Gay Rights Resolution Divides Membership of Evangelical Women’s Caucus

Former members propose an alternative source of support for biblical feminists.

Former members of the Evangelical Women’s Caucus International (EWCI) are developing a new source of information and support for women who consider themselves biblical feminists. It is based at the North Central Center for Christian Studies in St. Paul, Minnesota, and headed by author and New Testament scholar Catherine Clark Kroeger.

Kroeger and several other prominent EWCI members withdrew their memberships following a fractious business meeting at the organization’s July conference in Fresno, California. At the sparsely attended meeting, the group passed resolutions committing itself to work for justice and equality for racial minorities, and deplored violence against women and children. A third resolution recognized “the presence of the Lesbian minority” in EWCI and took “a firm stand in favor of civil rights protection for homosexual persons.”

Before the July meeting, EWCI had passed no resolutions since it was formed 12 years ago, except to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment. Positions on other issues have been debated at EWCI meetings, but no action has been taken. A poll of the organization’s 650 members before the July conference showed they were evenly split over whether resolutions should be introduced and debated. Many members believed EWCI should stick to the task of promoting equality of the sexes in the church and avoid becoming politicized on issues.

At Fresno, however, a group referred to in an announcement as “lesbians and friends” held an informal evening meeting and drafted the three resolutions that were later adopted. Lesbians in EWCI number only about 20 or 30 women, less than 5 percent of total membership, according to the organization’s officials.

But advocates of homosexual rights and recognition, such as Virginia Ramey Mollenkott and Nancy Hardesty, exercise strong influence in EWCI. At the Fresno conference, Mollenkott’s plenary address rejected what she called “heterosexism,” the idea that everyone must be heterosexual. Hardesty moderated a workshop in which lesbians shared their personal stories, and she also chaired the business meeting in which the three resolutions were adopted.

Fewer than half of the organization’s members attended the Fresno conference, and the business meeting attracted only about 150. The final vote on the resolution endorsing civil rights for homosexuals was 80 in favor, 16 opposed, and 23 abstaining.

EWCI national coordinator Britt Vanden Eykel said the homosexual rights resolution is “not any kind of endorsement of the gay lifestyle or comment on biblical interpretation.” She acknowledged that women affiliated with conservative churches or organizations may feel they can no longer participate in EWCI because of the resolution. But she said she believes it will have little lasting effect on the organization.

“We have not been palatable to the conservative church with any part of our message,” Vanden Eykel said. “There is a limit to how much we can sacrifice our principles.”

Consequences of the resolution were felt almost immediately. Members of EWCI’s Minnesota chapter withdrew their invitation to host the national conference in 1988, and they reaffirmed that decision at a September meeting after Vanden Eykel asked them to reconsider. Kroeger, who was to be the conference coordinator in 1988, drew up a list of 37 women interested in exploring an alternative to EWCI. With that in mind, Kroeger contacted a British evangelical group called Men, Women and God. It is associated with John Stott’s London Institute for Contemporary Christianity and is two years old. Elaine Storkey, a representative of Men, Women and God, said biblical feminists need to “call the church back to broader concerns, but embracing lesbianism as an option is not one of them.”

Kroeger is particularly concerned that EWCI’s actions will damage its ability to work with church women from other nations just beginning to learn about biblical equality. She said conservative American churchwomen are bound to be alienated by the move as well.

Others who have resigned from EWCI include Lillian Grissen, associate editor of The Banner; Susan Stanley, church historian at Western Evangelical Seminary; Pat Kissell of Fresno State University; and Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, educator and author. Hull, who did not attend the Fresno conference, resigned saying, “For me, EWCI’s strength and attraction was in its single purpose, namely, promoting equality and mutuality among men and women within a Christian context. Adding social and political resolutions introduces a multiple agenda that changes the character of the organization.”

Alvera Mickelsen, head of EWCI’s Minnesota chapter and a retired journalism professor at Bethel College, wrote about her experience at the Fresno conference in a letter to chapter members. Commenting on the gay rights resolution, she wrote, “To pretend that this was a ‘civil rights’ issue is ridiculous. Most of us believe in civil rights for everyone—even criminals. The crucial phrase was not ‘civil rights’ but rather, ‘in recognition of the presence of the lesbian minority in EWCI.’ That’s what the battle was about—official recognition of lesbianism as being congruent with EWCI.”

Hardesty, best known for her book All We’re Meant to Be, defended the Fresno resolutions. “A number of us have been saying for years that the organization has to move forward or die,” she said. “This is a step of maturity within the organization to say we’re willing to tackle harder issues.”

The notion that EWCI is not political is false, Hardesty said. “It’s a denial of our history. We’ve always been political. We grew out of Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA),” and EWCI members largely agree with ESA’s stands on issues, she said.

EWCI was originally formed as an ESA task force. The two organizations are often thought to be related although no formal ties have existed between them since 1975. Because of a deluge of inquiries following the July EWCI meeting, ESA executive director Bill Kallio said the subject will be discussed at ESA board meetings next month. “We will clarify our position and take a strong stand on the biblical ethic of heterosexuality,” Kallio said.

“All along, ESA has been opposed to practicing homosexuality, and that continues to be our clear stand,” said ESA chair Ron Sider. “At the same time, we continue to believe that civil rights is something all people should have.”

Sider said ESA has never passed a resolution similar to the EWCI resolution on homosexual rights. He added that his organization would be careful not to “endorse a crusade whose aim is legitimizing an unbiblical lifestyle.” Asked whether ESA will support Kroeger’s proposed alternative to EWCI, Sider said: “We want to do everything we can to promote a biblical feminism that does not condone practicing homosexuality. At the same time, we have no interest in mounting negative campaigns against anyone.”

By Beth Spring.

NORTH AMERICAN SCENE

CHURCH GROWTH

Korean Congregations

In several U.S. denominations, Korean congregations have become some of the fastest-growing churches.

“The church plays an important role in the Korean community, socially and spiritually. The church has become the center of the community,” said Syngman Rhee, Asia secretary for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Some analysts say the percentage of church-going Koreans is higher in the United States than it is in Korea.

Korean congregations in the United States number between 1,500 and 1,700, and most were started within the past 15 years. In 1971, there were only 2 Korean congregations in the Southern Baptist Convention. Today there are more than 500. “I have a hunch that Koreans are growing faster percentage-wise than the rest of Southern Baptists,” said Oscar Romo, director of language missions for the denomination.

A goal to double the membership of the United Methodist Church, set at the church’s 1984 General Conference, was first proposed by the denomination’s Korean caucus. First United Methodist Church in the Queens borough of New York City is an example of rapid Korean growth. The church has two congregations, a 10-year-old Korean congregation with nearly 500 members, and a 174-year-old English-speaking congregation with only 30 members.

“For many North American Christians, religion is institutionalized too much,” said Amos Rhee, pastor of the Queens church. “Going to church becomes a habit. [But] Koreans are very enthusiastic. The people like to pray.”

GAMBLING

New Propositions

While some states consider legalized gambling, members of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship plan to offer an alternative to gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey, one of two U.S. cities where casino gambling is legal.

The organization has planned a three-day vigil for later this month. Part of the plan, called Focus on Atlantic City, calls for setting up a 24-hour prayer room in the heart of the city’s gambling district.

“During the day we will be organized in witnessing teams on the boardwalk, in the city, in hospitals, in jails, and wherever God puts us,” Douglass List, a director of the state’s Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, wrote in a letter to all New Jersey chapters. “We are not going there to condemn gambling, but to convert the gamblers. We believe the Lord is taking us to Atlantic City.” The organization is expecting 3,000 of its members to participate in the effort.

The group’s Atlantic City effort comes at a time when at least three states are considering action, or have already taken action, on legalized gambling, including the following:

• Louisiana, where state legislators tabled Governor Edwin Edwards’s proposal to establish at least three casinos in the New Orleans area to bolster the state’s sagging treasury. Television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart and Catholic Archbishop Philip Hannan joined together to oppose the governor’s proposal.

• Florida, where voters will decide next month whether they want to allow casino gambling in hotels with more than 500 rooms. Governor Bob Graham opposes the referendum.

• West Virginia, where Governor Arch Moore supports legislation that would legalize casinos in his economically depressed state.

GALLUP POLL

Contacts and Conflicts

Contact and communication between liberal and conservative Christians tends to heighten disagreements, rather than easing tensions between them, according to a recent Gallup poll.

The survey found the effects of greater contact to be especially pronounced among conservatives. Strong antiliberal feelings were expressed by 59 percent of conservative Christians who have a great deal of contact with their liberal counterparts. Similar sentiments were expressed by only 13 percent of conservatives who have little or no direct contact with liberals.

The strongest anticonservative feelings were registered by people whose information came from “reading about them” or via the electronic media. Overall, the survey indicated that the more many Christians know about their ideological opposites, the more they dislike them.

Robert Wuthnow, a Princeton University sociology professor, said the findings run contrary to what is known about other forms of stereotypes. He said studies of racial and ethnic prejudice, for example, show that the more contact different groups have with one another, the lower the level of unfair characterizations.

While racial and ethnic stereotypes are usually inaccurate, Wuthnow said, there are several genuine differences between religious liberals and religious conservatives. “Conservative Christians are most likely to emphasize the simple truths of the Bible, the basic facts as-they would put it, of the Christian message,” he said. “And liberals are more likely to look for broader meanings and express a little more uncertainty.”

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Briefly Noted

Adopted: By the California legislature, a plan to divest $10.6 billion in state funds from companies that do business with South Africa. Companies that want to retain state investments, chiefly from pension funds, would have to get rid of all their South Africa-linked assets within four years.

Appointed: Andrew Miller, to head the Salvation Army in the United States. The 63-year-old Atlanta resident will assume the post later this month when National Commander Norman Marshall retires from office. Miller currently directs Salvation Army operations in 15 southern states.

Miller

Increased slightly: The use of cocaine among America’s college students. A study financed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 17 percent of college students used cocaine at least once during 1985, up 1 percent from 1984, and equal to the rate in 1980. At the same time, marijuana use rose 1 percent from 1984 to 1985, to 42 percent, compared to 51 percent in 1980.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.