Women of Vision Program Begins in Province IX
Episcopal News Service. August 20, 1987 [87169]
GUATEMALA CITY (DPS, Aug. 20) -- At the end of July, 35 women from 13 countries gathered here for a training session to launch the Women of Vision program in Province IX. Representing 15 dioceses, they came to learn the program and to hone the skills needed to present it in those dioceses. The program was developed by the Episcopal Church Women and the Women in Mission and Ministry office of the Episcopal Church Center.
The Women Of Vision program is based on the knowledge that women have a variety of gifts which must be included in the total ministry of the Church. Grounded in scripture, the program is intended to empower women to choose and carry out their ministries more effectively.
The training team included: Olga Shirley, ECW representative from Panama; Ann Smith, coordinator of Women in Mission and Ministry; Alessandra Stewart, consultant and co-writer of the program; Glenda McQueen, trainer from Panama; and Thelma Wilson, ECW representative from Nicaragua who helped develop the program. Wilson had experienced its success in the United States, and she hoped that the content would meet the needs of the women in Latin America. All the trainers expressed a great sense of joy and accomplishment at the reception the program had among the women of the Ninth Province.
Racquel Salcines from the Diocese of Los Angeles was sent by the Hispanic Office at the Episcopal Church Center to bring the training to Hispanic women in the United States. Salcines described her time in Guatemala as "an incredible growing experience," adding that she was "overwhelmed" during the module on spiritual gifts. Before she came to the training, Salcines said, she felt she had no gifts or talents, but in that segment, she experienced something "beyond words" which left her with belief in herself as a woman who is gifted. She believes this training will strongly impact all Hispanic women: "buscarte a ti misma" or "llego la hora de buscarte a ti misma" -- "time for women to find themselves."
Nilsa Camacho, a representative from Puerto Rico, found the training "very broad." She stated that she gained skills and knowledge for her own personal growth that she will use in her church and her work. Camacho plans to use the module on assertiveness with the people on welfare with whom she works to help them learn to stand up for their own rights.
For Nilda Anaya, the first woman to be ordained in Province IX, the training was her first opportunity to practice being assertive in an environment that was both challenging and supportive. Anaya said she had always thought of herself as shy and introverted until she began attending Triennial meetings and discovered her leadership abilities. She is the first ordained woman in all nine provinces to be elected as ECW president. What Anaya said she would like to see change most is for women to know how to support both lay and ordained women. She stated that training gave her the knowledge and skills to bring this program to women to Puerto Rico. Anaya, who has lead the path for both lay and ordained women, feels this training program will help other women to discard their submissive roles and begin to accept their full participation as leaders in the Church and society -- "Me siento liberada!"