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News and Information about Presbyterian Women and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

And our new vice moderator is . . .

Reverend Fahed Abu-Akel, newly-elected moderator of the 214th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), named Ann Beran Jones as his vice-moderator. An active member of Presbyterian Women, Jones is an elder and current moderator for the Presbytery of Chicago, and a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. She served as a teacher and Christian educator and continues to be involved in ministry with women in prison.

Newly-elected vice-moderator of the 214th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Ann Beran Jones

"Fahed and I are hoping that this will be a transitional year and a time for healing. This is an excellent time for everyone to have in-depth conversations about the issues in our church, respectfully dialoguing, learning and deepening our spiritual lives. Clearly, when we speak, we'll focus on the opportunity to understand all people of the Middle East and the situation of the Palestinians. During this trying time, PW can learn about the Middle East in several ways: sponsoring interfaith dialogues, visiting with Arab Christians, offering hospitality to college and graduate students, inviting a participant from the 1997--2000 Middle East Global Exchange to speak at a gathering, learning Middle East history and always seeking out various points of view."

Jones's involvement with Presbyterian Women includes serving in various positions on presbytery and synod levels. She is probably best known as the former vice-moderator of peace and justice concerns for the Churchwide Coordinating Team (CCT) from 1997--2000. She went on the Global Exchange to the Middle East in 1999 and serves on the task force for structural review of Presbyterian Women from an antiracism perspective. She commented that her duties would evolve as she and Fahed discerned the needs of the church, adding "But I wouldn't be in this role without PW. My experiences with PW allowed me to meet Fahed Abu-Akel, become acquainted with the PC(USA) General Assembly staff, travel to the Middle East and of course, develop confidence for moderating a large meeting."

Attention All Gathering Friends!

Horizons is looking for women who attended the 2000 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, made a new friend (or many new friends!), kept in touch and plan to reconnect at the 2003 Gathering in Louisville. We'd like to interview you for an upcoming issue of Horizons.

Send your name, your friend's name, and the ways we can contact you (email, fax, address, phone) to Leah Bradley, c/o Presbyterian Women, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396; fax 502/569-8085; lbradley@ctr.pcusa.org. Deadline is January 1, 2003.

Former Vice-Moderator Dies

Former vice-moderator of the CCT/PW (1991--1994), Ann Mayer Wattman died peacefully on June 23, 2002 in Sherman, Texas. Ann and her husband, W.W. "Doc" Wattman, lived in Tulsa where they raised their five children. In addition to being an active mother, she served many philanthropic organizations and volunteer clubs. Ann was also involved in the life of the church, fulfilling roles as a Sunday school teacher and representative on the presbytery, synod and national levels, twice serving as the PW moderator for the Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma.

What Can You Do?

On October 24--27, 2002 in New York participants in The Global AIDS Pandemic seminar will learn about the AIDS pandemic, what is being done around the world to combat it and what they and their churches can do to help. Attendees will be trained to address the AIDS crisis through education, advocacy, fundraising and supporting the efforts of PC(USA) partner churches. Participants will also learn about the relationship between disease and poverty and how they can support initiatives in the international community that address the roots of poverty and disease.

The $100 registration fee includes most meals, a tour of the United Nations building, briefings and resources. Registrations must be received by October 7, 2002.

The Presbyterian United Nations Office, a ministry of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and the Worldwide Ministries Division AIDS Task Team are sponsoring the event. To learn more about the seminar or to request registration forms, contact the Presbyterian United Nations Office, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; call 212/697-4568; email seminars@presbyun.org.

Looking for Bible Study Helps?

The Bible Study Library, part of Logos Bible Software Series X, will enrich any Bible study. It is a collection of invaluable resources in one easy to use system. Bible Study Library integrates over 100 reference titles from multiple publishers into a single digital library, making it one of the most complete and instructional resources available for those who wish to expand their study of the Bible.

To use the software, simply enter a passage or topic in an Internet-style search box and click "Go!" Use the automated guides to effortlessly study by passage or topic, compare side-by-side any of 15 English Bible versions, perform in-depth word studies, create verse lists for a given theme, and delve into the Greek and Hebrew to your level of comfort. Additional features include customized Bible and devotional reading plans and a prayer list to assist in your spiritual disciplines.

In addition to Bible Study Library, four other packages are available, suiting the needs of everyone-individuals with questions about the Bible, study group leaders, pastors and scholars. Each package offers content and tools relevant to the level of study being done.

Prices begin at $149.95; Bible Study Library is $249.95. To learn more about the software, visit Logos Research Systems' Web site at www.logos.com or call 800/875-6467.

Leave No Child Behind

Many of us are familiar with President George W. Bush's education reform plan titled "No Child Left Behind." But are you familiar with the farther-reaching act to improve the lives of the millions of children who live in poverty?

The Children's Defense Fund is dedicated to the Act to Leave No Child Behind®. A few objectives of the act are

· preparing children for school through full funding of quality child care and Head Start
· ensuring every child and his/her parents have health insurance
· lifting every child from poverty-half by 2004; all by 2010
· ending child hunger by expanding food programs
You can help the nation's poor children in several ways.
· Contact your state's delegates and representatives and talk to them about passing the act; visit www.childrensdefense.org for names and contact information.
· Participate in Wednesdays in Washington or Wednesdays at Home to show the government your support. For information, call 800/CDF-1200, option 7.

To learn more about the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and Leave No Child Behind® contact CDF at 25 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; 202/628-8787; email cdfinfo@childrensdefense.org or visit the Web site at www.childrensdefense.org.

Curious about GA 214?

To read the news from the 214th General Assembly, visit the official Web site at www.pcusa.org/ga214. You'll find a complete list of overtures for all committees, committee votes and the actions of the GA in addition to photos and reports on headlining votes.

Sudan: Hungry for Peace

Church World Service has published a six-page fact sheet, titled Sudan: Hungry for Peace, on the terrible costs of the continuing civil war in Sudan. Fueled by religious, ethnic and political differences between the country's northern and southern populations, more than two million Sudanese, mostly in the south, have died as a result of this conflict. More than 4.5 million people are internally displaced and more than 500,000 have fled to other countries as refugees. Churches and nongovernmental organizations have been at the forefront of efforts to respNancy Collinsond to the suffering of Sudan's people and support their creative efforts to build a just and lasting peace.

Copies of the booklet are available through Church World Service (CWS). The first copy is free, multiple copies are $0.20 each. For bulk rates, call 800/297-1516. Please pre-pay. Send orders to CWS, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

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