College Women's Network Gets Boost From Campus Allies By Parker Williamson The Presbyterian Layman Two Presbyterian special interest groups have circled their wagons around the National Network of Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW). On June 30, The Presbyterian College Chaplains Association and Presbyterian Ministers in Higher Education issued a joint resolution calling for "support" and "expansion" of NNPCW. The resolution commends NNPCW for "its faithful witness" and declares the network "an avenue of evangelism." Surrounded by Controversy Controversy surfaced around the college women's organization during the 210th General Assembly meeting in Charlotte when the group, which claims about 250 members, requested more than $273,000, to be funded over a three year period, from the denomination's mission budget. During the Assembly's consideration of that request, it was revealed that NNPCW had used "evangelism" funds to publish a booklet that refers coeds who are exploring their sexuality to an organization called "Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns." Off Again On Again Confronted with this information, the Assembly not only refused to grant the $273,000 request, but it voted to deny all funding to the organization (currently approximately $50,000 per year). The 306-217 vote was challenged twice, but the Assembly sustained its action by substantial majorities. Then, on the final evening of the Assembly, NNPCW members, joined by members of the More Light Churches Network, Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, the Witherspoon Society, and Voices of Sophia, conducted a public demonstration. In the confusion that followed, the Assembly reconsidered its action and decided to continue NNPCW funding for one year while a special committee evaluates "the resources and programs of NNPCW." Pornographic Links Discovered Following adjournment of the Assembly, from June 22 to July 1, 1998, The Presbyterian Layman conducted its own investigation of the NNPCW Internet Web Site and discovered under "Resources We Offer" a link to a site operated by Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns and another link titled, "Christian Views on Homosexuality." The second site introduces its users to a lesbian dating service and other sites that display hard core pornography. Evidence Recorded On July 1, 1998, following interlocking links that started with the NNPCW recommendation, The Layman reached animated pictures depicting aberrant forms of sexual behavior including, but not limited to oral and anal sex, sadism and masochism, and an entrance to "live chat rooms" in which potential partners are invited to discuss their fantasies. Layman investigators recorded all links from the NNPCW site and printed the images that appeared on their computer screens along with the time and date of their access. On July 2, 1998, all contents of the NNPCW site vanished. No explanation was given by NNPCW officials for the sudden disappearance of their program and resource material. On July 6, The Layman sent a report and summaries of its documentation to Rev. Cathy Chisholm, Chair of the General Assembly Council, with a request that the evidence be given to the special GAC committee that will evaluate NNPCW's resources and program. The Official Slant Jerry Van Marter, of the Presbyterian News Service has described the controversy surrounding NNPCW as having resulted from the fact that "some conservative groups within the church had targeted the network." Although it received a press release from The Presbyterian Layman on July 6, the News Service has made no mention of the resources that were discovered on the NNPCW site. Members of liberal groups like the More Light Churches Network and the Witherspoon Society have complained bitterly over the criticisms that have been lodged against NNPCW. Barbara Kellam-Scott, who said she helped plan the demonstration, described the Assembly's rejection of NNPCW as "a nasty, hurtful exercise of ecclesial politics." In a letter to the Presbyterian News Service, Kellam-Scott complained that members of the college women's organization suffered "wounds" from "a blatant and astonishing political attack." News Service Accused of Bias Kellam-Scott accused the Presbyterian News Service of disseminating "egregious misinformation, bordering on libel" because it minimized the NNPCW General Assembly demonstration by referring to it as "a brief protest by two dozen network members and supporters." She point out that "the entire area of the commissioners' seats was surrounded, in many places several people deep." Presbyterian Layman reporters who photographed the demonstration estimated that the participants numbered approximately 200. |
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| Demonstrators surround commissioners at the Charlotte Assembly | ||
| Investigation of National Network of Presbyterian College Women | ||
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