Wesleyan Alumnae Magazine 2009 Winter

2009·36.4 MB·English

by  Wesleyan College

Welcome to the Winter 2009 issue of the Other exciting reports include Wesleya,
Wesleyan Magazine! As our cover suggests, success with the prestigious Phi Kappa P
we are celebrating the inspiring leadership Graduate Fellowship Award Program, o
of Wesleyan women in ministry and service to campus-wide commitment to sustainabili
others -from the pulpit and the pew. Founded and a new Master of Education degre
with a philosophy of servant leadership as program. We also feature several wonderf1
a cornerstone of our mission, the College students who have taken a non-tradition,
continues to build on that historic legacy. Our route to Wesleyan and whose talents ad
Wesleyan experience, now as always, is defined considerably to campus life. If you're lookin
by academic excellence in the liberal arts, faith for Class Notes, don't worry - you'll find lot
and intrinsic values, and a commitment to and lots of those online!
serving the world community. That experience
has influenced countless Wesleyan women to Be prepared for this issue to take a bit longe·
serve as both clergy and lay leaders in churches to read than usual. The reason is that we'v
and ministries throughout the country and combined the feature articles and canter
beyond. You will enjoy learning more about of our Wesleyan Magazine with the done
those we highlight in this issue. information of our Annual Report, all in a
effort to use our precious resources wisel
We also bring you examples of current students without sacrificing the fun of sharing great
in ministry and service to others, including stories about Wesleyan in a timely manne·
through our Wesleyan Disciples program. In Instead of a spring magazine, fall magazine,
their own words, these young women tell and annual report, we published a large
us about the impact this thriving program is summer issue and now a larger winter issue
having on their personal growth and spiritual that includes our year-end results. So, we use
development as they lead Sunday Chapel and the second half of this combined publication
Bible study and organize community projects to thank each of you who supported Wesleyan
on and off campus. We hope you'll connect College this year through gifts to scholarships,
with these students and then help spread endowment, special projects, and the Annual
the word of our successful campus ministry Fund. We do thank you!
programs. Encourage a young woman in your
congregation or community to visit campus Despite the economic challenges that affect
and feel the excitement herself! us all, your loyal support continues to be
unwavering - and we are grateful beyond
As we expand and enrich the spiritual life measure for the generosity of so many. You are
at Wesleyan, we are determined as well to helping us enrich and expand our academic
create a permanent home for our faith based and co-curricular programs, to be sure. Just
programs once again. Many of you remember as important, you are helping to ensure that
the first Pierce Chapel that was an integral every qualified woman, young and not so
part of our original campus on College Street. young, can enjoy a Wesleyan experience that
Since our move to Forsyth Road more than will inspire her to become a leader in service
75 years ago, chapel services have rotated to her church, profession, and community -
among several locations including the Benson as every Wesleyan woman should. Thank you
Room of the Candler Alumnae Building where for that priceless gift.
we meet now. With the encouragement and
support of alumnae, students, faculty, and This issue is filled with love, hope, and our very
friends alike, the College has set as a priority best wishes to you all!
the design and construction of a new Pierce
Chapel, named for Wesleyan's first president
Bishop George Foster Pierce and honoring
the many members of his family who have
continued to lead and serve the College. We
are in the early stages yet, but more news will
follow soon.

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hroughout the last two millennia, few issues have been as
controversial in religious circles as the role of women serv
ing as pastors and preachers. As Western culture shifts its
view of women, awareness of women's rights spreads across
the world. Modern culture continues to influence biblical
interpretation, inviting serious debate about how women
serve the church. While denominations and local churches redefine their
roles for future leaders, many Wesleyan alumnae are already fully engaged
in ministry and serve with passion, despite challenges, from pulpit and pew.
They view ministry as a vocation, both a career and a calling. And they claim
women must use their unique gifts to minister as pastors, missionaries,
teachers, historians, and counselors.
Although women make up the majority of most congregations, relatively
few women actually serve in positions of authority. It is estimated that half
of all persons in seminary are women, yet only ten percent of all clergy
in the United States are women and only three percent of congregation
leaders are women. The United Methodist Church recently celebrated its
fiftieth year of ordaining women into ministry. In 1976, eleven women were
ordained in Philadelphia before the Episcopal Church changed its laws
to permit female ordination. The Unitarian Universalist religion is the first
major faith group with a majority of female clergy.
However, according to researcher Bruce A. has never felt particularly oppressed or number of leadership positions in many
Robinson with the Ontario Consultants on mistreated. At Wesleyan she was nurtured churches. Jennifer Stiles Williams '93 curren•
Religious Tolerance, many Christian faith just enough, and challenged even more, serves as the minister of relational evangelism
groups still refuse to consider women for so that she could confidently recognize at St. Luke's in Orlando, the largest United
ordination, including the Roman Catholic her gifts for ministry. Paige earned a Methodist Church in the Florida conference
Church, all Eastern Orthodox churches, a Master of Divinity from Harvard University As her career advanced, she served twice
minority of provinces within the Anglican in 1999 and currently serves as minister of in churches in which she was both the first
Communion, the Church of Jesus the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of woman and the youngest pastor.
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many Columbia, Maryland.
fundamentalist and other evangelical "The challenges for women in ministry
Protestant denominations. Clergywomen When Ann Godwin Denham '57 was grow are very different from those faced by our
who face opposition must challenge ing up in the Methodist Church, women male colleagues," Jennifer said. "From
interpretation of scripture. Opponents could not be ministers and were excluded the pitch of your voice to being a voice of
of female ordination cite St. Paul's words from full ordination. Although she had authority in issues of finances, from being
in 1 Timothy 2:2: "I permit no woman to never seen a woman in the formal role, pregnant in the pulpit to things as silly
teach or have authority over men; she is Ann was inspired by tales of her great as rethinking the wireless microphone
to keep silent." Proponents also point to grandmother, who rode a mule with her because you don't have a belt." Jennifer
St. Paul's words, in Galatians 3:28: "There two young daughters to speak at camp has helped grow the membership of sev
is neither male nor female; for you are all meetings on the frontiers of Tennessee. eral churches in small communities, and
one in Christ Jesus." As a teen, Ann talked openly about her admitted that a bit of notoriety surrounds
dream of becoming a preacher. her because of the interest people have
In a report published in 2002, Women'.s in the novelty of a woman pastor. She
Path Into Ministry: Six Major Studies, "One of my male friends at church feels that in a church now where there are
religious researcher Dr. Edward C. Lehman, warned me: no man will marry you," she two main preaching voices, a male and a
Jr. argued that women's ordination is one of recalled. "Wow, I thought. Of course I female, many members find themselves
the most significant recent developments would marry; these were the fifties, after going to two services because they enjoy
in American religion, fostering change in all!" Ann married after her junior year at different perspectives on the same scripture.
churchgoers' attitudes toward women in Wesleyan. Four years and three babies
leadership and expanding the concept of later, she returned to school and finished According to Jennifer, there is something
ministry beyond the local congregation. her degree. In 1963 Ann graduated from unique and distinctive about the gifts
Drawing upon research conducted Northeastern while her husband earned of women in ministry. She sees women
between 1982 and 1998, Lehman claimed a doctorate from Harvard. After relocat leading with less hierarchy in a flat system
that women have successfully navigated ing to Tennessee, Ann, then in her late of staff and laity. "This leadership is
seminary education and, at the same time, thirties, enrolled in divinity school at pivotal in postmodern emerging church
introduced many changes in theological Vanderbilt University. She was fairly well ministries and is attractive to younger
education. Despite female success in accepted though she was the only woman generations in our culture looking for a
seminary, some denominations still resist or in the pastoral program and there were no different definition of church. People are
refuse to accept women as pastoral leaders. women on the faculty. Ann was the only looking for a different, more accessible
woman in her graduating class of 1971. She voice to help them experience a faith
Lehman contends that the position of has been told she is the second woman in journey, and hearing a woman pastor may
those who discriminate against women Tennessee to become an ordained deacon offer them an entry point into the church.
in the church is incompatible with core in The United Methodist Church. And honestly," she said, "the story of the
Judea-Christian values of justice, freedom, birth of Jesus during a candle lit Christmas
and other-centered love. Ironically, he Ann was ordained, but never served as Eve service just has a different feel when it's
says, secular institutions such as politics, pastor. "Jobs were hard to come by. preached by a nine-month pregnant woman,
industry, business, law, education, and Still, I've always known myself as called weeks away from birthing her first son."
sports are doing a better job of apply to preach," she said. "I see preaching
ing those values than are churches that now as a willingness to share knowledge, Jennifer's first encounter with someone
subordinate women as a matter of policy. self, and life." In 1982, Ann surrendered opposed to women ministers was at a Bible
As more church members recognize that her ordination and was confirmed as a study in Macon while she was a Wesleyan
discrepancy between Christian values and Catholic. Today she volunteers at her student. A man from another denomination
exclusionary policies, church structures parish, serves on committees, teaches told Jennifer, whose father was a minister at
will continue to open up to women. scripture, organizes fundraisers, and leads the time, that while women teaching Sunday
retreats. She co-authored a book with Gert School was fine, women leading congrega
Although Lehman predicted that evolu Wilkinson, Cloister of the Heart: Association tions went against God's ordinances and
tion could take a generation or even a of Contemplative Sisters. Though some would be punishable in hell. While Jennifer
century to occur, many Wesleyan women Catholic policy concerns Ann, she's found was in college, both her mother and her
are working to speed the process. Though her home. Catholics, she said, are hungry sister became pastors and were ordained
they admit gender discrimination exists, for scripture. Now that women are giving into The United Methodist Church. Jennifer
they are not deterred and claim minister Gospel Reflections at mass, she feels her said, "I had never actually known a woman
ing skills and gifts are not gender-specific. gift for preaching has been given back to her. pastor before my sister entered seminary in
Many Wesleyan women in ministry credit the 1980s, but ironically, I also never even
their a/ma mater for preparing them to Over the years, female scholars pursued considered this was an issue for people."
pursue advanced degrees, formal training, religious study and earned degrees that
and leadership roles. Paige Getty '93 real could not advance their careers. Today, Jennifer claimed the pioneering efforts
izes that, perhaps because of the progress though most congregants still prefer male of Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer '70
made by her older female colleagues, she clergy in the pulpit, women hold a great encouraged her to explore in depth what
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it means to be a woman in leadership. As more women become ordained respected for her leadership and vision,
Kammerer attended Garrett-Evangelical across the country, some leaders claim to and earned recognition from former
Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, experience wider understanding and ac President Jimmy Carter who praised her
where she earned both the Master of ceptance from their local congregations. ministry in a chapter of his book, Living
Christian Education and Master of Divin The Reverend Harriette James Simmons Faith (Random House, 1996). Currently,
ity and discovered her calling to preach, '64 is currently serving as interim rector of she is the senior pastor of Perry United
leading to her ordination as deacon in Christ Church, the oldest church in Macon. Methodist Church, a fast growing church
1975 and elder in 1977 in the Florida Established in 1825, this Episcopal church with approximately 1,400 members. Prior
Conference of The United Methodist has a congregation of approximately to entering the field, Jenny taught history
Church. In 1991, she received the Doctor seven hundred. Before Harriette decided and anthropology and worked in radio
of Ministry degree from United Theological to enter seminary, she married, had four and television advertising and broadcast
Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Kammerer is a children, sold real estate, and worked ing. In 1989, Reverend Jackson-Adams
Wesleyan woman of many "firsts," includ in a bank. She was baptized, confirmed, served as pastor of Morningside UMC in
ing being the first woman ordained as a and married in the Episcopal Church. Americus, Georgia. Under her leadership,
United Methodist minister in Florida; the Throughout her adult life, she had always membership increased 300% and the
first woman in the United States to be been involved with her church and, for operating budget tripled.
appointed as Minister to a University or years, her friends encouraged her to
Dean of a Chapel, serving in that capacity pursue seminary. According to a 2006 New York Times article
at Duke University in 1983-84; and the first reporting research from Duke University
woman to be a District Superintendent in "I knew for a long time I should do this," Divinity School, men and women usually
Florida, where she served the Tallahassee she said. "I was just scared to." When hold similar positions in their first decade
District from 1987 until 1993. In 1996, she her youngest daughter was ten years after ordination. However, in their second
made history again when she became old, Harriette woke up one morning with decade in ordination, seventy percent of
the first woman elected bishop in the the resolve to try. So she, her husband, men have moved to larger congregations
nine-state Southeastern Jurisdiction of and their youngest daughter moved to compared to only thirty-seven percent of
The United Methodist Church. Bishop Suwanee, Tennessee, where she enrolled women. As a result, women tend to leave
Kammerer served eight years in the and spent two years at the University of church positions at a higher rate than men
Western North Carolina Conference and the South. "My husband joked that I and the attractiveness of ministry as a
currently serves in the Virginia Conference, must be having a mid-life crisis!" said career choice may be lessened. But even
where she displays courage, conviction, Harriette. "But he has been enormously when leadership positions are available,
and compassion as the spiritual leader for supportive." according to Jennifer A Johnson '92,
hundreds of thousands of United Methodists. many women clergy must balance career
In 1994, Harriette earned a Master of ambitions with family responsibilities.
In May of 2007, Kammerer returned to Divinity from Emory University. Within a
Wesleyan to receive an honorary Doctor year, she was serving as priest at Christ In 2007, Jennifer was named associate
of Divinity and delivered a powerful com Church. In 1997, Wesleyan presented pastor of children's and family ministries
mencement address. "When The United Reverend Simmons with the Alumnae at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland,
Methodist Church made it difficult for me Award for Distinguished Service to the Mississippi. Although Jennifer served
to be ordained because of my gender," Church. She moved to Augusta in 2002 as pastor of two churches in Mississippi
she said to the graduating seniors, "I had and served as associate rector at St. prior to moving to Ashland, she considers
to fight to not let the church rob me of my Paul's and rector at St. Augustine's before her current role as associate pastor to be
calling. Over and over again, as the church returning to Macon in 2008. According "her dream job" because it allows her to
has appointed me to serve, my very pres to Simmons, women's involvement in the concentrate on her particular mission of
ence has opened doors that had long been church is increasing. She feels that God working with young adults.
closed to women. I cannot imagine not sent her to Christ Church to accomplish
being in ministry, for it is my vocation. It is several important goals: increase at When Judy Johnson Whitwer '59 attended
who I am. It has never been easy-being a tendance, re-engage inactive members, seminary, women were expected to go
wife, minister, mother, and grandmother, in re-claim former members, and make sure into mission work or Christian education,
that order - but it has been extraordinarily everyone is happy. and that's what she did. She served as
fulfilling. Part of my journey has been to director of Christian education at First
mentor other women who themselves have Like Harriette, many Wesleyan women Congregational Church in Norwood,
felt called to ordained ministry, but didn't in ministry have serious goals to grow Massachusetts, before she married her
know anyone who was living that life. I have membership and manage large budgets. husband, Reverend Ken Whitwer. "In
known several Wesleyan women, who were When Reverend Jenny Jackson-Adams the 70s women were becoming more
in my congregations or in campus ministry '62 entered the field of ministry, she accepted in ministry," she said. "Women
where I served, who are now ordained and followed the footsteps of her father, have been in ministry in our denomination
serving in many ways. This brings me great grandfather, and great grandfather who since the 1860s, so the IDEA of ordained
joy." were all Methodist ministers. She is well women was not new but there weren't
Continued on page 42

,,
"BEING SURROUNDED BY SMART,
DRIVEN WOMEN WITH A PASSION
FOR GOD HAS MADE ME SO
MUCH STRONGER IN MY FAITH.
THE WOMEN IN MY BIBLE STUDY
CHALLENGE WHAT I KNOW, HOLD
ME ACCOUNTABLE TO MY FAITH,
AND PROVIDE A SHOULDER TO
LEAN ON IN ROUGH TIMES. l'VE
REALIZED THAT IN ORDER TO
SPEAI< ABOUT MY FAITH AND
TEACH A Bl BLE STUDY, I HAVE
TO BE W H ERE I N EE D TO BE
WITH CHRIST FIRST." WESLEYAN
DISCIPLE TAYLOR BISHOP
Leaders of the Methodist Church were instrumental in the 1836 founding
of Wesleyan, the very first college in the world to grant degrees to women.
Today Wesleyan remains deeply committed to her long-standing affiliation
with The United Methodist Church and continues to build on the ideals of the
church through dynamic programs for Wesleyan women. Complementing
Wesleyan's outstanding academic program, faith and service organizations
like the Methodist Wesley Foundation, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Gospel
Choir, Catholic Newman Club, Inter Varsity, Lane Center Servant Leaders, and
Episcopal Canterbury Club invigorate our campus. One program, Wesleyan
Disciples, is particularly exciting.
In 2005, under the inspiring leadership of beloved chaplain Reverend Bill
Hurdle, the College developed Wesleyan Disciples, an innovative student
program designed to create a broad Christian witness on campus. The
program began with just six students who were all committed to spiritual
formation, intentional Bible study, servant leadership, and the practice
of a healthy lifestyle. Wesleyan provided minimal scholarships to these
students who agreed to make a special commitment to the Christian faith
and to community-wide servant leadership.
Immediately successful, the
second year. Currently, the group boasts twenty
generous donor support has allowed scholarships to double to $1,000
for each year a Disciple serves. The interdenominational, inter-racial,
and international group leads spiritual life on campus and serves in the
community, honoring their commitment to theological study and servant
leadership. Each student Disciple assumes major responsibility for the
planning and leadership of all Christian worship services during the year,
especially Sunday Chapel. In addition, she agrees to be involved in a study
session that has a Biblical emphasis once each week and to be an active
participant in designated service opportunities throughout the year.
ough Wesleyan Disciples, I found a core group of Christian friends that
I can rely on and who empower me," said Florence Priester. "Although we
come from different places and different churches, we all have the same
desire to be strengthened spiritually, to explore the Scripture, and to serve
as leaders on the campus and in the community. During Bible studies, we
try to have a lot of open discussion and we try to ask and answer questions
at go beyond just the surface of a story or text. Studying and discussing
fellow Wesleyan Disciples in Bible studies has caused me to think
more deeply about the Bible and about my own spiritual journey. When
I first joined the group as a freshman, I never dreamed that I would one
day be a leader of the group! I feel that God has led me to find an inner
strength that I didn't know I had."
According to Wesleyan Chaplain Bill Hurdle, the Disciples make a major
spiritual impact on the campus. "It is rewarding to watch these students
grow both in terms of their spirituality and in the ability to witness publicly
in their own way," he said. "This transformation is spilling over into the
lives of many others. This year, the Disciples planned and led nearly thirty
Sunday night worship services with an average attendance of