Review of Women’s Ministries program area begins The Presbyterian Layman Volume 32, Number 5 Posted November 11, 1999 To contribute to this review, write to: Women’s Ministry Review/Research Services 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Research Services is also online. LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The General Assembly Council has begun a review of the Women’s Ministries program area of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which will include an assessment of the “theological balance” of its programs and materials. The review was ordered by the 1999 General Assembly in response to a commissioners resolution that called for “factual information related to concerns and questions regarding the advocacy and program activities of the Women’s Ministry program area ... and the conformance of said advocacy and program activities to Scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).” Reasons for the review include: • The choices of Jane Spahr, a self-identified “lesbian evangelist,” and Letty Russell, a “self-affirming lesbian,” to receive 1999 Woman of Faith Awards; • The failure of the Women’s Ministries program area to properly supervise the National Network of Presbyterian College Women to ensure that its programs and materials were “in conformity to the theological and confessional standards” of the PCUSA; • The Women’s Ministries program area’s advocacy of “radical political and theological agendas.” The Council’s department of Research Services is sending questionnaires to a random sample of approximately 600 Presbyterians, and will also make an effort to get input from two Presbyterian related advocacy groups, Voices of Orthodox Women and Voices of Sophia. Keith M. Wulff, coordinator of Research Services, said one reason for the separate polling of the two women’s groups is that it will enable Research Services to “find out exactly what the objections by both groups are.” He said that research won’t be intended to “find out how many people are for or against” the Women’s Ministries programs. Sylvia Dooling of Voices of Orthodox Women said the organization’s board of directors was considering the invitation from Research Services. “We are urging people to take the time to write their concerns” and send them to Research Services, said Dooling. The Layman was unable to reach Voices of Sophia for a comment. Wulff will be personally reviewing the Women’s Ministries area’s printed materials and other resources. Presbyterians who wish to comment may do so in writing to: Women’s Ministry Review/Research Services, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202.

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