Snags reported at college women's leadership event By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Wednesday, October 6,1999 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – "How does the open meeting policy relate to this kind of event?" asked Kristen Gerling during her report on the National Network of Presbyterian College Women Leadership Event held recently in Seattle, Washington. In her report to the executive committee of the General Assembly Council, Gerling praised the leadership event saying "it was an honor to be there but there were some snags." She said there were issues around the open meetings policy, who it pertains to, and was the conference a meeting or a retreat. "Observers at retreat type activities can and were inhibiting to the discussions," said Gerling. "Defending the open meeting policy is not an easy thing for me to do." Reporters from Voices of Orthodox Women attempted to cover the event, but were denied access after Network leaders, in consultation with Presbyterian Church (USA) officials drafted their own version of the open meeting policy. Gerling said she was asked by the National Network of Presbyterian College Women intern Gusti Newquist to be the General Assembly Council liaison. She admitted to some confusion as to whether she was the Council's liaison or the National Ministries Division liaison to the college women's group. "I send my bill through the GAC," she said. "What an amazing four days with 45 women who formed a warm, welcoming, worship community," read Gerling's report. With women ages college through grandmother attending, the "commuity became a safe place for women to talk about faith, bodies health, and wholeness." Gerling ended her report by stating "I came away from the NNPCW event filled with a new awarness of my faith and myself. It was truly an amazing time for me." The advisory committee on the news will meet Oct. 15-16 in Louisville to discuss the open meeting policy and how it relates to non-business meetings and gatherings.

Respond to this article

News From the PCUSA · Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links