First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell
540 South Main
Kalispell, Montana 59901
Phone (406) 752-7488
Fax (406) 755-8130
email: info@pcusa-kalispell.org
History of Presbyterian Women
Women’s groups in the Presbyterian Church have a powerful history. Since the early 1800s Presbyterian women have organized themselves to support mission and combat social injustices nationally and internationally. While the levels of involvement and recognition from the denominations has varied, women’s dedication to living out God’s call through women’s organizations has remained steady.
Over the years, it became apparent that a clear understanding about the relationship between Presbyterian Women and the national church structure needed to be articulated. The Covenant - approved in August 2001 by the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women (CCT/PW) and the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) - clarifies, enhances and strengthens that relationship.
Voting representatives to the 2009 Churchwide Business Meeting of Presbyterian Women ratified the amendment and restated the certificate of incorporation that establishes Presbyterian Women as a publicly supported integrated auxiliary of the PC(USA). Voting representatives also approved the bylaws of Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Inc.
Presbyterian Women groups
Presbyterian Women is a churchwide group organized at all levels of the PC(USA). Like the PC(USA) structure, PW in the Congregation forms the basis for PW in the Presbytery; PW in the Presbytery feeds into PW in the Synod, and so on.
Presbyterian Women Purpose
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves:
- To nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study
- To support the mission of the church worldwide
- To work for justice and peace
- And to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.
Presbyterian Women in the Congregation (PWC) exists to build community, affirm women’s calls to leadership, raise concerns and channel information to and from Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery.
At the most basic level, every PWC group:
- Elects its own leadership - the coordinating team
- Plans and implements a yearly program and determines its own budget
- Meets in small groups and participates in Presbyterian Women programming, such as use of the Horizons Bible study, celebration giving, mission interpretation and special ministries to the congregation and community
- Supports the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) worldwide through education, interpretation, global awareness and financial and material gifts
- Develops the leadership abilities of women
- Recognizes its accountability to the session, including an annual report with a financial record preserves historical records of Presbyterian Women
- Maintains connections with Presbyterian Women at other governing body levels
- Benefits from the services of the Presbyterian Women leadership network.
- And encourages support of Presbyterian Women’s affiliations