Evangelical women gather for Washington Summit ’97

When I hear about women gathering together to discuss problems in the church and society, that is usually the last place I want to be. But in mid-November, when more than 100 women gathered in Washington DC for the Washington Summit ’97 to discuss "Strategies for Christ-Centered Women in a Self-Centered Society," there was no place else I would rather have been.

 By Esther Berg

 The Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society (ECWS, a group that emerged out of the Institute of Religion and Democracy) invited Christ-centered women from across the spectrum of denominations to affirm the role of women within the Church, to proclaim Christ in and through society, and to counteract the influences of creeping immorality and radical feminism within our culture.

The centerpiece of the Summit was the "Christian Women’s Declaration," a document that addresses the identity of women within the constructs of historic Christian faith, the challenges of a post modern society (including radical feminism), and includes a corporate pledge to take action.

The Declaration affirms the identity of Christian women within Christ and Scripture, and decries the false assumptions of radical feminism. It was written to give voice to the "silent majority" of women who do not subscribe to the "victimhood" of women or to the falsehood of fulfillment through self actualization, but who are fulfilled, freed, and transformed through Jesus Christ, as revealed in scripture.

The declaration begins with the statement that "...we are women of faith and principle whose Christianity is founded, not on human invention, but on divinely-revealed truth ... the Bible is the most effective force ... for lifting women to higher levels of respect, dignity and freedom...and [we are] women whose ... faith is forged from Biblical truth and whose lives are shaped into Christ’s image on the anvil of obedience."

 Standing for Christ

These words laid the foundation for the weekend, as various speakers, workshop leaders, and forum panelists challenged participants to get involved and influence society, to stand for Christ, and to stand against that which is not Christ within our churches and communities.

Mary Ellen Bork, a free lance writer and lecturer on issues affecting Catholic life, began the conference with a challenge to appreciate our calling from God, and the freedom that comes only from the source of dignity, who is the one, true God. She challenged hearers to "work to build a culture worthy of the human person."

Katherine Kerston, an attorney and chair of the Center of the American Experiment, challenged conference attendees both to value the legacy inherited by today’s woman from the women’s movement and to recognize the fallacies of radical feminism that seek to "overthrow male society" and find meaning only through victimhood and self worship.

Mary Stewart VanLeewen, scholar in residence at Eastern College, workshop leader, and forum speaker, said the call of God, the cultural mandate, "came to both [Adam and Eve]. We mustn’t forget that there are still women who suffer under abuse – both familial and structural – reinforced by the misuse of scripture. The Christian Women’s Declaration attempts to examine both ends of the spectrum of Biblical interpretation – upholding the value of and calling upon women, while denouncing the fallacies of radical feminism."

Diane Knippers, president of IRD, concluded the conference by focusing on the challenges of the Declaration. She challenged her audience to keep the pledges made in the Declaration: to live holy lives, support families, be active citizens, fulfill our worldwide obligations, and build the church of Jesus – creating a vision beyond the materialism of society.

 No more powerful testimony

When women and men come together under the banner of Christ, and Christ alone, there is no more powerful testimony. I left as one who had worshiped, learned and accepted the challenge of the conference and the document.

We came to Washington as fellow strugglers within our respective denominations. Some came trying to fight off the influences of relativistic faith, radical feminist ideologies, and self-centered thought that would replace Biblical truth. Others came seeking to open hearts to the call of God on women to all aspects of their churches’ ministries. We left with a unified challenge to be more – to be the Church universal, the body of Christ, and to make our mark on the world, our communities, and our denominations for the sake of Christ.

As Knippers stated, "This is the birth of a movement; we are all comrades in arms."

I am excited by the Declaration, which is solidly Biblical, and has a timely message for Church and culture. I am excited to see women crossing denominational barriers for the sake of Christ’s church, joining forces to speak the truth of the Gospel in a relativistic world. My hope is that individuals, congregations and denominations will adopt the declaration and seek to live out its challenges so that we may participate in Christ’s transformation of the world.

 Esther Berg is pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Otis, CO, and national coordinator of the Network of Presbyterian Women in Leadership. For more information, or a copy of the Declaration, contact the IRD at 202-986-1440.