Speaking at the recently held National Presbyterian Women’s Gathering, Rev. Paulette Brown referenced five biblical women, whose father had died: “The legacy of these women [in Numbers 27:1 – 8] is a relentless attitude, a daring spirit to enter the most unlikely places, to confront the most sacred legislation that bound the community, to find their voices and use their voices for the sake of change.”
These women weren’t content with the status quo; they dared to speak, and in return, God ordered Moses to change a law in support of women like them.
How’s that for inspiring?
I left the Women’s Gathering on that May long weekend wondering if that spirit had entered into the Presbyterian Church. The event, a joint venture of the Women’s Missionary Society and the Atlantic Mission Society, not only sparked excitement, it emboldened and inspired women to find their voice, to be confident and courageous in their faith and in their womanhood, and to rely on each other for that courage.
But, behind the excitement are some sobering realities: Both societies are struggling to maintain their membership and their budgets.
In 1987, the AMS took “a bold step in opening up membership to men in recognition that mission work is the work of the whole church,” according to president, Jennifer Whitfield. They changed their name to the Atlantic Mission Society, and today have executive members who are men. Still, they only have 811 full members in 89 auxiliaries—and these numbers drop just about every year.
The WMS’s story is the same. Created in 1914 (thanks to an amalgamation of three women’s groups each created in or around 1864), they were almost 48,000 – strong.
Of course, this was at a time when church attendance was the norm, and women had few options for real church involvement. Fair enough. But by the year 2000, membership dropped to just over 7,200, and today, it sits at less than 4,500. With a loss of 2,700 people in just over 10 years, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that in another 10, membership will be next to nil.
Both organizations are trying to figure out a way forward. President Joan Smith said the WMS began a visioning process in 2006. From that, they’ve created a Justice Committee hoping that the new focus will interest new women. Wonderful. But I’d like to see something more bold than that.
What about a national women’s organization that meets the vast and varied needs of women in the church, instead of only focusing on mission?
“The next generation is very interested in supporting the work of mission—just not under the same organizational structure,” said Whitfield. “We can do mission as individuals, auxiliaries and as a Society, which gives us a tremendous power. We need to step outside the boxes and see what this brings to each auxiliary and to our Society.”
Yes, out – of – the – box thinking is important. But, may I suggest looking back to the past?
Presbyterian women came together more than 100 years ago to have a voice in their church—a church that otherwise kept them silent. I wonder: If the WMS and AMS got together, found a common voice among their members, and led a renewed passion and vigour not only in their societies, but throughout the church; perhaps real change would come, and they would inspire other women to join them in their quest.
The passion is there. The desire for something more exists. We felt it at the Women’s Gathering.
The women of this church have a voice. They should use it. Together. For it is a terrible thing to waste.
