Voices.
Quiet and strong. Animated and thoughtful.
Women. From towns and cities, big and small. Sleepy fishing villages and bustling urban centres. Gathered together for one purpose. To celebrate life in our Lord. Sharing, comforting, rejoicing. To “Burst Forth” as the theme from Isaiah 35 suggested.
As I moved through the chattering crowd streaming through the lobby of Richmond Hill’s Sheraton Parkway Hotel, various images flooded my thoughts: A young woman, myself, excited and hopeful, beginning a job working for the Presbyterian Church in the WMS office, when it was on Adelaide Street in Toronto. How grateful I was and still am, that those WMS women became my mentors, helped me discover and develop my gifts. Stalwarts such as Ada Adams, Margaret Webster, Louise Reith, Laura Pelton and others. Totally committed to the cause of Christ. Strong women who helped shape the mission work of the church of their day.
Most of the people I knew then have gone to be with the Lord. But it seemed almost as if their spirits were present, sharing with the celebration at the gathering so in tune with their beliefs. How astonished they would have been to see female clergy offering dynamic leadership—like Patricia Dutcher-Walls, (Rev. Dr.!) defying the stereotype of an Old Testament professor with her shoulder-length wavy hair and upbeat presentations.
Other female clergy freely shared personal struggles from their hearts, a particular gift I believe women bring to ministry. One told us of her struggle with pain and fatigue to complete a pilgrimage. My own aches and pains seemed trivial as I listened to how she honoured her Lord even through physical pain.
Another image. As a reporter for the Record, I listened to the debate at the General Assembly of 1966 on whether women should be ordained as ministers and elders. I was one of the few females present. How I wanted to get up and say something!
In those days most women attending were deaconesses, sporting hats, gloves and pearls. The male-only commissioners always rose to their feet when a woman entered the court.
I’d like to think the spirits of those men, still with us or gone on, were delighting in the dynamic leadership of the women at the gathering—and know that they decided well.
I never dreamed that many years later I would be ordained an elder and actually be a commissioner more than once to General Assembly. And to be able to finally have my say!
Burst forth. That’s exactly what we did at the Women’s Gathering. And must keep on doing.
We have battles still to fight, faith to keep.
There are those who say the church is dying. Perhaps. But it was hard to believe when experiencing the energy, commitment and enthusiasm of the 600 women present on that May weekend.
Bursting forth indeed!
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Suggested Reading:
In Praise for Women Elders by Jean Morris
