'Tending the flame: Women called to lead' celebrated at Women of Faith breakfast By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Monday, June 19, 2006 217th General Assembly Birmingham, Ala. BIRMINGHAM -- Under the theme "Tending the flame: Women called to lead," six women -- two deacons, two elders and two ministers - were honored Sunday as "women of faith, women who are part of the whole life of the Presbyterian Church (USA). "We are gathered in this place on Sunday morning to celebrate women of faith, women who are part of the whole life of the Presbyterian Church (USA)," said Mary Elva Smith, associate director of the Women's Ministries area, told the more than 350 people who filled a ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel. "Gathered in Birmingham, we recognize 300 years of Presbyterians in the United States," she said, "and celebrate 100 years of women being ordained as deacons, 75 years of women being ordained as elders and 50 years of women being ordained as ministers of Word and sacrament." Speaking of "prophetic voices," Smith then quoted a portion of "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," written by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of 'outsiders coming in.' … I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the eighth century prophets left their little villages and carried their 'thus saith the Lord' far beyond the boundaries of their home towns; and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Graeco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular home town. "I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial 'outside agitator' idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere in this country." "To celebrate the role of women in the Presbyterian Church (USA)," Smith said, "we are reminded that issues not only of gender, but race, economics and class that divide us still; not only in the culture, but also in the world. We are still on the journey and have a long way to go." Moving on to the presentation of the honorees, she said that, "We are here today to honor and name women who tended the flame." The women honored are: -- Betty L. Grunstra, a deacon from Brookville Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania. She was singled out for devoting much of her time to a nursing home visitation program and for setting up an annual Thanksgiving dinner for those who have no one to share the holiday. Grunstra also is active in Presbyterian Women, for which she serves as the chair of its national search committee. "Presbyterian Women, my congregation, my husband and four children have nurtured, supported and encouraged me as I have attempted to step out in faith to serve Christ. God has helped me accomplish things that I never thought I could do," she said. -- Dawn (Kennedy) Harvin, a deacon at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. She was cited for leading her congregation into increasing its community service ministries. "I know God has blessed me and know he continues to use me as a vessel and a blessing to others. God is just so awesome. He has done some wonderful things for me, and I just say, 'Praise God,'" she said. -- Evelyn Bonner, an elder at First Presbyterian Church in West Point, Miss. She was cited for her academic accomplishments. A product of Presbyterian schools -- Mary Holmes College and Johnson C. Smith University -- Bonner also served as a volunteer leader at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, and at Mary Holmes College in West Point, among others. "I have a ministry of reconciliation and a ministry of helping others as I have been helped. I give thanks to the Lord," she said. --Grace S. Kim, an elder at Davis Community Church in California. She was cited for her advocacy for overseas and multicultural mission. "I am thankful to God for the caring and longtime friends who have nurtured me in the faith," she said. -- Rev. Betty Meadows of Louisville. As a presbytery executive, she was cited for inspiring growth in evangelism, new-church development and spiritual renewal for pastors, educators and church members. "My focus since my ordination to minister of Word and sacrament in 1984 has been the formation of disciples who are sent from congregations into the world to join the risen Christ in transforming the world," she said in a program note. -- Rev. Carmen Rosario-Reyes, parish associate at Jamesburg Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. She was cited for her work including Latino women and men into the life of the PCUSA, as well as the establishment of the Hispanic Leadership Development and Enhancement Program at Princeton Theological Seminary. "I am a child of God, a woman, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a wife, a friend, a pastor and a teacher. All of these roles define me, identify me and at the same time speak about my relationship with my neighbor. My life is and has been an answer to each of those roles that God has given me," she said in a program note.

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