From Words to Deeds
Continuing Reflections on the Role of Women in the Church
In the fall of 1996 the Bishops Committee on Woman in Society sought to develop a document that continued the dialogue on women’s roles in the Church. They were responding to teaching from Pope John Paul II who urges us take the theory, that there is a responsible presence of women in The Church and realized it in practice. This document, Words to Deeds was issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to do just that.
The document has a very practical format, listing three goals that could be accomplished and guide the Church in a changing world. It has pastoral suggestions for parishes and personal reflections for the individual. I have come to love From Words to Deeds because it is a road map for me and how I relate to the Living Church. It discusses a perspective that you acquire, when you live with these goals as a guide.
The first goal is To Appreciate and Incorporate the Gifts of Women in the Church.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.—1 Cor 12:4-7
The document discusses the contributions made by women throughout Church History. Three contemporary women. Dorothy Day, Sister Thea Bowman and Rose Hawthorne are cited for their service.
The second goal is To Appoint Women to Leadership Roles in the Church.
In the spirit of those great Christian women who have enlightened the life of the Church throughout the centuries and who have often called the Church back to her essential mission and service, I make an appeal to women of the Church today to assume new forms of leadership in service, and I appeal to all the institutions of the Church to welcome this contribution of women. —Pope John Paul II16
The Diocese of Albany is cited in the document for it's promoting of women to positions of leadership. We have Sister Kathleen Turley who serves as Chancellor in the Albany Diocese. Phyllis Welch, a member of our Women's Commission, is a Pastoral Associate at St. Cecilia's in Warrensburg. After reading the document, she has shared her vibrant experience of working with Sister Linda Hogan as a Parish Life Director, She tells her story of how her parish adjusted to the absence of a priest and is now a vibrant parish community. Women direct many Diocesan offices.
The third and final goal is To Promote Collaboration between men and women in the church.
The Church's pastoral ministry can be more effective if we become true collaborators, mindful of our weaknesses, but grateful for our gifts. Collaboration challenges us to understand that we are, in reality, joined in Christ's body, that we are not separate but interdependent. —U.S. Catholic Bishops, Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium
While lay ministers collaborating with clergy is not a gender issue, a study conducted by the National Parish Life Center for the Bishops subcommittee for Lay Ministry states that 82 % of lay Ministers are women. This chapter gives some practical steps towards the huge tasks of collaboration.
The perspective of this document is not written for women, but for all the members of Christ's body in the Church. We all have to realize that the challenge—still—is to forge "the bonds of peace," to become a sign of unity, a sign of the Spirit's work among us.
Submitted by
Beth McCarthy
