Ask Jane
by Jane Parker Huber
Jane Parker Huber is serving as the interim associate
director of the Women's Ministries Program Area, National Ministries
Division, PC(USA).
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Making the Best of Any Situation
"In our presbytery
most of the churches are small in terms of their building, church
members and the number of active Presbyterian Women, and only
the larger churches can accommodate meetings of the presbytery
or gatherings of PW. While we feel under-used, they probably
feel over-used. Any suggestions?-Louise, Indiana
Yours is probably a very common dilemma. While most congregations
in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are under 150 members, the
majority of our denomination's membership belong to churches
of several hundred or one thousand or more members. To shorten
the Ogden Nash couplet: "How odd of God!"
In my home church, we had a situation last fall that may suggest
some new possibilities. Our PW had agreed to be the hostesses
for one of the fall gatherings of Presbyterian Women in our presbytery.
We were also beginning a major renovation project for our church
sanctuary and-you guessed it-the week scheduled for the fall
gathering turned out to be the same week the painters planned
to come and remove pews for refinishing. In the words of Charlie
Brown: "Good grief!"
Our solution was to call the Presbyterian church in the county
seat town, about six miles away, and ask if we could host the
fall gathering using their church building. We would take care
of planning and serving the lunch, providing registrars and ushers,
and other such details-all they needed to provide was the "space."
We then expanded our good idea and invited one of the other small
churches in the county to serve as hostesses for the coffee hour
that always begins our gatherings. It turned out those women
were delighted to be asked and for the opportunity to be involved.
They provided delicious coffee cakes, juice and coffee for the
early arrivals, and we only had to ask our "local"
PW for help in understanding the peculiarities of the resident
coffee pots.
In retrospect, it seems such a simple thing and so logical. Hopefully
these ideas will spark ideas of your own.
· If the number of participants is smaller than
expected, have everyone attend the same workshop, rather than
divide into small groups. If leaders had been asked to lead duplicate
sessions (for example, one in the morning and one in the afternoon),
they would probably welcome the opportunity to see what's happening
in the other workshop and might even learn some new techniques.
· If the number of participants is larger than
anticipated, don't be afraid to telescope the day's schedule
in some way to expand the opportunities. Sometimes it is possible
to present two full workshops, plus a mini-version giving only
the highlights. Prepared materials can be parceled out per church
instead of per individual.
· In really remote areas or where someone is homebound
for any reason, a videotape made of a workshop can widen the
circle of participants and lift the spirits of one who cannot
be present in person. Greetings from friends can fill out any
remaining minutes on the tape.
· For PW groups with primarily older women who
do not travel long distances for meetings, a sister group from
a nearby church might bring news and handouts, and even present
a shortened version of the gathering's program.
People sometimes ask if there is a future for Presbyterian Women
and I emphatically answer, "Yes!" Women will always
care what happens to women and children both near at hand and
on the other side of the globe. They will find some good way
to express that concern-in prayer, in correspondence, in sharing
printed and filmed materials, and in gifts of self, wealth, talent
and service.
Thanks for asking!
Send your question to "Ask Jane," c/o Horizons,
100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202- 1396;
fax 502/569-8085; email Lbradley@ctr.pcusa.org.
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