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PW 2002 Global Exchange to East and West Africa

Global Exchange Participants with host Miriam Gachago at the Methodist Guest House, Nairobi, Kenya

Commitment statement

Seeking God's spirit, participants in the 2000--2003 Global Exchange journeyed to Ghana and Kenya to listen and share with our African sisters, initiating our commitment to heal the wounds of our history, awaken our awareness, be taught and led into truth, and to reconcile ourselves to each other and to God.

As we continue to walk with our African sisters, we affirm their love, generosity and hospitality. We celebrate their vibrant faith and commitment to service, as well as the spiritual vitality of the Presbyterian churches in Ghana and Kenya. We humbly recognize the need for African solutions to African problems.

Therefore, we commit ourselves to fulfill, prayerfully and intentionally, the purpose of this PW Global Exchange through:

Advocacy
· Educating about gender issues and the changing role of women
· Promoting the health and welfare of children, including education for all ages
· Promoting economic growth and sustainable development
· Raising awareness about environmental issues

Support
· Facilitating transnational church relationships within Africa
· Promoting PW and PC(USA) international partnerships

Partnership
· Learning from and relating to Presbyterian women in Ghana and Kenya
· Remembering what we experienced during this Global Exchange

Communication
· Sharing stories and experiences of Ghana and Kenya
· Interpreting the role of the United States in the ongoing oppression and resulting poverty in Africa
· Articulating the effects of globalization at the grass-roots level
· Expressing the need for increased knowledge and understanding of the continent of Africa

We further commit ourselves to pray for and welcome our African sisters and brothers to the United States as they itinerate in PC(USA) synods and then attend the 2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women.

To learn more about the Global Exchange to East and West Africa, contact the participant representing your synod.

Synod of Alaska-Northwest Lynne Snyder · 407 Milwaukee Blvd. S., Algona, WA 98001; lksnyder@juno.com Dottie Villesvik · 14727 43rd Ave., NE Unit 8, Marysville, WA 98271-8929; vilsvkalan@aol.com Synod of the Covenant Dawn Marie Otto Hayes · 8673 Alexander Ct., West Chester, OH 45069; dawnmohayes1@juno.com Joyce Ann Bowen Smith · 1756 N. Star Rd., Columbus, OH 43212; rjsmith5@quixnet.net Synod of Lakes and Prairies Linda "Kitch" Shatzer · P.O. Box 126, Brighton, IA 52540; revkitch@hotmail.com Synod of Lincoln Trails Joy Haning · 410 Kathleen Rd., Stanford, IL 61774; jlhaning@hotmail.com Synod of Living Waters Andrea Jeans · 6601 Whitetail Dr., Birmingham, AL 35242; ajeans@uabmc.edu Synod of Mid-America Sandra Browder · 852 Albert Ave., St. Louis, MO 63122-3117 Synod of Mid-Atlantic Catrelia Steele Hunter · 3855 Woodleaf Barber Rd., Cleveland, NC 27013; chunter@livingstone.edu Synod of the Northeast Alpha Brown · 164-30 Hillside Ave., Unit 8J, Jamaica, NY 11432; aobrown44@msn.com Dorothy Shaw · 60 Chapin Rd., Barrington, RI 02806; peterdotsie@pipeline.com

Synod of the Pacific Jimmye Jackson · 4142 Maynard Ave., Oakland, CA 94605; wilks2jackson@aol.com Beth Appel · 68 Rochambeau Ave., Providence, RI 02906; beappel@earthlink.net Synod of Puerto Rico Irma Zayas-Rivera · P.O. Box 684 San Sebastian, PR 00685 Synod of the Rocky Mountains Sheryl Flyr · P.O. Box 75, 158 Kelly Park Rd., Guernsey, WY 82214; sflyr@prairieweb.com Synod of the South Atlantic Jaxie Julian · 388 Golden Delicious Rd., Clarkesville, GA 30523; jax-jul@alltel.net Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Marti Napier · 16945 Mariah Ct., Yorba Linda, CA 92776-1537; mnapier@attglobal.net Jean Vieten · 1756 Parkview, Redlands, CA 92374; Jeanvieten@cs.com Alberta Williams · 612 S. Aprilia Ave. Compton, CA 90220; peaealw@aol.com Synod of the Southwest Beverly Jane Phillips · 1476 S. Vine St,.Gilbert, AZ 85233; bphill2397@aol.com Synod of the Sun Martha Jean Hodges · 111 Pansy Path Lake Jackson, TX 77566 Synod of the Trinity Betty Grunstra · 12 Henderson St. Brookeville, PA 15825; bmgrunstra@penn.com Kristen York Gerling · 180 State Rd. West Grove, PA 19390; kristen.gerling@pcusa.org

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