December 2001 Call to Action News

Schenk: Church reform takes organizing

A veteran community organizer as well as a pastoral minister and theologian, Schenk led daylong workshops for 120 CTA conferees on the skills of "Organizing for an Inclusive Church." Participants brought their own test cases from real life. "I want to do something about the 'pew potatoes' who just show up for Mass but don't have any ownership for parish life," said a Chicago woman. Others wanted help with oppressive pastors or bishops, racism, sexist language, the women's issue, and connecting with young adults. Schenk's favorite current example of effective leadership is Erie Benedictine Sr. Christine Vladimiroff's statement refusing to obey a Vatican directive against Sr. Joan Chittister speaking at the worldwide conference on women's ordination. "A good leader is not someone who speaks for the group," Schenk said. "Instead, a good leader is one through whom the group speaks."

Schenk cited examples from the FutureChurch/CTA Women in Church Leadership, Mary of Magdala and Celebrating Women Witnesses projects as effective tools for giving people a sense of their own power, cultivating the media, networking and building bridges with young adults.