First Presbyterian Church of Maple Ridge (Established 1886) 2021 N. Briggs Rd. Twining, MI 48766 (989) 873-5103

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

The PW Covenent I The PW Symbol I Membership Invitation  

The PW Purpose

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves

• to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
• to support the mission of the church worldwide,
• to work for justice and peace,
• and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom.

Presbyterian Women (PW), is the national women's organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Committed to nurturing faith, supporting the church's mission, working for justice and building community, it is organized at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in congregations, presbyteries and synods as well as General Assembly.

Guided by their covenantal agreement, Presbyterian Women works cooperatively with the Women's Ministries Program Area to achieve these goals. This covenantal relationship is based upon shared beliefs, complementary visions and commitments, common history and a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation.

The PW Covenent

Over the years, it became apparent that a clear understanding about the relationship between Presbyterian Women and the national church structure needed to be articulated. The Covenant approved this summer by the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women (CCT/PW) and the General Assembly Council (GAC) clarifies, enhances and strengthens that relationship.

Covenant among Presbyterian Women and the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the National Ministries Division and the Women's Ministries Program Area.

I. Preface: This covenant expresses the partnership in mission among Presbyterian Women (PW, as represented buy its Churchwide Coordination Team, CCT) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Council (GAC). PW and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have had a long-standing partnership based upon shared beliefs, and complementary visions and commitments, common history and a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation. While this covenant is specifically for the relationship between PW Churchwide and the GAC, it is commended as a model for PW in relation to other corresponding governing bodies and councils.

II. The Covenant-based Relationship: A covenant is essentially an agreement between two or more parties committing themselves to certain responsibilities. The idea of Covenant is at the heart of the Biblical story and is generally understood as different from a contract. A contract is about legal and economic transactions while a covenant depends on trust and fidelity and focuses more on the quality of the relationship. It is agreed that PW, Women's Ministries Program Area (WMPA), National Ministries Division(NMD), and GAC will each assume responsibility for their actions, and the signing of the covenant does not hold any party liable for the actions of another party. As reflected in this covenant, however, the GAC does provide various services to PW.

A. Background: Presbyterian Women (PW) is the national women's organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), hereinafter PC(USA). Its members are first and foremost members of the PC(USA). PW came into being in 1988, five years after the reunion of the Presbyterian Church in the United States and the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of American. It is a mission entity in the PC(USA) with leadership coordinating teams at all governing body levels from the congregation to the General Assembly.

From reunion in 1983 until the organizing Business Meeting of PW in 1988, a Working Team of the Women of the Church (WOC) and United Presbyterian Women (UPW) proposed designs to their constituencies which culminated in the approval of the present structure. The 198th General Assembly (1986) received the PW Purpose and Principles of Organization as information only, pending approval by the uniting constituencies. The General Assembly action affirmed the independence and responsibility of Presbyterian Women to make its own decisions concerning leadership, program and budget. Membership in the Presbyterian Women is open to all women who choose to participate in or be supportive to PW in any way.

The PW Purpose states: Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves: to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, to support the mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace, and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.

In 1986, UPW and WOC, as they looked ahead to becoming PW, willingly became a part of the Women's Ministry Unit where they were in partnership with Justice of Women, Women Employed by the Church, and the Committee of Women of Color. In 1993, the Women's Ministry unit was reorganized into the Women's Ministries Program Area of the National Ministries Division. There it continues to be lodged with staff as part of the NMD program area. PW leaders in presbyteries and synods were polled in the spring of 1994 and eighty-three percent (83%) of the respondents were satisfied with PW's placement. With each restructure or reorganization, Presbyterian Women made the decision to be lodged in the unit or program area with other women's constituency groups and emphases.

Funds owned and operated by PW but managed by the GAC and its entities belong to PW in perpetuity. Should the relationship between PW and NMD or its successor be dissolved, these funds and earnings from investment of the funds will be transferred to PW or its successor.

B. The Covenant Responsibilities of Presbyterian Women Presbyterian Women will:

1. (as stated in their purpose)
   1. nurture (their) faith through prayer and Bible study,
   2. support the mission of the church,
   3. work for justice and peace,
   4. build a community of women that strengthens the PC(USA);
2. work cooperatively with the Women's Ministries Program Area as a whole and with other offices within the program area, being especially aware of the need to keep staff in the synods up-to-date on decisions and actions of the Churchwide Coordinating Team;
3. be an active presence on the General Assembly Council through the PW Moderator's membership, voice and vote;
4. be faithful stewards of the money given by Presbyterian Women from throughout the church, whether the money is given for the general mission of the church, for ongoing work of PW, or for projects of Creative Ministries offerings;
5. ensure editorial autonomy for Horizons magazine, the annual Bible study and all other publications of PW Communications;
6. respect the limits of staff time available from WMPA staff in the synods and other staff of the program area;
7. understand the staff operate under the rules of the GAC employee handbook and report via the regular policies of the process of supervisors with WMPA and NMD;
8. be guided by general policies of the GAC (for example: contract procedures, minority vendor policies, and travel and meeting policies).

C. Covenant Responsibilities of the General Assembly Council through the National Ministries Division and its Women's Ministries Program Area The GAC through the NMD and WMPA will:

1. assign national staff to give time and support to the work of PW. This arrangement will be reviewed triennially on the anniversary date of this covenant by the parties of the covenant and revised by agreement if revision is needed.
2. make support systems available to the personnel assigned to PW. Support systems include information technology, human resources, payroll, office space, legal counsel, and insurance coverage. This arrangement will be reviewed triennially on the anniversary date of this covenant by the parties to the covenant and revised by agreement if revision is needed.
3. provide support to PW by the GAC:
   1. recognizing the full membership with voice and vote on the GAC of the Moderator of PW Churchwide;
   2. serving the funds and affirming the faithful stewardship of money and offerings given by Presbyterian Women;
   3. acknowledging and assuring editorial autonomy for all PW publications, including Horizons magazine and the annual Bible study;
4. through specifically assigned staff persons, seek ways to build tangible partnerships with PW for joint programming with various program areas of the PC(USA) in which the mission priorities of the church are served;
5. through the WMPA staff assigned, maintain close connections with PW and be responsive to changes, new developments, and program options;
6. Respect PW as an autonomous organization, self-determining in its leadership, budget, and program.

III. Accountability: In the following ways, PW, GAC, NMD, and WMPA stay in communications as each party attempts to be faithful to the covenant promise:

A. PW will provide an annual report to the NMD of its programs, services, and policies, and PW's mission giving will appear in the General Mission Budget;

B. A member of the NMD Committee will be invited to report on the policies and activities of the NMD when the Churchwide Coordination Team of PW meets in Louisville and at the triennial Churchwide Gathering Business Meeting of PW;

C. A representative group from each body will meet on a three-year cycle to review the covenant and propose any changes, the terms of this covenant being three years, commencing Aug. 23, 2001, and expiring Aug. 23, 2004.

D. Any party may propose changes in the covenantal relationship at any time upon prior written notice to the other parties.

The PW Symbol

The original Presbyterian Women's symbol, designed by Sarah Abbott in 1988, was updated in 1999 to carry the organization into the twenty-first century. The cleaner lines and sharper image strengthen the original design while retaining its ability to visually express the Presbyterian Women purpose.

Some Meanings Found in the PW Symbol

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ,
Forgiven and freed by grace through faith, the central figure stands in praise.

and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves:
Rooted in faith, the trio of women emerge. The outline of the central figure forms a cross. We are Presbyterian women, engrafted in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
The right figure holds a book to guide her reading, studying, praying, or meditating. to support the mission of the church worldwide
The left figure reaches out to care for others, as she shares, nurtures, and heals. The circle represents the church worldwide where women offer their gifts and talents in the midst of the global community.

to work for justice and peace,
The uplifted arms of the central figure reach out to embrace a just peace for the world. The relationship between the three figures depicts lives of wholeness rather than turmoil.

and to build an inclusive, caring, community of women
The three women have no distinct features and represent all women. The shapes surrounding them express energy, strength, and openness.

that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Our name, Presbyterian Women, ties us to our denomination. The Bible resembles the Bible depicted in the PC(USA) seal.

and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.
Guided by our purpose, we witness to the reality of God's realm.

Membership Invitation              

"You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that would last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."
        John 15:16 NRSV                

An Invitation to you ...

As a Christian, committed to the call of Christ to be his disciple ...

As a Presbyterian, who finds meaning in the fellowship and ministry of the Church ...

As a person, whose life is filled with responsibilities and obligations to others ...

As a woman who tried to juggle house duties, job demands and community service, yet often feels overburdened, lonely and her gifts unappreciated and undeveloped ...

As one who acknowledges the gifts of grace God has given her, and wants to respond in gratitude for these gifts, and use them for God's purposes ...

"For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same functions, so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us."
        Romans 12:4-8 NRSV

An Invitation to ...

Join other Presbyterian Women in continuing their heritage of participation in global mission, advocacy for human rights and the leadership development of women, locally and globally ...

Share, through this supportive community, your gifts, discovered, developed and used with appreciation, thereby enriching your own spiritual life ...

Invest your own unique talents and time to help make important decisions, provide leadership for meaningful action and witness to God's love and grace ...

Discover and develop new skills as you accept the responsibilities of your office and the learning opportunities it brings ...

Celebrate with others the good news lived out in community; the unity with diversity, enriching all; your partnership with God and other women by which you make a difference in your own unique way, and contribute to a world of justice and peace yet to be ...

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail."
        Isaiah 58:11 NRSV

An Invitation ...

As you prayerfully consider your response to this invitation to serve, ask yourself:

• What is God doing in the world today?
• Where does God want me to use my life and my gifts in service to the world?
• What is God saying to me, through the Scriptures, other persons, experiences I've had, the needs of others and invitations like this?
• What weaknesses or failures in my life will God transform into tools of ministry for me to use?
• How can I grow spiritually; become "mature" in my faith, link my life to God's purposes, through my family life, my occupation, my membership in the Church and in Presbyterian Women?
• How can I be a good steward of God's gift of life itself?
• What are the costs and what are the benefits to me if I accept this invitation?

Membership is open to all women who choose to participate in or be supportive to PW in any way. PW intentionally seeks the membership of women from all racial-ethnic groups so that the organization may reflect a vision of the whole church as a community of mutual interdependence in which diversity contributes to wholeness.

To learn about Presbyterian Women's groups in your area, click here or email us.

The PW Purpose I The PW Covenent I The PW Symbol I Membership Invitation

History I Our Symbol I Our Future I Our Church(photos) I Dedication 8/25/02 I Related Links I Rusava

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