Home > Conferences and Gatherings > 1979 EWC Conference
Called by Christ for the Sake of the Church and the World: Introduction
The 1979 EWC Conference, “Called by Christ for the Sake of the Church and the World,” was held June 22-24, in Grand Rapids, MI.
It was coordinated by Claire Wolterstorff and Judy Mullins, assisted by the Michigan EWC chapter members.
National council officers were Joyce Erickson, chair; Florence Brown, vice-chair; Carolyn Kitchen, financial; Letha Scanzoni, program; VaCountess Johnson and Ruth Schmidt, nominating committee.
Attendance numbers were not recorded.
There were sections under the following titles:
- Women and Justice
- Women in Relationships
- Women in the Arts
- Women and their Spiritual Formation
The keynote speaker for the conference was the Rev. Marchiene Rienstra, Interim Pastor of Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Wyoming, Michigan.
Other featured presenters were:
Nancy Hardesty, Assistant Professor of American Church History, Candler School of Theology
Karen Burton Mains, Author, Open Heart Open Home
David M. Scholer – Assoc. Professor of New· Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
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The following 1979 EWC Conference recap appeared in the ‘Summer 1979’ edition of the EWC newsletter which was published and mailed to members following the conference. We believe this recap was written by Mary Minor and/or Joan Bear, who were the newsletter editors at that time.
Third National EWC Conference Held in Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Called by Christ for the Sake of the Church and the World” was the theme of this year’s EWC Conference, June 22-24.
There were a large variety of workshops available, including such topics as:
- world hunger
- displaced homemakers
- the biblical mandate for justice
- nuclear power / nuclear arms
- family violence, and helplessness, and anger,
- alternative educational ideas for problem students
- women in Christ’s ministry
- foremothers in the faith
- sexism in the Church
- women’s ordination
- vocation and job satisfaction
- a theological perspective on violence and rape
- women in the visual arts
- liturgical dance
- drama
- forgiveness, healing, and prayer
Major addresses were made by Marchiene Rienstra, Dorothy Cross, and Karen Burton Mains. Participants especially enjoyed the Sunday afternoon General Session which developed into a time of personal sharing.
We want to thank the Lord as well as the many others who made this experience possible.
A committee has been appointed to review the by-laws.
© 1979 by the Evangelical Women’s Caucus
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In honor of CFT’s 50th anniversary, contributions from CFT members have made it possible to publish some important historical reflections, articles, reviews, and other pieces which were previously unavailable online. See more from this series here.
