a special report from Ann Euston, Witherspoon's Program Coordinator

[1-30-03]

As usual, I approached this conference with a combination of anticipation and trepidation. Going to the biennial conference of the PHEWA held in San Antonio last weekend as an "official" representative of the Witherspoon Society placed two specific tasks before me: to introduce and explain WS to the many who didn't know about us (and to get them to join us!) and to get a working knowledge of PHEWA, its mission and membership, quick! But when I wrote down my first quotable quote - "If we are rejected by society we have been chosen by God" - I knew I was among kindred spirits.

In 2 ½ whirlwind days I think that I managed to accomplish both of my goals. I spoke personally with over half of the almost 200 attendees and received incredible support and enthusiasm for WS and its mission. I also ended up as Co-Moderator of PHEWA's newest network, PACT - Presbyterian Association for Community Transformation - thanks to a nomination for the position from a fellow Witherspooner and friend, Les Stansbury.

There were powerful and moving worship services, including the closing worship with communion, led by WS Executive Board Member Trina Zelle, numerous workshops, plenary sessions, and business meetings. And there were many hours of eating together and fellowship - to me the best times for heartfelt conversation and discussion on the issues facing our denomination and the larger world.

The centerpieces of ongoing conversation at the conference were two plenary speakers: Fr. Virgilio Elizondo, Director of Catholic Television of San Antonio and considered by many to be the father of US Hispanic theology, and the Rev. Dr. James Noel, Associate Professor of American Religion at San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he focuses his research on African American Christianity and its roots in social, cultural and intellectual history.

Both focused on their respective cultural identities and how those identities mold their "place" in the dominant American culture of today. Fr. Elizondo has spent over 25 years researching and teaching on the "mestizaje" experience - what happens when cultures collide and new cultures emerge --and its importance in how we, as a nation and a church, are evolving. Rev. Noel spoke to the challenge of bringing understanding of the relationship among religious experience, social identity and historical events.

Both were challenging and engaging speakers. Rather than trying to summarize their talks, here are some loose quotes to give a flavor of their words:

and

In association with these ideas of trying to find a new American cultural identity, one workshop, led by the Rev. Jill Martinez, pointed out how the "places" from which other ethnic American groups view the world and their place in it differ from what she termed the dominant culture (essentially white, northern European, male). Through a cross-cultural values grid, major differences were graphically illustrated. And she mourned the dominant culture's lack of a clear identity bound in tradition and geographical roots. That she feels is our task - to figure out what other groups already know about themselves and their cultural identities and in so doing come to discover who we are. Unless and until we, as the "dominant" culture, figure this out, we will be unable can help in the evolution toward the new, multicultural and multiethnic culture which America is bound to become.

In another workshop the leader, Bob Brashear, pastor of West Park Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, mentioned an interesting and challenging anecdote which may sum up the whole dilemma. He told of how one of his congregation took him to task after worship for saying "We welcome you, regardless ... etc.". "What do you mean, regardless?" she demanded. "That's exactly not the point." Hmmm.

Needless to say, I was grateful to spend time eating and talking about less demanding challenges like the potential of a reconvened 214^th General Assembly and the clouds of war!