132nd General Assembly : Breaking through the glass ceiling

There were more standing ovations at the 132nd General Assembly, held at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. in June, than assembly regulars remember from previous years. A discussion on sanctuary gained a little heat; there were admonitions to remember the Sabbath, concerns about declining givings to Presbyterians Sharing and questions about why seven commissioners from the Eastern Han-Ca Presbytery did not show. Still, and despite the usual battles over money and history, this was a genial gathering.

But read between the lines and something interesting comes into view: serious discussions on the role of lay leadership, further support of healing and reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples, impassioned response to ecumenical and inter-faith visitors and, though most commissioners were caucasian there were several representing the many nationalities and cultures within the church. Subtle changes that have been transforming this church for years came a little more into focus.

And the moderator, too, represents this changing church: Wilma Welsh became the first lay person and fourth woman to hold the position and the second in as many years. A native of Guelph, Ont., Welsh chose Partners in Mission as her moderatorial theme, building on her experience in world missions.

Amy MacLachlan spoke with the in-coming and out-going moderators. Here is some of what they said :

Wilma Welsh

My hope is that the church will have an exposure to mission. It's not my intent to preach sermons, but to share the story. We're a very caring and supportive church, and we have lots to share with the world. I think our perspective is valued by the government because we don't speak on everything, so when we do speak, I think the government listens or at least acknowledges us … The church's challenges refer to my theme, in helping the church look out rather than in.
As a layperson in the church, you always hit the glass ceiling. I was one of the first women elders to be ordained in 1967. I think I broke through the ceiling! If I had my life to live over, I'd do the same thing. I really believe I was called to serve as a layperson, not as ordained. This has always been a calling for me, never a job.

Jean Morris

A year ago, there was a sense of anticipation. There was excitement, but it was also daunting. I wasn't sure what was ahead for me and not sure of the contribution I would make or what God would make through me. There's also running through that a sense of gentle or subtle confidence that there was a call for me to respond to; a confidence that this was a ministry I had been called to do. I was not sure how the themes I chose would work out. I knew they were the right ones for me in this office; I just didn't have a sense of how it would be at the end. So to have had the experience with non-parish based ministries, I saw the fruit of those in the people I met. I know now there are many in those ministries that don't fit into our structures because it's not easy to say how they fit. So to go and say we know you're here and we're thankful for what you do, there was a sense of connection for me and for them with the whole church.

'God is helping us to help others'

“There was not a single Christian in our area when the first missionary came in 1897. He started teaching, preaching and healing as he was a medical doctor. As the work expanded, the PCC sent many missionaries. If you had not sent your missionaries, I would not be standing here, and we would not be Christians; you taught us the love of Jesus Christ. There are 14 congregations in the area, and one hospital, three schools and two community health programs. We see about 44,000 patients per year. The aim of the institution is to proclaim the word of God, so everything is done with prayer, and God is healing … God is helping us to help other people.” – ecumenical visitor Dr. Deborah Tezlo, Church of North India, Bhil Field

Unity is in Christ

“We have to revisit the issue of unity, not only for us in Ghana but of the universal church. By unity, we are not looking for uniformity. It is primarily a unity of relationships and intent and purpose of His work that Christ is much more concerned about. Followers of Christ live as one body, enjoying each other and living as a corporate entity, and gifts and abilities are harnessed. The unity in love that Christ prayed for transcends time and space and gender and culture.” – ecumenical visitor Rt. Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Ghana

Mutual respect

“One of the beneficial side-effects of interfaith work has been how much the knowledge of the other enriches us all while confirming each of us in our own commitments and beliefs. Today we speak of mutual respect and understanding that doesn't devalue one covenant in favor of another … We commit grave errors when we try to judge the faith of the other by the principles of our own beliefs.” – interfaith visitor Rabbi Dow Marmur, Rabbi Emeritus, Holy Blossom Temple

They're not victims

“After Sept. 11th, there have been some changes in Afghanistan. Today, women are working and have positions in parliament. But in reality, this is a very small number of women, who don't even constitute one per cent of the population. Two out of three girls do not go to school, so literacy is a big problem. Ninety-nine per cent of girls do not know their husbands before they marry. Only 12 per cent of Afghan women have access to very basic health care. Most women are still confined to their homes. But despite difficulties, they do not behave as victims.” – interfaith visitor Ms. Adeena Niazi – Afghan Women's Organization

40th Anniversary of Women's ordination

“There were tears and intense loneliness. My election as Moderator was made public on April 1st,1992. The next week, [just before Good Friday, I received] a letter that contained a very serious death threat, along with much derogatory name calling and profanity. There were accusations about my unsuitability to be a moderator of the Church and serious attacks on my moral character. The unsigned author said that he/she would “get to me” where I lived in McDonald's Corners, Ont., long before the Assembly meeting in June, or failing that, she/he would be at the opening of Assembly to kill me then.

“I was afraid. But more than this I was overcome with such a sense that somehow I was going to be a source of great embarrassment to the Church that I love, to the Lord whom I love and long to serve — perhaps even of shame.

“Our national office wasn't open until Tuesday morning. Thursday evening I wept, wondering if I should withdraw, wondering how I could go about withdrawing.

“On awakening — somehow God worked in my heart and soul as I slept — on awakening, I realized that the first “anything” would need to shoulder this kind of thing and that for whatever reason God and you were asking me to step up.”

– Rev. Linda Bell, the first female moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, speaking to the assembly. A fuller appreciation of this momentous anniversary will appear next month.

Growth in China

“There are about 20 million believers in China, 2,700 pastors, 27,000 pastoral personnel, 18 seminaries, Bible schools and training centres in China. I feel called by God to contribute to Chinese theological education, so the number of Chinese theological teachers will increase and there will be more pastors to serve our church. Knox will enrich me emotionally, theologically and spiritually, so I can return to China to help them grow more deeply in love and service of Jesus.” – ecumenical visitor Ms. Xiping Jin, China Christian Council

Faith and welfare

“It is the compelling testimony of our faith that love, compassion, and selflessness have transformative power to elevate humanity toward a community of sustainable human and environmental harmony; and yet it is the tragic experience of people the world over that the ready availability and endemic misuse of small arms rebuffs love with acts of hatred, smothers compassion with indifference to the suffering of others … that is inimical to the welfare of others.” – mission partner Ernie Regehr, co-founder, Project Ploughshares