Love God. Love neighbor. Let God take care of the rest.
This is the heart of Christ’s message – and good news for the church today.
Come to the Big Tent to discover for yourself how putting God’s first things first can bring rebirth and renewal to your church. The Big Tent combines ten national conferences under one roof, gathering thousands of Presbyterian pastors, elders, and other church leaders to study, share, worship, and fellowship, and to build up the body of Christ. It’s been called “a giant Presbyterian family reunion” – and the 2013 Big Tent brings that reunion to Louisville, Kentucky, home of the PC(USA)’s national offices since 1988.
Women in Ministry Profiles
Vera Swann
A story of Presbyterian faith, service, and love
By Jessica Reid
Vera Swann (center in green) with her family and church members
In India in 1952, it wasn’t easy to be a Christian. But for missionary Vera Swann, who spent 12 years there, it was a time and a place that led to a deepening of her own Presbyterian faith.
“When you see certain people accepting Christ despite a terrible cost, you grow. Many of those who became Christians did so knowing their families would denounce them. I can’t imagine that pain.”
Vera Swann is the matriarch of a family of Presbyterian women and men who believe in the inherent value of education, faithfulness to God, and service to others. The family has five PhDs among them, and Vera earned a master’s degree in social services at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., one of the racial ethnic universities related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
News updates
Get the latest details on what’s happening within women’s ministries. For past news, see the AllWomen in the Church archives.
From the Church Pew to the Global Pulpit
A group of about 70 Presbyterians let the world know: the faithful will be active participants in efforts to end violence against women. The inter-generational group took part in the annual session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW) held in March at the United Nations.
“It’s very important that there is a spiritual voice for women,” Annanda Barclay, who was part of the delegation of Presbyterians, said. “I think all too often – especially in our national arena – that spiritual, faithful voice gets lost or drowned out. It doesn’t get heard as loud as opposing views.”
Grant Scam Alert: PC(USA) Grant Board of Commission Grant Notices
Anyone who receives this letter notification is warned that this letter is a fake and the grant award is a scam.
Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday
In 2013, Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday honors women through whom God is transforming the church in an emerging era. Your congregation or women’s groups may use this resource on any day that you choose. The resource also includes:
- A worship service with a call to worship, prayer of confession, suggested hymns, suggested scripture readings and a litany of remembrance and renewal.
- Preaching and program suggestions.
- Recommended resources for further study.
Get Celebrate the Gifts materials
2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women liturgy
Download
2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women liturgy (Spanish)
Download
2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women flier
Download
2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women bulletin cover
Download
Presbyterian Delegation to Help Form an Intergenerational Approach to Eliminating and Preventing Violence Against Women
By Jessica Denson
Communications Associate
Louisville, KY - This March, a group of about 70 Presbyterians, along with ecumenical partners and many non-profit organizations, will play a vital role as the United Nations outlines its international approach to women’s issues – specifically in efforts to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. Among the group, young Presbyterian women will serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of their generation.
Interim Associate to Work with Others to Discern Next Direction for Young Women’s Leadership Development
Kate Carlisle understands the importance of young women’s leadership development within the church. She is a lifelong Presbyterian whose values and own leadership skills were shaped by her faith and church family. It’s why she was excited to be selected as Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women’s new interim Associate for Young Women’s Leadership Development.
Register for the 2013 Women's Connection Conference
March 28-31, Montreat Conference Center
“Women and the Economy of Sharing”
Critical to debates about the unequal distribution of wealth, patterns of consumption, contemporary methods of wealth creation, and ecological devastation is the perspective of women, who bear the heaviest burden of poverty. The creative ways in which they provide for their families, address wealth inequalities, and model sharing offer hope for transformation. Gain a theologically rich and biblically informed understanding of the ways in which women, here and around the world, model an economy of shared partnership, mutuality, reciprocity, love, and justice. Learn more or register now.
Speaking of Young Women’s Leadership Development…
It’s incredible to witness what young women can do when given the tools and resources to share their gifts. Learn how the programs offered through YWLD are reconnecting young women to the church, and read the stories of “graduates” who are now contributing to the growth of God’s mission in the world in amazing ways.
'Yes, they can!'
Addressing Violence Against Women and Children on the Mexico-U.S. Border
The Murdered Women of Juarez
Just across the U.S. border in Juarez, Mexico, women have been abused, tortured, and murdered. Learn about their plight and what YOU can do to help them.
Read the Racial Ethnic Torch
In this issue, you will meet emerging racial ethnic leaders who are transforming the church even as they are themselves being transformed. You will learn about significant achievements by racial ethnic congregations and interest groups, exciting new additions to our ministry staff, and upcoming events.
Download the Winter 2013 issue
See past issues of the Racial Ethnic Torch
About Women’s Leadership Development and Justice Ministries
AllWomen in the Church is an online resource produced by Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/PW. This site provides materials for Gender and Racial Justice Ministries, Women’s Leadership Development, and Young Women’s Leadership Development (ages 18-35) as well as support for the individual faith journeys of all Presbyterian women.
Learn how women are transforming the church as they themselves are transformed.