‘God works miracles through us’
New York minister addresses Presbyterian-led delegates as they prep for international gathering on women’s rights
NEW YORK CITY — As Presbyterian women from around the country gathered at the Church of the Covenant in New York on Friday, the Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams reminded them of their individual power and that God can use them to do wonderful things.
“God works miracles through us — miracles of love, of commitment, of faithfulness, of caring and of being God's people in this world,” said Newbern-Williams, transitional presbyter for the Presbytery of New York City. “We are ministers called by God to love others, to care for others, and to know that from now until eternity, God will guide us (and) will be with us.”
Newbern-Williams was addressing a Presbyterian-led joint delegation of women being oriented ahead of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, taking place Monday through March 21 at the U.N. headquarters.
Nearly 70 women, recruited by the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N. (PMUN) and Presbyterian Women (PW), gathered at the church to prepare for CSW69 and learn more about the work of the church and its ministries.
“I am just so thrilled that you are here,” said Sue Rheem, who manages PMUN and was joined by fellow staffer Clare Balsan and Young Adult Volunteer Bella Ramos. “We have been working really hard as an office to greet you and host you.”
CSW69 is the U.N.’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment and includes many related side and parallel events. During orientation, Presbyterians received an overview, heard testimonials and participated in small-group discussions.
“I’m open to hearing and learning from everyone here in this room,” said Adriana Soto Acevedo, a delegate affiliated with La Iglesia Presbiteriana en Arecibo in Puerto Rico, the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Princeton Theological Seminary. The 25-year-old is passionate about advocacy as a way to bring hope to hurting people in a world full of “hopelessness, lies and contradictions.”
The inspirational message by Newbern-Williams came during the worship portion of Presbyterian orientation.
One of her main texts was about Peter, a disciple of Jesus, raising Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9:36–42.
“God had enabled him to do what Jesus taught him because he was a faithful disciple, a human being, imperfect as all of us are, but called by God to do great things,” said Newbern-Williams, who also spoke of Mary Magdalene and how she encountered the risen Christ, who told her to deliver the news to the disciples.
Today, “there are miracles upon miracles in the lives of us women and the ministry that God has called us to do,” Newbern-Williams said. “I want you to think of every time you encouraged a child to just go on and move forward, go to school and study.”
Also, “how many times have we spoken with someone who was a friend or a church member or a colleague or someone who was just going through whatever situation in life was facing them?” she continued. “You have encouraged them. You have prayed with them. You have let them know that God was with them and would see them through whatever it was.”
Newbern-Williams went on to discuss the special challenges experienced by women, who are not always valued.
“Women experience some specific forms of, I would say, rejection (from people) sometimes not really wanting to acknowledge that we are every bit as qualified and capable as anyone, and sometimes, just sometimes, we might doubt ourselves,” she said. “But in Jesus Christ, there is no room for doubt, because we are called to work, to care, to be faithful and to know that the gifts God gives to us are meant to be used for God's glory.”
Pushing further with her words of encouragement, Newbern-Williams said, “My friends, today and every time we gather as the women of God, we are talented, intelligent, gifted, caring, and God calls us with all the different gifts we have to use them, not only for the glory of God but to make life well for others.”
CSW-related activities are taking place as the country is experiencing a new administration in the White House that has ushered in sweeping changes, from dismissing federal workers to ordering a pull-back on humanitarian aid provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
That’s something of concern to many progressive people of faith, including Newbern-Williams, as well as some of the delegates, who were seated at tables in the church’s fellowship hall, which is dominated by a large, colorful mural.
“While it may seem in our society today that our nation is trying to regress and to move backwards, we will help this nation continue to move forward because God has called us for this time, for this purpose, right now,” said Newbern-Williams, drawing applause. “We can't give up. Move forward. Push forward. Know your worth, and your worth is endless in God's eyes because he created a miracle in each of you.”
Newbern-Williams closed by saying, “My friends, believe in the gospel. Be at peace, just as God called Mary Magdalene, just as God called the Samaritan woman, just as God called Tabitha, God calls you.”
During worship, the delegates also were led through a feminist version of the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish and English, and sang hymns, such as “Blessed Assurance” and “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.”
They also received pep talks from CSW veteran Pam Snyder and Rachel Halbo, 23, who offered testimonials about their past experience with CSW.
Halbo, who’s from Sacramento, California, and has ties to the First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, Washington, told how she’d immerse herself in events last year despite some initial anxiety.
Snyder, PW moderator, encouraged the crowd to forge bonds with one another, just as she has with delegate Betty Jones, who is in her 90s and has allowed Snyder to stay at her house every year. She also urged delegates to take advantage of opportunities to learn about various issues and to use it as fuel for future advocacy.
“Write to your representatives,” said Snyder, who attends Second Presbyterian Church in Staunton, Virginia. “Call them; call them every day if you have to. Send them an email, send them a letter, send them a postcard. But all of that correspondence does make a difference, so reach out on the local level, your state level and the national level, and I would just say, embrace this time of oneness that we all share together. We’re all everyday women of faith. We’re connected to others who share our mission of working for justice and peace.”
Presbyterian News Service will be following Presbyterian happenings at CSW, so check pcusa.org regularly. Also, follow these social media channels for blog, photo and multimedia posts: PC(USA), PMUN, and Compassion, Peace & Justice. Instagram: PC(USA), PMUN.
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