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Rachel Henderlite's vision statement for a reunited Presbyterian Church, 1982.
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- speakerIn the studio today is Dr.
- speakerRachel Henderlite, the first woman ordained to ministry in the Presbyterian
- speakerChurch U.S. Dr.
- speakerHenderlite, what is your vision for the United
- speakerChurch? I'm glad to be asked to describe my vision for the reunited
- speakerPresbyterian Church. I'd have to say first that I see it as an
- speakeropportunity not only for reunion
- speakerbut also even for rebirth.
- speakerHere are two great charities in a position now to help each other see
- speakerclearly the weaknesses
- speakerand the possibilities, and in coming together so as to make provision for overcoming
- speakermany of those weaknesses and realizing many of the possibilities.
- speakerThe particular aspects of the vision that I would want to stress are inclusiveness
- speakerand ecumenicity,
- speakerboth of which have concerned me in the Presbyterian Church U.S. for many years.
- speakerAs I read our traditional statements of faith I find definitions of the Church
- speakerwhich demand two things.
- speakerFirst that we include in the membership
- speakerand leadership of the Church all sorts of people regardless of race,
- speakerage, sex,
- speakerand that we recognize as part of the Church all people around the world who accept Jesus
- speakerChrist as their Lord and Savior together
- speakerwith their children. This broad vision of the Church is perhaps our greatest
- speakerheritage.
- speakerI see the reunion of our two charities as a bold step toward the realization
- speakerof that vision in our day.
- speakerWith reunion before us we are in a position to take steps in overcoming
- speakerthe racial divisions that have so weakened us
- speakerand in overcoming the sexual discrimination that has kept more than half of our members
- speakerfrom full participation in the life and mission of the Church.
- speakerThese two matters have to do with the inclusiveness of the United Church.
- speakerThe other matter is its ecumenicity.
- speakerThe fact that we are already active in the ecumenical movement
- speakerand members of COCU demonstrates that we are in part
- speakeraware of our responsibility for other communions
- speakerand for the oneness of Christ Church
- speakerand they give us a real possibility of moving steadily toward the one charity of Jesus
- speakerChrist that includes in its fellowship all people who believe in Christ.
- speakerMy vision for the United Church then is that we may make real in our day
- speakerthe inclusive and United Church which is our Presbyterian heritage.
