| Clergywomen’s gathering defines creativity, community, concerns By Linda Worthington
UMCONNECTION STAFF Invisible members of the “cloud of witnesses” surrounded conference clergywomen as they sang, danced and worshiped at North Bethesda UMC Oct. 26 for a meeting with the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s new bishop, John R. Schol. The witnesses — names of women from history to the present — were called forth from the gathering of nearly 120 clergywomen who had come to meet Bishop Schol and share their joys and concerns with him.  | LINDA WORTHINGTON / UMCONNECTION | The Rev. Carlee Hallman greets Bishop John Schol at a clergywomen’s gathering. |
The Rev. Susan Beehler, who retired last year, played one of her own hymns, “The Women Must be Gathering,” as the sanctuary filled. She also played “Gather the Cloud of Witnesses” near the end of the meeting. The clergywomen’s liturgical dance group enhanced worship. Not lost on the audience was the symbolism of the world presented by a multi-ethnic dance circle of the Revs. LaReesa Smith, MaAn Barcelo and Ann Laprade clasping hands as the audience sang Beehler’s “Zion Songs.” The Rev. Mary Kraus posed the question, “How have we experienced singing Zion’s songs in a strange land?” to the Revs. Nancy Webb and Kay Albury-Pierce. The three shared their vastly different experiences as part of the history of clergywomen in the conference. 
Kraus | “I hope we can continue to ‘claim our identity of each other,’ regardless of race, age, backgrounds, gender or sexual orientation,” Kraus said as she welcomed the bishop. “We look forward to working with you.” Bishop Schol led the congregation in a covenant litany. He then led a question and answer time, first asking the clergywomen, “What are your expectations (of me) and hopes?” A half hour of high hopes and great expectations, as well as complaints and issues followed. Among them: - A reminder that 2006 is the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in The United Methodist Church.
- A request to listen to the voices in the churches, and “to be our pastor.” “There are a lot of dysfunctional families called churches,” one clergywoman commented.
- A hope for greater recognition that there are different kinds of clergy families, not just white male clergy “able to go anywhere,” one person said. “I have hopes you might be willing to be creative (in making appointments),” another said. She suggested co-pastors or two women serving together.
- Asking the bishop to consider consolidating churches “so pastors don’t burn out trying to keep two or three churches going … when they are wasting money on building maintenance.”
- Concerns about the appointment process ranging from charges that didn’t pay their pastors agreed-upon salaries, to short tenures, to the lack of appointments of clergywomen to prestigious or large churches.
“I have no experience in “making appointments,” said the new bishop, reminding the audience that the conference has a long history of appointing clergywomen, and that a system is in place. “Give me a year to better understand that system, then we can work toward modifying it,” he said. “We’re going to look at the fruits and where the fruit-bearing churches are,” the bishop continued. “I want to make sure there is equity and doing what we can to help women bear fruit.” The bishop said he is committed to church as outlined in Acts 2:41-47, connecting to people hungering for a home, a missional focus shared with those in need, and seeing the “signs and wonders” of the power of God at work. The Rev. Debbie Scott, pastor at North Bethesda UMC, hosted the gathering. “Be(ing) in covenant for mutual ministry was very important to us,” she said. | 
Login/Register to leave comment