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The PW
Purpose
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus
Christ, and empowered by the Hold Spirit, we commit
ourselves
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to nurture our faith through
prayer and Bible Study,
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to support the mission of the
church worldwide,
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to work for justice and peace,
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and to build an inclusive, caring
community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church
(USA) and witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom.
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The original Presbyterian Women's symbol, designed
by Sarah Abbott in 1988, was updated in 1999 to carry the organization
into the twenty-first century. The cleaner lines and sharper image
strengthen the original design while retaining its ability to visually
express the Presbyterian Women purpose
Some Meanings Found in the PW Symbol
Forgiven and freed by God in
Jesus Christ,
Forgiven and freed by grace through faith, the
central figure stands in praise.
and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit
ourselves:
Rooted in faith, the trio of women emerge. The
outline of the central figure forms a cross. We are
Presbyterian women, engrafted in Christ by the power of
the Holy Spirit. It is no longer we who live, but Christ
who lives in us.
to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
The right figure holds a book to guide her reading,
studying, praying or meditating.
to support the mission of the church worldwide,
The left figure reaches out to care for others, as she
shares, nurtures and heals. The circle represents the
church worldwide where women offer their gifts and
talents in the midst of the global community.
to work for justice and peace,
The uplifted arms of the central figure reach out to
embrace a just peace for the world. The relationship
between the three figures depicts lives of wholeness
rather than turmoil.
and to build an inclusive, caring, community of women
The three women have no distinct features and
represent all women. The shapes surrounding them express
energy, strength and openness.
that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Our name, Presbyterian Women, ties us to our
denomination. The Bible resembles the Bible depicted in
the PC(USA) seal.
and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.
Guided by the PW Purpose, Presbyterian Women
witnesses to the reality of God’s present realm.
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PW Principles
The organizational design of PW is based on the
following principles:
Value of persons
The individual member is a central concern of
Presbyterian Women. Alternative programming is provided to meet
the needs of individuals, their interests, perspectives, and gifts.
PW believes that an environment grounded in Christian beliefs promotes
the full growth and expression of the individual. Such as
environment renews, strengthens, and empowers the individual to
participate in the life and work of the church, the servant community of
Jesus Christ in the world.
Spiritual development and growth
In order to do God's work, we must constantly
search Scripture and pray for an understanding of God's will for us and
the world. PW believes that our spiritual development and growth
require us to reflect on our journey of faith, keeping our hearts open
to God's call to action and involvement.
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Supporting the mission of the church
As part of our tradition in the church, PW
supports the mission of the church at home and worldwide. We
struggle with humanity's pain and work for justice and peace for all
God's people. Opportunities for supporting mission are realized
through giving and service.
Community life
In our life together we are committed to the
building of an inclusive, caring community in which we call forth the
gifts of another. We provide an avenue for women to grow in faith
and understanding of individual and cultural differences.
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Membership
Membership in Presbyterian Women is open to all
women. PW members are those who choose to participate in or be
supportive of Presbyterian Women in any way. PW intentionally
seeks the membership of women inclusive of all ages, races, ethnicities,
and geographical locations so that it may reflect the rich diversity of
the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Decision Making
Presbyterian Women determines its own leadership,
program and budget. Decisions are made by voting or consensus at
gatherings that have representation from appropriate groups.
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Leadership
Presbyterian Women develops women's gifts for
responsible and visionary leadership through training and experience.
Open
Communication
Presbyterian Women values the process of open
communication that provides opportunities for free exchange of ideas and
perspectives.
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Flexibility
Flexibility is encouraged so that groups may
determine the structure and programs most appropriate and workable in
their church or area. Renewal through evaluation and goal setting will
occur annually in order to adapt to changing needs. Goals
and objectives will serve as means of accountability by which
Presbyterian Women can determine the effectiveness of programming.
Giving
Presbyterian Women challenges women to support the
mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) beyond their church pledge.
Such giving will be channeled through and administered by Presbyterian
Women. The basic operating budgets of Presbyterian Women in the
congregation, presbytery, synod and churchwide are understood as mission
and are included in the Celebration of Mission pledge.
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Partnerships
Connectionalism
Within the scope of the mission and structure of
the PC(USA), PW uses circles as its basic design for bringing women
together. Through these circles, PW is organized and connected to
other women's constituencies, the governing bodies of the denomination,
and ecumenical groups.
Representation on governing bodies
Presbyterian Women represents a broad-based
constituency, committed to the support of the mission of the church.
The moderator of PW churchwide serves with voice and vote on the General
Assembly Council. Presbyterian Women is committed to work for
representation with voice and vote on all governing bodies of the church
and to develop linkage with all three divisions of the General Assembly
Council.
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