By Trevor Agnew
The first impression was the most striking one. Delegates to the Association of Presbyterian Women (APW) conference, held in Christchurch during April, were met by a group of busy Presbyterian women carrying out registration tasks while wearing elegant tiaras!
Alison Blackler, of the Christchurch conference committee, confessed that the idea had been hers. “It was to distinguish the committee members so delegates could find them when they needed to know things. If you have a problem, talk to anyone in a tiara,” she explains. While the committee members’ tiaras were a light-hearted joke, they were also effective as the rest of their conference organisation ran equally smoothly.
The conference theme, “Harvest of Promise”, was reinforced with each table carrying a floral arrangement of wheat. A scarecrow held protective arms over a dramatic autumn display of pumpkins, tomatoes, flowers, nuts and fruit.
The formal conference opening included a roll call, where each Presbyterial marked its presence with corn dollies that were decorated to support the “Harvest of Promise” theme. Each dolly had been assembled on a simple cross of wheat stalks, in itself a potent symbol. The dollies were colourfully decorated with symbols of their region, and – once pegged across a line behind the speakers – formed a colourful reminder of their origins.
The meeting acknowledged the wonderful work of Harvest Field (APW’s magazine) over the last century, and at the conference dinner, a special 56-page centennial edition was unveiled.
While Harvest Field’s good work was acknowledged, there was also discussion during the conference’s business session about whether the magazine could continue to be published in future.
Speakers described how Harvest Field had been a means of communication between the mission fields and the mission groups back home, and there was much discussion about the benefit of the magazine and the challenges of publishing in the future. Eventually, around 70 percent of those at the conference voted to discontinue publication of the magazine.
After the vote, the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt Rev Garry Marquand, who chaired the business meeting said, “Harvest Field as we know it has come to an end. Generations of women have been enriched by this publication. It has grown; it has changed as it reflected its readers’ needs… One season is over. A new season is beginning.”
The conference agreed that the Wellington region would take responsibility for the editing of electronic news bulletin Gleanings to keep APW members up-to-date in future.
In other discussions during the conference, the central role of Christian mission in the APW’s life was emphasised, and the value of the co-operation of Methodist Women’s Fellowship was also acknowledged.
In her report, Convener Natalie Watkin spoke of the real value of mission projects. “Mission began the PWMU [Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union] and it continues to be an important aspect of our reason for being.”
Natalie also spoke of the importance of communication and networking, particularly the impact of e-mail. Many delegates mentioned APW members’ growing use of computer systems and internet communication in advancing its work. Members were encouraged make better use of the APW website, which already it contains a range of resources for Bible studies and programmes.
“We are resilient women…We need to be open to whatever new path God is setting us upon,” Natalie says in her report, which was carried by acclamation.