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National Council of Churches
Women's History Month |
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Honoring Women |
“In remembrance . . .” Women’s History Month
While Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table . . . [ Jesus, said to them,] ‘. . . Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ (Matt. 26:6 & 13)
During March – Women’s History Month – we have an opportunity to remember the women who have proclaimed good news to us in our lives and empowered us with the knowledge that we are all created in the image of God.
International Women’s Day
(March 8) first arose at the turn of the century and is now an
occasion when women’s organizations on all continents, often divided by
national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and
political differences, come together to celebrate their Day. They can
look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle
for equality, justice, peace and development. A brief chronology of
important events related to International Women’s day document by the UN
can be found
here.
In 1978, the Task Force of the
Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of women, recognizing
women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12
“. . . what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” Just as our schools and general public consciousness had left women out of the secular history book, so to at time we have left the women out of our faith stories.
Even in this text from the Gospel of Matthew as we remember how she saw, recognized and honored Jesus unique role in our salvation story as she anointed him with oil, but we do not remember her name. We do not know the names of many Biblical women including the women at the well – we know their stories but not know their names.
There are many women of faith who have shaped our lives, our churches, our community ministries and our world missions. We may have forgotten some names, but we also remember some of their names and need to tell their stories. We must tell these stories, because their stories lead us to faith as they tell God’s story.
The way faith has fueled feminism and the way feminism has fueled faith must also be remembered as an important part of our history and our future. Women’s full participation in all spheres of life is critical to the share of the good news of God’s love.
A Samaritan women came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ . . . Many Samaritans from that city believed in Jesus because of the women’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” (John 4:7 & 39)
During Women's History Month take time to learn the history of women’s leadership in your faith communion – to learn everything we have done. During Women’s History Month take time to write a letter of thanks to the women who taught you about faith – your mother, Sunday school teacher, sister, pastor or friend. Remembering our history – everything and everyone – is the first step towards honoring what is valued and not repeating what was harmful. Remembering helps us share the good news!
Here are some beginning places to learn about women’s history in our churches and communities:
Resources from NCC Communion Websites
The Episcopal Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
http://www.womenoftheelca.org/resources/
Friends United Meeting http://www.fum.org/QL/issues/0005/vera.htm
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends http://thorn.pair.com/earlyq.htm http://www.quaker.org/mott/memo-on-self.html
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) http://www.pcusa.org/womensministries/historymonth.htm
Resources on History of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
International History Day – United Nations History http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm
National Women’s History Project – NWHP http://www.nwhp.org/aboutnwhp/index.php
Resources Exploring the Intersection of Faith and Feminism
Beijing Circles: Resource for Women of Faith Changing the World
Women Day Event in New York City Cosponsored by NCC Justice for Women Working Group
Faith and Feminism
Website includes explores the
intersection of faith and feminism and includes edited excerpts from
Faith and Feminism: a Holy Alliance, by Helen LaKelly Hunt, which is
also highlighted in the history slide show on this NCC webpage.
Article written and compiled by: Program Director for Women’s Ministry National Council of Churches USA Women's Creed:
From Women's Litany for a Worship Service of Lamentation and Hope. Go here to read the complete liturgy. Photos by Pat Pattillo |
Remembering
is one way we honor and value what has happened in our communities. From
year to year we tell the stories of people we have loved and how they have
impacted our lives – we remember them. 
curriculum or
in general public consciousness and so initiated a “Women History Week”
celebration. This initiative grow and in 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) co-sponsored the first Joint
Congressional Resolution officially declaring a "National Women's History
Week." The movement continued to grow and in 1987, the National Women's
History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to
the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month
Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and
Senate. To test and expand your own knowledge of women’s role in United
States of America history, look
Secular history sometimes
forgot the women (particularly the feminist) and sacred history sometimes
forgotten the women; but we also sometimes forget that women of faith are
part of the feminist movement and feminist women are within faith
communities. 
We
believe in God who creates women and men as partners in God's image.