as new ideas for those already in the process. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 105: Hispanic Music. Anna Soltero. Experience the melodic and rhythmic music in the Hispanic tradition, and learn music that will enhance and enrich your worship services. Come, share, and enjoy! (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 106:The "Gospel" of Music. Pat Spearman. Come Get Your Praise On! "O magnify the Lord with me, let us lift up God's name together." Come and explore ways to renew your spirit and revitalize your worship with gospel music. As an integral part of the African American heritage, it has influenced various worship genres in contemporary and "traditional" churches. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) 38 Workshop 10 7: Spiritual and Holistic Aerobics for the Soul. Karen Vannoy. Neuromuscular Integrative Action (NIA) is a mind-body fitness program which incorporates ideas from yoga, tai chi, tae kwon do, dance, free form movements, and healing imagery, blending to create an exhilarating aerobic exercise program to feed spirit, mind, and body. Wear comfortable clothes. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 108:Traditional Korean Folk Songs and Dance. Young Sook Shin. You don't need to know the language, only the desire to experience beautiful music and graceful dance in the Korean tradition. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) Workshop 109: Sacraments and Liturgy. Mary Beth Benedict. This workshop will focus on the restorative aspects of the Eucharist, the table, and sabbath-aspects of its liturgy. Baptism's restorative aspects will also be explored, along with its connection to the Sabbath. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 110: Preaching and the Arts. Carol Pifer. Come and see an artist/preacher draw as she proclaims the Word; learn some creative ways to incorporate artistic gifts into the worship experience. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 11 l:Traditional Music. Nan DeAndrade. This workshop will focus on reading and singing Sabbath songs as examples of traditional Western hymnody as a means for meditation and prayer. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) Workshop 112:Worship and Drama. Linda Hollies. Salvation's drama continues. Worship is an unfolding drama and we, as preachers-teachers-pastors play a significant part. This workshop helps us focus on our starring role, producing a worthy script (the sermon) and then playing our part in delivery. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 113: Sabbath for Lead/Senior Pastors. Liz Lopez. "Sabbath in the Large Membership Church" is for women who are lead/senior pastors in churches of 350 or more in worship with multiple staff. We will look at how to find, claim, and communicate the need for Sabbath time in the midst of the responsibilities of the large church. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 114: Sweat Lodge. Minerva Blacksmith. The sweat lodge ceremony is a cleansing ceremony and a healing ritual used in several Native American tribes, consisting of prayers and songs in a lodge made from elements of the earth. It is an unforgettable means of purification and a spiritual healing of the world's hurts and pains. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) Workshop 115: General Conference Legislation. Barbara Thompson and Nan Self. Major General Conference issues will be explored in the light of the impact on clergywomen. Concerns for the next quadrennium will also be addressed, and suggestions for writing legislation will be included. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) 39 Workshop 116: Meditation. Annette Jones. This is offered for anyone who wants to experience meditation or to learn the basics of meditation in order to include this method of Sabbath in everyday life and work. Feel free to bring a pillow for sitting, and wear comfortable clothes. Limited to I 00 people in each workshop. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 117: Nutrition for the Body, Mind and Soul. Nancy Jo Johnson. This workshop will explore positive ways to care for ourselves. The ways we manage fears, tensions, competition for attention and energy, and family concerns will be discussed in an open, relaxed manner. Come join us for thought provoking and helpful ideas on feeding your body, mind and soul. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 118: Masking. Jenny Lannom. You are created in the image of God. Come have fun making an image of your face. No artistic ability is required; simply bring your face and a playful spirit. Materials will be provided. Limited to 3 0 participants in each workshop. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 1-4:30 only) Workshop 119: Labyrinth. At your convenience, come and pray your way through the intentional maze of the labyrinth, which will be available during workshop times and free times. This is an experience you won't want to miss. (Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons) 40 Workshop 12 0: Massage Techniques for Sabbath. Marilyn Buchanan. Come experience massage techniques that can be used for personal renewal or for group relaxation. Be prepared to share your learnings and wear comfortable clothes. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons) Workshop 121: Finding Sabbath. Gerri Fowler. Discover the sacred, holy, yet ordinary opportunities for Sabbath time. In this workshop, we will experience how to "come apart" in a variety of ways that will help still our "noisy hearts." (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) Workshop 12 2: Sabbath in Various African Traditions. Kabamba Kiboko Learn and experience a non-Western understanding of Sabbath by exploring its meaning from the diverse viewpoints of several African traditions. This will be a panel discussion moderated by Kabamba Kiboko, a Sanga woman of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Tuesday and Thursday morning) Workshop 123: Sabbath in Various Multi-Cultural Settings. Leader: To Be Announced What does sabbath mean in Latin America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean, and various other cultures? Each brings its own special insights depending on its history, traditions, and environmental influences. This workshop will explore some of those aspects. (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon) - Registration form is on the last page - sight-seeing attractions in San & Diego 41 San Diego, one of the world's most beautiful cities, is set among beaches and bays of the Pacific Ocean. Within five minutes of the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center are the beautifully kept public beaches, with white sands and rolling surf, that San Diego is famous for. Ideally located to access all of the great sites and attractions of this dynamic, cosmopolitan area, the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center is just three minutes east of Mission Bay with more than 2 7 miles of shoreline and recreation facilities. Mission Bay is also the home of Sea World, one of San Diego's most popular attractions. ~ San Diego's rich Spanish influence is apparent throughout the city. Nothing is more enchanting than the Mission San Diego de Alcala, which is only three minutes away. Still an active Roman Catholic parish, the San Diego Mission de Alcala was the first of the 21 churchgarrison settlements established in California by Father Janipero Serra. important telephone numbers e-mail addresses & 42 Clergywomen 's Consultation brochures and information Sandy Walker 615 -340- 7409 swalker@ gbhem.org Marion Jackson mjackson @gbhem.org Reserve meeting space for special interest groups Beth Dow 800-227-5689 [email protected] Registration Clergywomen's Consultation Registrar at Travelink 800- 227-5689 Lodging You must make your own lodging reservations Town and Country Resort 800- 772 -8527 Clergywomen's Consultation Website www.gbhem.org/ clergywomen/ ~ bonding, ~ reflecting, and sew1 ng • Nearly two dozen clergywomen from the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference gathered in April for a time of bonding, reflecting, and sewing at the Stella Maris Retreat House in Long Branch, New Jersey. With the ocean as a backdrop, the Reverend Mickey Bender, the Reverend Joyce Mayer, the Reverend June Stitzinger-Clark, and others with sewing skills assisted the Women in Ministry (WIM) as they made stoles and mandellas to sell at annual conference. The proceeds will help defray the cost of those who will travel to San Diego, California, to attend the Clergywomen's Consultation. The Stella Maris site was an ideal spot to prepare for the upcoming Consultation. It is located right on the beach where the ocean can be viewed from practically every room. Marilyn Pote Hutton Greater New Jersey Annual Conference 43 Shown are (left) Reverend Ruth Hennessey, (right) Reverend Esther H. Ahn. ~ ANNUAL CONFERENCE statistics and map 2000 STATISTICS UNITED METHODIST CLERGYWOMEN Elder Full Deacon Full Probationary Associate Connection Connection Member Member FT Local Pastor PT Local Pastor Total WESTERN JURISDICTION no clergy members Alaska Missionary Pacific Northwest 83 19.2% 6 66.7% 68.8% 4 44.4% 9 64.3% 6 54.5% 119 24.2% OregonIdaho 68 20.1% 91.7% 8 57.1% 3 23.1 % 16.7% 5 38.5% 96 24.2% CaliforniaNevada 129 20.5% 12 92.3% 23 63.9% 0 0.0% 9 42.9% 15 57.7% 188 25.5% CaliforniaPacific 123 15.9% 24 80.0% 31 40.8% 6.7% 3 13.0% 6 16.7% 188 19.7% Desert Southwest 37 16.7% 13 86.7% 16 55.2% 2 11.8% 4 50.0% 3 27.3% 75 24.8% Rocky Mountain 98 20.2% 18 72.0% 21 61.8% 0 0.0% 5 35.7% 4 33.3% 146 25.4% Yellowstone 27 19.3% 0 0.0% 4 44.4% 2 22.2% 2 15.4% 2 66.7% 37 21.1% 11 11 NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION 44 ~ Dakotas 42 14.1% 3 100.0% 5 38.5% 10.0% 10.0% 2 33.3% 54 15.9% Detroit 94 15.3% 7 100.0% 14 56.0% 34 82.9% 34 81.0% 25 62.5% 208 27.0% Minnesota 91 17.3% 16 80.0% 14 50.0% 2 100.0% 3 42.9% 7 30.4% 133 22.0% Iowa 128 14.3% 12 85.7% 18 42.9% 17 22.4% 14 31.1% 14 35.0% 203 18.2% Wisconsin 109 19.8% 4 80.0% 26 59.1% 8.3% 12 36.4% 13 48.1% 165 24.6% Northern Illinois 145 22.8% 0 n/a 24 48.0% 20.0% 0 n/a 0 n/a 170 24.6% Illinois Great Rivers 87 10.4% 6 66.7% 16 42.1% 22 21.4% 21 24.1% 18 34.6% 170 15.1% North Indiana 54 8.1% 10 76.9% 16 35.6% 5 22.7% 7 25.9% 27 24.8% 119 13.4% South Indiana 72 11.9% 7 77.8% 14 48.3% 5 9.4% 6 17.6% 20 22.2% 124 15.2% East Ohio 124 14.4% 9 75.0% 13 40.6% 12 17.1% 6 14.6% 32 35.6% 196 17.8% West Ohio 200 15.9% 22 91.7% 22 37.9% 8 10.1% 19 29.7% 22 17.9% 293 18.3% SOUTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION New Mexico 18 7.9% 5 83.3% 3 42.9% 4 33.3% 7 29.2% 20.0% 38 13.5% Nebraska 54 13.9% 7 87.5% 10 52.6% 13 40.6% 15 57.7% 6 54.5% 105 21.6% Kansas West 46 12.2% 9 81.8% 11 47.8% 9 28.1 % 11 30.6% 4 40.0% 90 18.4% Northwest Texas 18 6.6% 4 66.7% 5 27.8% 0 4 11.8% 8 47.1 % 39 10.6% *Rio Grande 6 7.4% 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0.0% 4 57.1% 2 100.0% 12 11.3% Southwest Texas 73 14.9% 12 80.0% 27 65.9% 6 28.6% 12 27.9% 16 44.4% 146 22.6% Central Texas 65 16.7% 21 75.0% 8 30.8% 2 22.2% 3 25.0% 4 30.8% 103 21.6% North Texas 55 12.8% 14 66.7% 18 48.6% 2 28.6% 8 26.7% 11 29.7% 108 19.2% Oklahoma 42 7.2% 24 66.7% 19 45.2% 5 14.3% 12 25.0% 8 26.7% 110 14.1% Oklahoma Indian 9 Missionary 20.0% 0 0 0 0.0% n/a 4 40.0% 2 n/a 13.3% 15 20.0% Kansas East 10 90.9% 11 50.0% 2 9.1% 2 18.2% 4 36.4% 102 25.1% 73 22.2% 0.0% *1998 Data SOUTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION Kansas West 46 12.2% 9 81.8% 11 47.8% 9 28.1% 11 30.6% 4 40.0% 90 18.4% Missouri East 45 14.3% 7 100.0% 12 44.4% 8 11.8% 4 23.5% 7 33.3% 83 18.3% Missouri West 54 14.5% 10 83.3% 15 75.0% 5 19.2% 4 17.4% 17 26.6% 105 20.3% North Arkansas 18 6.3% 8 80.0% 4 3.6% 6 24.0% 13 26.0% 50 12.0% 25.0% 45 Little Rock Louisiana Texas 13 5.8% 4 57.1% 6.7% 0.0% 38 9.6% 13 68.4% 9 47.4% 4 72 9.7% 27 67.5% 37 40.7% 4 0 2 8.7% 9 15.5% 29 8.4% 15 24.2% 23 31.5% 102 16.3% 9.5% 18 13.3% 23 28.0% 181 16.0% 6.9% NORTHEASTERN JURISDICTION West Virginia 50 10.2% 4 50.0% 14 35.9% 27 23.7% 18 16.8% 21 16.4% 134 15.1% Western Pennsylvania 78 9.9% 7 100.0% 11 25.0% 11 13.8% 6 20.7% 18 28.1% 131 12.9% Central Pennsylvania 43 6.9% 2 9 40.0% 32.1% 4 10.5% 13 28.9% 10 43.5% 81 10.7% Western New York 40 15.2% 4 100.0% 8 34.8% 5 18.5% 3 27.3% 6 24.0% 66 North Central New York 56 16.6% 2 66.7% 10 50.0% 14 36.8% 7 35.0% 24 49.0% 113 24.2% Wyoming 43 20.3% 12 75.0% 4 100.0% 25.0% 5 38.5% 8 33.3% 73 25.9% 41 17.1% 50.0% 14 63.6% 2 14.3% 9 42.9% 14 41.2% 81 24.3% New England 155 24.6% 11 100.0% 35 72.9% 5 31.3% 13 44.8% 17 41.5% 236 30.5% New York 133 18.1% 10 100.0% 25 43.1 % 9 15.5% 5 29.4% 15 65.2% 197 21.9% Eastern Pennsylvania 88 13.4% 6 66.7% 9 34.6% 0 0.0% 2 12.5% 37 38.9% 142 17.3% Northern New Jersey 75 21.6% 7 87.5% 11 50.0% 100.0% 4 40.0% 13 59.1% 111 27.0% Southern New Jersey 51 14.4% 13 92.9% 9 40.9% 5 29.4% 3 25.0% 9 15.0% 90 18.8% Peninsula Delaware 47 16.0% 4 100.0% 6 31.6% 6 24.0% 12 44.4% 4 22.2% 79 20.4% BaltimoreWashington 184 23.0% 18 78.3% 47 63.5% 7 14.9% 7 30.4% 14 28.0% 277 27.2% Troy 46 18.7% SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION Mississippi 49 7.5% 15 60.0% 12 27.9% 2 3.0% 16 25.8% 20 16.3% 114 11.7% Memphis 29 8.4% 6 54.5% 2 7.4% 2 9.1 % 5.9% 4.0% 41 9.2% Kentucky 35 6.5% 17 68.0% 8 18.6% 2 5.1% 7 9.5% 10 7.1% 79 9.2% Red Bird Missionary 0 0.0% 0 n/a 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 14.3% 0 0.0% 5.3% Tennessee 55 14.6% 17 60.7% 10 32.3% 2.2% 2 3.1% 15 20.0% 100 16.1% Holston 47 7.7% 14 70.0% 18 37.5% 4 5.3% 8 11.6% 13 11.5% 104 11.1 % North Alabama 37 6.4% 5 62.5% 6 25.0% 3 5.3% 2 6.5% 21 12.1% 74 8.5% AlabamaWest Florida 21 4.5% 15 62.5% 6 25.0% 0 0.0% 7 15.6% 6 10.0% 55 8.2% North Georgia 110 12.2% 33 68.8% 33 37.5% 3.8% 4 9.8% 21 12.7% 202 15.9% 32 6.6% 11 78.6% 12 41.4% 1.9% 9 17.0% 15 38.5% 80 11.9% Virginia 128 11.1% 25 83.3% 39 40.2% 3 3.5% 24 27.0% 15 25.9% 234 15.5% Western North Carolina 112 10.2% 33 80.5% 36 39.1% 9 10.7% 14 19.7% 15 20.3% 219 15.0% North Carolina 93 12.1% 13 65.0% 16 25.0% 3 7.9% 10 21.7% 19 25.7% 154 15.3% South Carolina 95 11.6% 17 81.0% 18 30.0% 3 7.1% 4 7.8% 15 14.9% 152 13.9% Florida 68 7.0% 35 77.8% 28 27.5% 6 11.8% 15 20.0% 10 25.6% 162 12.6% TOTALS 4,460 13.2% 712 75.9% 967 41.8% 332 14.6% 537 23.5% 795 24.9% 7,803 17.5% South Georgia Prepared by The General Council an Finance and Administration Section an Records and Statistics In addition, there are 800 Retired Clergywomen in All Categories 47 ~ North Dakota Yellowstone • --- - --- \)'.~- . \j"r--~ . South Dakota - Mlnnasola ••• ~-"-N\~ : ------------ \)'-'" ' Rocty ~ounta;n ···: ' Hawaii (Calilornla-Pacific) 49 48 LEGEND ;\; Shows Women Bishops • Shows Women 2001 District Superintendents Cf) c 0 +-' m +-' ""O (]) E I Cf) c 00 !....... m E I Cf) +-' Cf) E so ~ time out KEEPING your spirit alive ¢ered Have you ever been overwhelmed with feelings of not having enough time? Too much to do and not enough time in which to do it? With parishioners to visit, reports to write, district meetings to attend, sermons to prepare, children to chauffeur, spouses to enjoy, there are not enough hours in the day We often try to stuff more into one day than is humanly possible! Our culture treats time as a commodity, something not to be wasted. Time is to be conquered, managed, and acquired. The more we can accomplish in an hour, the more successful we are believed to be. Our society teaches us our worth is assessed on the basis of our productivity If we could just figure out how to prepare a sermon while we sleep, we would have it made! The perception that there is not enough time is a dis-ease of our modern culture, causing us to feel stressed, rushed, and anxious. Living life in a hurry can lead to serious heart disease, depression, and fatigue. Time shortage is a distress few cultures before us experienced. Our ancestors lived in sync with nature's slower rhythms. They rose at dawn, retiring as night blanketed the earth. They measured time with the cycle of the moon. We, on the other hand, burn the midnight oil, trying to squeeze one more project into a day already bulging at the seams. We measure time in minutes. Perhaps we could learn something from our ancestors. In Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, Marva Dawn tells the story of a wagon train on its way from St. Louis to Oregon. The members of the wagon train were faithful Christians who kept the practice of stopping for a day of Sabbath rest. With winter rapidly approaching, some of the group began to panic, fearing they would not make it to Oregon before the winter snows. Those who were fearful proposed that the wagon train cease resting on the Sabbath in order to arrive in Oregon before the snow made travel impossible. After much heated discussion, a decision was made to split the group into those who wanted to travel on the Sabbath and those who wanted to observe the day of rest. The groups traveled together until the next Sabbath day when one group continued westward while the other group rested. Who got to Oregon first?You guessed it. The group that stopped each Sabbath was able to travel far more vigorously than the other group because the people and horses were well rested by their Sabbath observance. Those who kept the Sabbath holy arrived in Oregon first. Like the settlers who trudged westward on the Sabbath, we might be tempted to keep pushing in the face of mounting deadlines and shrinking time, forgoing sleep and relaxation in favor of finishing one more project. However, we need to learn from those Oregon settlers who - in spite of the threats of winter - kept the Sabbath rest. When there are numerous demands on our time, it is imperative to slow down and smell the roses, take a walk outdoors, spend a few moments in prayer - do something to nourish our souls. We cannot live well without resting, so God created the Sabbath. Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word, Shabbat, which means "to cease" and "to rest." In the biblical creation story, even God rested on the seventh day! A culture suffering from time shortage needs to be reminded of the power of sabbath time to restore a sense of balance to life by releasing us from the tyranny of too much to do. What is sabbath time? Quite simply, it is time spent in being, not doing. It is ceasing work for accomplishment's sake in order to enter into "being" for pure enjoyment's sake. In the Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff tells a story about an incident in the life of the Japanese emperor, Hirohito. The life of an emperor is extremely busy. From sunup to sundown every minute is tightly 51 52 scheduled, filled with meetings, speeches, audiences, and other important duties. One busy day, there was a colossal foul-up in the scheduling. The emperor was driven to a huge meeting hall where he was to address a group. When he arrived, the hall was empty. The emperor walked into the middle of the large room, stood silently for several moments, then bowed to the empty room. With a large smile on his face, he turned to his assistant and said, "We must schedule more appointments like this; I haven't enjoyed myself so much in a long time." The emperor experienced sabbath time in those few moments of silence. Keeping the Sabbath can help put things in perspective in our hectic lives. It informs us that we are valuable, not because of what we produce, but because we are loved by God. Sabbath time helps us slow down to participate in the rhythm of creation. It reminds us that God provided manna and water for those desert wanderers called the people of God, and God will provide for us, too. For a few moments or a few hours, we can cease struggling to work things out for ourselves, allowing the Divine to provide for our needs. Sabbath time enables us to rely on God and God's plan for our future, to quit striving for perfection, love, and security. Sabbath time teaches us to trust God to order our lives with what is best for each of us. Sabbath time transforms us into the persons God intends us to be. When we come to know ourselves as worthy of God's love because of who we are - and not what we do - we are freed to love others because they, too, are God's children. We are freed to love, along with Jesus, those who society says are a drain on our culture. Keeping the Sabbath reminds us that "the last shall be first." It teaches us that all life is precious. When we practice sabbath time, we are invited to become God's servants and good stewards of the gifts God has given us. We are acting as agents of Divine love in a broken world. Perhaps we will be prompted to share our love by working with Habitat for Humanity or another service agency that helps the economically distressed. Maybe we will be led to pray and fast one day a month, donating the money we might have spent on meals to a local food bank. Or maybe we will sense a desire to tutor a child in an after-school program. Keeping the Sabbath holy leads us to an awareness of how to use our gifts on behalf of others. It makes us better lovers of God's creation. We may not practice sabbath time on the day we usually set aside for communal worship. Keeping the Sabbath was never meant to be legalistic. Jesus, who healed on the Sabbath, said the Sabbath was made for humans and not the other way around. The important thing is that we set aside time each week to enjoy being who God created us to be. The time can be spent in any enjoyable activity that feeds our soul. A long hike in the woods, a good movie, writing letters to friends, participating in a much-loved hobby, all can be sabbath experiences. Sabbath time is not just a day of rest but a day of life. It is a return to the spiritual dimension of life seeing ourselves and the world as God sees us. Keeping sabbath time helps us recognize the divine in each moment, giving us motivation to choose life-giving activities over those that rob us oflife's energy. The act of setting aside time for sabbath rest is countercultural. To make time for rest and for God, we will have to say no to certain activities in our lives. We will have to take a realistic look at our limitations, realizing we cannot do it all or have it all. Trying to do more than is humanly possible soon leaves us dry with nothing to offer to anyone, including ourselves. Sabbath time teaches us that doing less enriches our lives and leads us to the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. Including sabbath time in our life is to live with the understanding there is enough time to do what is really important. Keeping the Sabbath holy teaches us that time is not a commodity. It is a holy creation. Karla Kincannon Virginia Annual Conference Executive director of SpiritARt;The Center for Arts and Spirituality, Nashville. Bibliography Dawn, Marva]. Keeping the Sabbath Wholly. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989. Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. NY, NY: Penguin Books, 1983. 53 ~ (/) c 0 +-' u (]) '+-(]) ...._ I..... (/) c 0 +-' u (\) sabbath 54 cER EAL We became friends while we were both taking the class "Theology from a Feminist Perspective" at Saint Paul School ofTheology. Throughout the next year and a half, we ate Frosted Flakes for breakfast together and drove all around Kansas City for classes and for fun.Then I graduated, returned to Iowa, and began to serve churches. Peg stayed another year, then returned to the Dakotas. We didn't know if we would ever see each other again. But we did. What started out as a friendship has become a time of Sabbath for both of us. Each year since graduation, one or the other of us has traveled to the Dakotas or Iowa or Minnesota to spend some Sabbath time together. It may be a week, it may be four hours in a Perkins restaurant over pie. We find the time. For both of us, this friendship is important enough to plan yearly gatherings and time away. We have said over and over that we would go to the Clergywomen's Consultation together. Each time, however, something has happened to keep us away. Moving to a new parish, the birth of my son; too much going on in our lives to take time away. That is why this time, this Sabbath time, we have already registered together and have committed to attend. Nothing is stopping us this time - it will be our time away. Sisters in the faith, sisters in ministry, sisters in the celebration of life. We are both awaiting the coming ofJanuary, 2002, because it will be our time together with other sisters in the faith. May it be a time of rest and reflection; fun and laughter; oh, and maybe a time for a box of Frosted Flakes or a piece of pie! Rebecca Campney Carver Associate Pastor, Coralville UMC Coralville, Iowa (For her friend, Peggy Zerface, in North Dakota) the sabbath question The two hundred-plus pound, six-by-eight foot glass partition didn't shatter when it landed on me, but parts of my brain did. All of a sudden "doing" became virtually impossible. Thinking, writing, remembering, reading, grabbing, speaking, and walking were now strenuous activities. Prescribed bed rest sandwiched all of my doing. In the first few months, a big day would be taking a shower or sitting in a recliner on our driveway to watch my four year old rollerskate. Full-time care was found quickly for my baby and my pastor husband became primary caregiver. Folks would ask me, "How are you doing?" I'd pull on the veneering mask and say something like, "Hanging in there," but inside me the question cut deeply because it summarized the magnitude of my loss. I believe it is significant that the most common wellness barometer-type question is, "How are you doing?" The question betrays my 55 'hJ 56 ~ own white-middle-class-American culture's obsession with "doing" as tantamount to quality of life. The frenetic pace of busyness grows naturally in this kind of culture whose Ultimate Concern is doing. Good days are evaluated on the basis of getting enough done. The disease is pervasive, complex, and organically connected to philosophical idolatry. Would it be a crude over-generalization to say that my culture upholds both the how and quality of life to be inextricably connected to a GNP escalator? Instead of How are you doing? wouldn't the grammatically correct question be, What are you doing? If a god is doing, the How are you doing? weaves through the system beautifully. The Hebrew slaves were faced with survival in a culture that worshiped "doing" to an exponential extreme; if unable "to do" the work of Pharaoh, then life was worthless. The Sabbath was a gift and continues to be a survival lifeline: On one day out of seven, do nothing, and remember that your lives are worthwhile because God created your very being. (Paraphrase, Exodus 2 0: 8f). The Sabbath philosophy became a survival skill in my healing journey as well. Each time somebody would ask me, "How are you doing?" I would switch channels to what I call the Sabbath Question, and instead ask myself, silently in my mind, "How are you being?" The word being appropriately connects with the grand "How" of life. Whereas the cliche, "How are you doing?" harped on what I had lost, the question, "How are you being?" drew me to focus on the riches of creative grace, the very seeds of healing. The Sabbath Question helped to cushion the harsh transition from joyous activity to too many hours of lying on a mattress by pointing my attention to all sorts of movement and activity within and around me. There is a noticeable rhythm and predictability to the shadow greetings of moon and sun. Holy Waters moving into and through my body, the greeting of magnificent colors in a floral bouquet, and my breathing connecting me directly to the breath of God. I could relate to St. Francis of Assisi identifying creative beings as personal relatives during his time of sudden convalescence. The Sabbath Question begs me to consider my being related to a widely cosmic community of creation, to consider my connection to the Creator and all created beings. My response to the Sabbath Question dips into a meditative, restful, sacred space wherein my stamina regenerates and pain is ceased. How are you being? became more than a survival skill for times of crisis. The Sabbath Question grew into an instrument of transforma- tion for my healing journey. My attention to rhythm, form, and image developed into a vocabulary for meditation. Because processing words continued to be brain drains one year post-injury, I began to paint in order to express myself Color, form, and image became prayerful discourse. Whenever I touched upon truth, the Holy Spirit would speak through the image, directing me to the healing motion. Creativity became a mode of conversation, spirituality, and connection between creature and creator. It is after a Sabbath Question process of integration and transformation that I can answer, "I am well, disabled, and whole." Now over seven years post-injury, I am appointed to disability leave and periodically lecture, preach, and lead workshops on the Art of Healing. I have a cherry red wheelchair I scooter that allows me to get around without the discombobulating effects of walking or standing too long. When I lead silk scarf painting workshops, I have found it necessary to debunk the myth perpetuated in my culture that we are not artists and not creative. So many have been informed that they can't "do" art, which is another symptom of worshiping the doing disease. From the Sabbath perspective of being, it is true recreation to rejoice in the colors, flow with the breath of the Spirit, and let it be. People are so thrilled when they see the beauty bubble up on silk, and then they say guiltily, "But I didn't really do anything... just splashed on some color." Creativity isn't an activity of doing, it's an activity of being relational with creation. With the glimpse revealed about my background, it is clear why I have responded quite passionately to the International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation, "Creating a Woman's Sabbath: Come Away ... and Rest a While." I have been imagining myself there, painting with Lydia Martinez, seeing the power of the tide, meeting new and old friends, and feeling the energy swell with the creation community's chorus, "Jubilate!" I have been imagining ways to make it financially feasible for me to attend. And, I have been imagining hearing the Sabbath Question, "How are you being?" spoken quite often in natural, appropriate, and courteous exchanges. Could the Consultation be the appointed time to let the Sabbath Question roll easily off our tongues, to make visible the invisible, to make verbal a voice of the inner life, to boldly disclaim an obsession of doing and proclaim the mystery of being? Even if my imaginings 57 of the Sabbath Question becoming common discourse is a dream, I will still continue to hear the "How are you doing?" questions as, "How are you being?" Why? Simply because this is an easy way to embody a deeply grounded and revolutionary quality of life. Donna Fado Ivery Cal-Nev Annual Conference 1995 in Atlanta I went to the Clergywomen's Consultation in Atlanta with a heavy heart much in need of nurture and comfort. My mother had died two months before and my father had just gone into a nursing home with Alzheimer's. At the Consultation, I was comforted by: 58 ~ • sharing a dessert with four or five other clergywomen, most of whom I did not know before I went to dinner with them. • being nurtured by one of the members of the class I led on contemplation. • praying for a specific person in need and for all persons in that same situation; for example, praying for Joan, whose mother has Alzheimer's and for all who have Alzheimer's or care for someone who does. • visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. • receiving support from clergy sisters who had lost their mothers. •listening to Marjorie Suchocki talk on the subject "Behold, I make all things new." • receiving advice from a friend about a decision I had to make. Although I probably could not have articulated a need for growth and challenge when I went to Atlanta, I did need it. I was challenged by : • Marjorie Suchocki asking us how we dealt with both "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end," and "Behold, I make all things new." • a friend's explanation of fetal alcohol syndrome and another friend's story of her struggle with alcohol addiction. • the prayers I mentioned above, which poignantly raised the questions for me: "How can my own grief give me more compassion for others when they grieve?" and "Is it possible to fmd energy to reach out in ministry to others even as I am grieving?" • working on the Habitat for Humanity house. Susan Ruach South Indiana Annual Conference 59 doing nothing My first reaction was "Well, really, to respond to Wellsprings' invitation to write about Sabbath is one way not to be at Sabbath!" "To be at Sabbath," I continued my conversation with myself, "is to look at my computer screen and leave it blank!" To do nothing is to be at Sabbath. To rest. Not to work. Not to speak, to write, to think, to lead, to answer telephones, to manage conflict, Not to coach pastors, to encourage colleagues, to cook or clean for families, Not to comfort the ill, the dying or the distressed, to sign, to reflect, to pray, Not to hug, to cry, to smile. To do nothing. To simply be. That is Sabbath? When God rested on the seventh day, God did not become less. God did not disengage. God did not cease to love. Creation did not stop. God's presence was not absent or invisible. 60 ~ At rest, at Sabbath, I am still who I am. No less. No less forgiven . No less loved. No less called. No less empowered. No less afraid. No less able. No less sorrowful or joyful. I simply am. I am simply still. And I am still who I am. Tonight, as I write this reflection, I am at Sabbath. Praise the Lord. Thank you for the invitation to pause and give thanks. Maria L. Coleman District Superintendent Connecticut and Western Massachusetts District New England Conference recollections on Dallas During the Dallas Clergywomen's event, I worked with Linda Strominger of the Missouri East Conference on the Resource room. Artist Jean Lacy did four magnificent banners that were hung in Highland Park Church where the worship was held. COSROW took the banners after the Consultation, and we had them on display at the February I 9 7 9 meeting of the Commission. I remember that Liz Lopez (Spence) preached, and I think Sharon Brown Christopher did as well. A clergywoman from Central Illinois danced "Miriam" for one of the worship services. We were delayed out of O'Hara because of severe snowstorms and Dallas (which we had chosen because it was in the so-called "sun" belt) had the worst ice storm in thirty years! Packets were delayed until well after midnight, and I drove to the DFW airport three times that night on the most treacherous roads I had encountered in my lifetime (including eighteen years living in Chicago!) . The city was not prepared for the weather. One of the women delegates from India fell on the ice and broke her arm. I seem to recall a huge auditorium where plenaries were held and I remember Jeanne Audrey was one of the "summarizers." What is so hard to believe is that it was twenty-two years ago! Barbara Troxell was there, I remember that well because she sprained or broke her ankle and we were trying to persuade her to be a candidate for the episcopacy. It was at that meeting that Marjorie Matthews agreed to run. At the 1980 Jurisdictional Conference Marjorie went on to become our first female episcopal leader! Nan Self Retired Clergywoman Cal/Pac Annual Conference 61 Glorieta 62 ~ The first Clergywomen's Consultation that I attended was at Glorieta. It was a transforming experience for me. I was a young clergywomen trying to juggle the demands of serving two churches while my husband and I were raising three little children. The Consultation was an oasis in my hectic life. I didn't get a lot of sleep that week. Conversations carried on into the night with old and new friends . Although I had shared important friendships with women throughout my life, a new sense of connection with clergywomen was born in me that week. Women's faces were etched in my memory. The faces of women tired of fighting for a place in the church. The wrinkled faces of women who had made the path clearer for us all. The faces of women who didn't understand what all the fuss was about. I saw my face in a new way. I was one of hundreds of women who were claiming a place in ordained ministry. At each Consultation that followed I was blessed by the gifts of a myriad of clergywomen - some whose name I don't remember, some who have become dear friends and colleagues. Each time we gather, I give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses that surround me and strengthens me in ministry. For many years now I have found the same kind of oasis in quarterly days apart with two clergywomen colleagues in my annual conference. These women have provided a safe place to share my deepest pain and greatest joys. We laugh, cry, pray, walk, and talk our way through the journeys of our lives. The connections with clergy sisters has been the greatest gift of our gatherings. I am grateful for the challenges and encouragement that has come to us during each of the consultations. Mary Ann Moman Associate General Secretary General Board of Higher Education and Ministry South Indiana Annual Conference women's worship I have attended nearly all of the Clergywomen's Consultations and the most moving and profound experiences for me have always occurred during worship. I have been uplifted by the music, transformed by the witness of sister clergy, touched by the powerful and sensual images of the divine feminine, and blessed by the women's voices and stories. The most significant moments of worship I have ever experienced have occurred in gatherings of women, especially at the Consultation. Marsha Wiggins Frame Florida Annual Conference 63 0... CJ) 0.0 come away, and rest tor a wh iIe c ~ cu (]) lo.... u (]) Peggy Garrigues-Cortely01 ..£: ~ Chorus ,, ~f D 2 J J IJ Come a - J 'J J. way l •+ } I :::j a while. sis - ters, and 0 •~ •~ pen your for the space of the winds J lw with thirst D l##~J t J Jlj Come a - way I J :J J I ~---- Spir · it. _ _ A J J IJ Quench your hearts. D G ltt# ) ------ I ~· G A 64 ------------ A J. Jl 13 - D Clear a O· G J Ij Ga-ther for rest and D t!!J D G J Liv ing .._,,- Wa -- ter _ D G J I J J. Jil J...._____...lj and rest _ for a while. © 2001 Peggy Garrigues-Cortelyou Music and Lyrics for "Come Away and Rest for a While" by Rev. Peggy GarriguesCortelyou of EarthSong Ministry ([email protected]) . Peggy is a member of the Detroit Annual Conference. II news On November 1, 2001, the Anna Howard Shaw Center will honor the Reverend Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz with the Anna Howard Shaw Award at Boston University School ofTheology This award recognizes women "who embody those values expressed in the life of Anna Howard Shaw; courage born of Christian faith, dedication to increased opportunities, devotion to social justice, persistence in difficult circumstances, service for the common good, and a vision of a better world." Please plan to join us for a day of celebration. If you cannot attend but would like to send a letter to be included in a book for the recipient, please send it to the Shaw Center, 745 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 0 2 215. For more information about the event, contact the Shaw Center 617 -353-307 5 or e-mail [email protected]. Margaret Wiborg Director, Anna Howard Shaw Center Boston University School of Theology The Clergywomen's Retention Study can be found on the world wide web. The address is www.bu.edu.sth/shaw/retention/ 65 AShared Journey, songs composed by Susan R. Beehler and Jan Powers and sung by the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Clergywomen is being re-issued. Included among the selections is "The Women Must Be Gathering." Hacienda Springs, Inc., a not-for profit center for women and children, is re-issuing the songbook, which will include piano accompaniment and a CD of the 1985 original tape recording. Both of these will be available for purchase in the early Fall, 2001. Pre-publication orders may be made by contacting Hacienda Springs, Inc., attention Inelle Bagwell, president, P.O. Box 340, 614 S. Water Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 1914 7. Breaking Barriers: An African American Family and the Methodist Story. This life story of Bishop Leontine T. C. Kelly, penned by her daughter, Angella Current-Felder, is riveting. Bishop Kelly is the first African American woman elected bishop in a mainline denomination. It's a must read. Published by Abingdon Press it is available through Cokes bury. Warning! Ministry May, Be Hazardous to Your Health! National Council of Churches, Women in Ministry Retreat. You are invited to gather with other clergywomen and church professionals to discern how ministry affects your overall health. The question to be addressed is: What are the specific issues women in ministry face that may impact on health and well-being? October 21-24, 2001, at Plaza Resolna in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information and registration, contact Karen Hessell at [email protected] or call 212-870 -2421. 66 Georgia Harkness h . sc olarsh1p Congratulations To This Year's Selections Name Dianne M. Bowden Amy E. Boock Sherrill A. Clontz Elizabeth S. Cooper Sandra L. Copeland Judith B. Davis Nancy N. Emrich Diane L. Gordan Marion Grant Susan M. Grittman Regina ]. Hall C. Kaye Harvey Carolene B. Highfield Karen L. Horan Florence L. Howell Kathleen W Kershaw Emily S. Knapp Sandy ]. Kraft Karen M. Larson Betty D. Marshall Cynthia L. Mayes Pamela ]. Marsh Sharon K. Miller Ann E. Peterson Carol M. Pifer Mary B. Rhine Marlu P. Scott Laura A. Schearer Sue E. Shorb-Sterling Jeanine E. Spangeberg Lois F. Swestyn Seminary Drew Theological Seminary Evangelical School ofTheology Vanderbilt Divinity School Methodist Theological Seminary Perkins School ofTheology Duke Divinity School Vanderbilt Divinity School Garrett Evangelical Seminary Union Theological Seminary Perkins School ofTheology Memphis Theological Seminary Vanderbilt Divinity School Lancaster Theological Seminary Perkins School ofTheology Asbury Theology Seminary Perkins School ofTheology Associated Mennonite Seminary Duke Divinity School Dubuque Theological Seminary Duke Divinity School Phillips Theological Seminary Wesley Theological Seminary Wesley Theological Seminary Garrett Evangelical Seminary Austin Presbyterian Seminary Associated Mennonite Seminary Vanderbilt Divinity School Candler School ofTheology Wesley Theological Seminary Candler School ofTheology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary 67 Seminary Interdenominational Theological Center Methodist Theological Seminary Asbury Theological Seminary Duke Divinity School Princeton Theological Seminary Name Delores B. Thomas Beth D. Titus Kimberly C. Uchimura Kristen D. Williams Jennifer H. Yu women of color The goals of the Women of Color Scholars Program are to : place women of color in faculty positions at all United Methodist Seminaries; increase the number of women of color who teach, lecture, write, and research at the Ph.D. level in all seminaries; heighten churchwide awareness of the need for women of color in theological education and encourage United Methodist women of color to consider careers in theological education; sponsor regular events for dialogue, networking, and support. Biannually scholarship recipients meet with mentors - women of color already working in theological education. 68 Listed below are the scholars currently working on their Ph.Ds and those persons serving as mentors in the program. Scholars LeGretta Bjorn Yoo-Yun Cho-Chang Bessie G. Collins Andrea Green Leah T. Gunning Wonhee A. Joh Kabamba Kiboko Schools Drew University Boston University Claremont School ofTehology Emory University Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Drew University Iliff School ofTheology and Denver University Scholars Jeong S. Kim Seang Hee Kim Boyung Lee Pamela R. Lightsey Velma Love Beauty Maenzanise Debra M. Mubashshir Imani-Sheila Newsome-McLaughlin Diane Turner-Sharazz Carol L.Youngbird-Holt Schools Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Drew University Boston College Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Union Theological Seminary Drew University Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Boston University School of Theology Vanderbilt Divinity School Graduate Theological Union and UC Berkley Mentors Dr. Karen Collier Dr. Jung Ha Kim Dr. Jacquelyn Grant Dr. Rosetta Ross For information about the Women of Color Scholarship program, please contact Angella Current-Felder in the Office of Loans and Scholarships, or Marion Jackson in the Section of Elders and Local Pastors. 69 Dempster Graduate fellowships The Dempster Graduate Fellowships are for Ph.D candidates moving towards careers in theological education. Scholarships are granted to both men and women from around the world. The Scholarship program is administered through the office of Bob Kohler, Assistant General Secretary of the Section of Elders and Local Pastors, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. For more information call 615 -340-7388 or e-mail [email protected]. Listed below are the women who are the 2001 -2002 recipients. Name Emily Lillian Burch Amy Christine Cottrill Janet S. Everhart Seminary Perkins School of Theology Emory University Iliff School of Theology corrections: 70 ~ The upcoming Clergywomen's Consultation is the seventh Consultation. The last issue of Wellsprings stated in error that this will be our sixth Consultation. The Clergywomen's Consultation is open to all clergywomen: Deacons in Full Connection, Elders, Local Pastors, Associate Members, Commissioned/Probationary Members, and Student Pastors. 2002 Clergywomen's Consultation Jan uary 7 -11 , 2 0 0 2 · San D i ego COME AWAY ... AND REST A WHILE THE SEVENTH UNITED METHODIST CLERGYWOMEN'S CONSULTATION Tow n and Country Resort • San Diego, California Re- creation • Celebration • Reflection • Re treat • Renewal Registration: Lodging : $1 7 5. Includes workshops and banquet $99 +tax, per room, single or double occupancy $ 1 19 + tax, per room, triple or quad occupancy Meals: An abundance of low cost healthy options on the hotel grounds and directly across the street in the food court at the mall. Seminary hosted lunches. Constituency group luncheons (Chaplains and Campus Ministers) Tuesday night banquet included in your registration Financial help: There are a limited number of scholarships available (call for form) - plus 2.5 CEU's making it eligible for MEF funds from your BOM. There will be plenty to do: Worship Come alone Workshops or bring the fam il y. Recreational activities Be renewed and refres llC:'d The arts by reconnecting Displays and vendors wi tb friends . Jurisdictional gatherings Visit our Web site at www.gbhem.org/clergywomen/ 71 REGISTRATION FORM LAST MIDDLE FIRST Preferred name for nametag _____________________ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City, State, Zip _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Country _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Daytime Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fax _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ E-mail ____________________________ Annual/Central Conference _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ District ____________________________ Check appropriate category(ies) Appointment: 0 Local Church 0 Extension Ministry 0 Elder 0 Deacon in Full Connection 0 Probationary/Commissioned 0 Associate Member 0 Local Pastor 0 Diaconal O Other_ _ _ _ _ _ __ O Student O Candidate Seminary(ies) attended or attending: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Denomination if other than United Methodist: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Ethnic origin: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ SPECIAL NEEDS/ ASSISTANCE O Visual O Mobility 0 I anticipate needing child care Language translation/interpretation (please circle): 0 French 0 Portuguese 0 Spanish 0 I would like continuing education units (CEU's). 0 Other _ _ _ _ _ _ __ O Hearing (<p<"ly) 0 German 0 Other---,---cs,wry) WORKSHOP SELECTIONS Tuesday Morning ls1cboicc 211dcho1cc lrdcho1cc ht choice 2ndcho1cc 3rd choice ls1choice 2ndcho1a 3rdchcuce Tuesday Afternoon 72 Thursday Morning -. --Thursday Afternoon _ _ _ _ __ ~O I would like to apply for a ~·~'~'~iarship. Please send '; ; ;n application. 0 0 Enclosed is my contribution of$ 3rd choice for scholarships. PAYMENT METHODS Total Payment $_______ (including scholarship contribution) Check (check#) Make payable to TRAVELINK Charge (please check one) 0 American Express 0 MasterCard 0 Visa 0 Discover Credit card number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Exp. date _ _ _ _ _ __ Signature: ________________________ SEND THIS REGISTRATION FORM WITH CHECK ENCLOSED TO: Clergywomen 's Consultation Registrar TRAVELINK, Inc. 30 Garfield Street, Suite C Biltmore Village Asheville, NC 28803 PAYMENT INFORMATION : Registration Fee in Full: October 1,2001 ($175 if received by Oct. I, 2001; $225 if received after Oct. I, 2001) Scholarship contribution to assist clergywomen attending from outside the United States. CANCELLATION FEE: A $50 cancellation fee will be charged if registration is cancelled before December 7, 2001. No refunds will be given after December 7, 2001. Cancellations must be communicated in writing. Participants are responsible for notifying the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry The United Methodist Church Wellsprings: A Journal for United Methodist Clergywomen Section of Elders and Local Pastors P.O . Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 Nonprofic Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nashville, Tenn. Permit No. 11