CURRENT ISSUE

Resource

Nominees to the Churchwide Coordinating Team
of Presbyterian Women for 2003­2006

Understanding clearly that the work of a Presbyterian committee is indeed the communion of saints in which we profess to believe, the Search Committee of the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women (CCT/PW) struggled prayerfully to make this be so. With each decision we asked God for wisdom and sensitivity, for acumen and insight. Our goal to be geographically, racially and chronologically representative remained foremost in our deliberations.
We give you the crowning product of our best work and continue to pray for God's gracious blessing, using and guiding of these eighteen capable, efficient, committed, adored, experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated women. Here is the slate of nominees for the business meeting of the 2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women.

Nancy Darter, 2003-2006
Search Committee Moderator

Josie Gaston, Southeast Region
Ann Olson, West Central Region
Jo Smith, Western Region
June Totin, Eastern Region
Gloria Venett, East Central Region
Nancy Darter, committee chair

Moderator, Presbyterian Women
Kristen York Gerling
West Grove, Pa.
Donegal Presbytery

" The challenge comes in honoring all people as we work together to ease the world's problems of hunger, intolerance and territorialism."

Church: chair, Committee on Evangelism and New Church Development; Nominating Committee, Executive Committee, GAC; synod representative and Nurture Committee, CCT/PW; PW Gathering Planning Team, 1992­2003; moderator, PWP and PWC; chair, Donegal Presbytery Personnel Committee

Community: director, Avon Grove School; Boy Scout leader; PTA leader and volunteer; Meals on Wheels; 4-H leader; Planned Parenthood volunteer

Credentials: Associates in Arts, State College, Delhi, N.Y.; Bachelor of Science, Cornell University



Vice Moderator for Mission Relationships
Kathryn Ann Baker
Ontario, Ore.
Boise Presbytery

"Presbyterian Women can provide a place to have hope and confidence restored-a sure place to see God at work."

Church: elder; chair, Mission Study Committee for pastoral search; chair, Presbytery Council; chair, 2000 Churchwide Gathering Plenary; 2003 Chuchwide Gathering Arrangements Committee; synod representative, CCT/PW; chair, CCT/PW Mission Committee; moderator, PWC and PWS; chair, PWS Search Committee; PW Enabler; PWC treasurer

Community: Board of Directors, Presbyterian Community Care Center; vice-chair, Payette County Board of Community Guardians; guardian/conservator for three clients

Credentials: attended College of Idaho; clerical work; private piano teacher

Vice-Moderator for Justice and Peace
Lillian Oats
Tempe, Ariz./New York, N.Y.
Presbytery of the Grand Canyon

"A follower of Jesus is one who tries to be helpful, considerate and patient, owing to being mindful of the generosity of a merciful God."

Church: elder; Board of Trustees, co-chair, Mission Commission; chair, Social Justice/Peacemaking Committee; Presbytery Resource Person for "The Church's Calling: Confronting Violence Against Women; Presbytery's Women's Ministries Committee; PW Enabler Committee; PWC moderator

Community: mentor, Phoenix Birthing Project (program to reduce high incidence of infant mortality for African American babies); volunteer leader, New Directions (program to raise self-esteem and self-awareness at the women's prison in Phoenix)

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Arizona State University; community development representative, U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; executive director, Montclair, N.J., Redevelopment Agency; manager, First Investors Corporation

Secretary
Shari Stump
Los Angeles, Calif.
Pacific Presbytery

"Presbyterian Women can model ways of doing mission that will bring all people closer together and ultimately peace on earth."

Church: elder; chair, Evangelism Committee; Presbytery Committee on Mission Interpretation & Promotion; synod representative, CCT/PW; chair, CCT/PW Mission Committee; vice-chair, 2000 Churchwide Gathering Nurture Committee; Horizons Editorial Committee; moderator, secretary and Horizons representative, PWP and PWS

Community: PTA; volunteer and fund-raising campaign, Westchester Family YMCA; volunteer, Neighborhood March
of Dimes

Credentials: director of volunteers, Mary Magdalene Project; campaign coordinator, Current Support of Westchester YMCA

Financial Secretary
Theresa L. Underwood
Buchanan, Va.
Presbytery of the Peaks

"One challenge our world presents to Presbyterian Women is to promote and strengthen cultural diversity in training and leadership at all levels."

Church: elder; clerk of session; chair, Outreach Committee; Worship/Christian Education Committee; codirector, PWS Summer Gathering; PWS Search Committee; treasurer, secretary, coordinator, Creative Ministries/Mission Opportunities, PWP; PW Enabler

Community: secretary, Town Improvement Society; recruiter, CROP Walk; secretary, Rebecca Burwell Sampler Group

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, National Business College; American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers; bookkeeper/treasurer, Sematco, Inc.

Historian
Loretta Lillard Bradley
Knoxville, Tenn.
Presbytery of East Tennessee

"Presbyterian Women must continue to be a catalytic and facilitating agent to prevent human rights violations and injustices."

Church: elder; clerk of session; vice-president, National Black Presbyterian Caucus; Reconciliation and Compassion Committee; Search Committee for Women of Faith Awards; African American Member-at-Large, CCT/PW; participant, 1996 PW Global Exchange; chair, Justice and Peace Committee, CCT/PW

Community: chair, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee of Greater Knoxville, Inc.; treasurer, National Conference of Christians and Jews; secretary, Habitat for Humanity

Credentials: Bachelor of Science, Knoxville College; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; secondary teacher; Certified Clinical Social Worker; Iota Phi Lambda Educational Sorority

Search Committee Moderator
Betty Landes Grunstra
Brookville, Pa.
Kiskiminetas Presbytery

"By educating Presbyterian Women about the hurting needs of women and children throughout our world, we can help them through our prayers, gifts, and caring."

Church: deacon; synod representative, CCT/PW; chair, PW Enabler Committee; chair, Synod Moderators Consultation; PW Churchwide Gathering Nurture Committee and Arrangements Committee; chair, PWS Search Committee; moderator, PWP; PW Enabler; chair, Mission Opportunities Committee; moderator, PWC

Community: chair, Board of American Red Cross; teacher, CPR and first aid; chair, Health Services and Blood Committee; United Fund Board; YMCA Board; Girl Scout leader; honored as Community Volunteer of the Year

Credentials: elementary school teacher; American Associate of University Women

Search Committee, Eastern Region
JoAnn Burrell
East Orange, N.J.
Newark Presbytery

"PW must work toward embracing newcomers and patterning ourselves after Jesus."

Church: every PWC position; church school teacher; local church Fiscal Operations Committee, Evangelism Committee, New Member Training Committee, Anniversary Committee and Worship Committee

Community: Board of Trustees, Montclair Historical Society; annual participant, Breast Cancer Walk

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Montclair State College; Master of Arts, Montclair State University; project manager, Multifamily Housing Development for N.J. State Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Search Committee, Southeast Region
Margery M. Fitzsimons
Louisville, Ky.
Mid-Kentucky Presbytery

"Presbyterian Women is challenged to provide conferences, workshops and resources as avenues for leadership development."

Church: elder; moderator, PWC and PWS; comoderator, PWP; Presbytery Council; chair, presbytery's Nominations Committee; Auxiliary President, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Kentucky; Board of Eastern Area Community Ministries; chair, Older Adult Ministry Task Force

Community: Girl Scout Leader; matron, Order of the Eastern Star

Search Committee, East Central Region
Artence J. Walton
Dayton, Ohio
Miami Presbytery

"We must strive to bring together peoples of all races, religions and genders so that the Word of God can be seen in what we do, what we say and in all walks of life."

Church: elder; commissioned lay pastor; Bible Study leader, PWC; presbytery's Higher Education Committee; Synod Search Committee; coordinator, PW Enablers; chair, PWS Synod Gathering; African American Member-at-Large, CCT/PW

Community: organized community Bible study group; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; NBPC; Neighborhood Watch home; storyteller

Credentials: Doctorate, Library Science; organized Trinity Church library and research library

Search Committee, West Central Region
Sheron Lucille Antczak
San Antonio, Tex.
Mission Presbytery

"Presbyterian Women can play a significant role in educating the public and developing legislation that affects the hungry and the oppressed."

Church: elder; chair, Pastor Nominating Committee; chair, Christian Education Committee, Administration Committee, Youth Ministry Team; moderator, vice-moderator, treasurer, and parliamentarian, PWC; moderator, PW Enabler, PWP; chair, Synod Gathering, PWS; participant, 1999 PW Global Exchange to the Middle East; president, Presbyterian Children's Home Auxiliary

Credentials: stay-at-home mom; participated in family business

Search Committee, Western Region
Amy Peterson
Kalispell, Mont.
Glacier Presbytery

" Vast disparities/needs cry out in our world. Presbyterian Women must continue its long history addressing these pressing concerns."

Church: elder; deacon; moderator and circle leader, PWC; PW Enabler; SPWEC; CCT/PW Enabler Committee; GA commissioner; PWS Search Committee; co-leader and secretary, Church Women United; leadership roles in Glacier Presbytery

Community: leadership roles with P.E.O. and Eastern Star

Credentials: retired Credit Union manager; licensed foster parent; earned GED and some college credits while raising four children

Member-at-Large, African American
Margaret A. Roberts
Orangeburg, S.C.
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery

"The spread of AIDS is a major issue for Presbyterian Women. We are challenged not only to educate, but to continue to reinforce those biblical principles which have held us together for generations."

Church: Church trustee; Campus Ministry Board; Church Financial Secretary; Church Planning Committee; Christian Education Committee

Community: Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center Board; Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center Board; Orangeburg County Council on Aging Board; United Way Board

Credentials: Master of Arts in Education; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; retired administrator

Member-at-Large, Asian American
Monica M. Lin
Katy, Tex.
New Covenant Presbytery

"[We are] challenged to bridge the gap in values, culture, understanding and perception of ideas between [members of] Presbyterian Women."

Church: elder, deacon, clerk of session; Sunday school teacher; Worship Committee; moderator of National Asian Presbyterian Women; moderator, Committee on Women of Color, Synod of the Sun; participant, PW Racial Ethnic Dialogue

Community: Vacation Bible School, feeding the homeless, supporting the Seafarer Ministry

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Taiwan Normal University, Taipei; Bachelor of Arts, University of Houston; accountant; supervisor of marketing and curtailment

Member-at-Large, Hispanic/Latin
Iris Grace Gonzalez
Sarasota, Fla.
Presbytery of Peace River

"Presbyterian Women should be reaching out to younger women in our church and encouraging a multigenerational, multicultural focus on friendship, study, prayer, mission and community involvement."

Church: elder; deacon; Sunday school teacher; moderator and secretary, PWC; chair, presbytery's Committee on Higher Education; Committee on Self-Development of People; Committee on Worship and Theology; GA Council on Women and the Church; GA Advisory Council on Discipleship and Worship; vice-chair, GA Committee on Representation

Community: Girl Scout leader; chair, PR Bible Society Board of Directors; delegate to United Bible Society World Meeting in Thailand; translator/interpreter, World Council of Churches, Nairobi; President of Board, Puerto Rico Council for Women

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, City College, NYC; Master of Arts, Columbia University, NYC; Ph.D., Indiana University; university professor of language and translations; Fulbright Professor; currently professor, Eckerd College

Member-at-Large, Korean American
Janette Kyung-Ja Kim
San Diego, Calif.
San Diego Presbytery

"[With] many thousands of homeless people in every large city, Presbyterian Women is challenged to [take the] lead in feeding these people and in spreading the Good News."

Church: elder; deacon; moderator, PWC; PWP Leadership Development Committee; Member-at-Large, Asian Women, PWS; moderator of Korean Presbyterian Women, PWS; Executive Committee, National Korean Presbyterian Women, PC(USA)

Community: vice-president and board member, Korean American Association of San Diego; leader, Street Mission (San Diego homeless program)

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Seoul National University; high school music teacher; floral designer

Member-at-Large, Middle Eastern American
Aida Faris
Buffalo, N.Y.
Western New York Presbytery

"Our world presents a challenge to Presbyterian Women to involve young women in the church; to accommodate them when planning program and activities."

Church: elder; presbytery's Church and Society Committee; secretary, Executive Committee of Middle East Caucus
Community: founder, Center for Middle East Studies, Inc.; national speaker on Middle East issues; bilingual teacher with the Buffalo Board of Education

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts in education; founding director of Center for Middle East Studies; bilingual teacher serving Arab students and their families

Member-at-Large, Native American
Stella C. Webster
Farmington, N. Mex.
Santa Fe Presbytery

"Our challenge is the small percentage of younger women participating in PW gatherings."

Church: elder; deacon; moderator, Mission Committee, leader, antiracism workshops; moderator, PWC

Community: vice-president, Board of Directors of the Farmington Intertribal Indian Organization; write and submit grant proposals for academic and service organizations

Credentials: retired executive assistant to the Navajo Area Medical Director, Indian Health Service; hospital administrator; director of nursing; nurse educator
and supervisor

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