Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9404210002
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: from staff and wire reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A study conducted by the Commission on the Status and Role of Women for the Virginia United Methodist Conference reveals that female clergy earn less than their male counterparts. Even when the study allowed for differences in experience, women in church leadership earned from $1,400 to $10,000 less than men in the same positions.
The study examined the salaries of all full time clergy assigned to churches in the conference in 1992. This covered 572 clergy with 44 of them females. Excluded from the study were retired ministers assigned to churches, clergy in provisional status and those on special assignments or on the conference staff.
Salary equity has been a major concern of the conference commission for several years, but only in the past few have enough women been in professional clergy posts for an accurate assessment to be made.
The study showed that only four ordained women could be compared to men in the speed in which they were advanced in salaries. In United Methodist polity salaries are determined in annual meetings of congregations while those who will receive these salaries are appointed by the bishop and his district superintendents. The report noted that even if discrimination in pay can be proved, it is hard to determine whether hierarchy or congregation is more responsible.
A study made in South Carolina last year revealed much the same pattern, the report noted.
Author to speak
Dr. Gerhard Forde, author of several books on Martin Luther and the theology he developed, will speak Tuesday at Roanoke College. The professor of systematic theology at Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. will discuss ``The Irrelevance of Today for Luther.'' The lecture is free and will start at 11:20 a.m. in the Sutton Student Ballroom.
Later in the day Forde will discuss ``Preaching: The End of Theology'' at an afternoon seminar for which there is a charge. Call 375-2282 for reservations.
Director leaving
Pamela Wiegandt, director of the Bishop Marmion Resource Center for the past five years, will leave the job Thursday. Wiegandt said she is resigning in order to give more time to family. The center is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and used ecumenically. The executive board of the diocese is studying the filling of the position; it may be expanded from the present part time status.
Anniversary services
October is being marked at several Lutheran congregations in Giles County as the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the denomination in that area. Special heritage services are scheduled throughout the county starting Sunday and continuing through Oct. 31. The climax of the sesquicentennial will be Oct. 31, observed as Reformation Sunday, when Virginia Synod Bishop Richard F. Bansemer of Salem will preach at 4 p.m. at Lutheran Memorial Church at Pembroke. The Giles County High School Ensemble will perform and a reception and historical displays will be at the Pembroke Fire Department Activity Building.
Records show that Lutherans worshiped in the Pembroke area as early as 1750; they are associated with Mary Draper Ingalls escape from the Indians. However, 1843 marks the beginning of an unbroken congregation, now the Lutheran Memorial Church which has been in the same building since 1857.
For information about specific programs and services, call 921-4352.
Episcopal gathering
Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia will gather Friday night and Oct. 9 at North Cross School for a Michaelmas Ministries Faire. Bruce Stewart of Annandale, a folk musician and specialist in creative liturgies, will be featured at the opening session and will lead one of the 30 workshops planned on Saturday from 9:30 to 3 p.m. Registrants can attend two of these which cover a variety of subjects ranging from personal prayer to national issues of the church. Music and liturgical clowning also will be part of the day intended for education and fellowship.
Celebration hike
A Baptist layman is calling on fellow Christians to join him in a hike up McAfee's Knob in a celebration of praise next Saturday, Oct. 9.
Robert Morgan, a member of First Baptist Church on Third Street Southwest, said he just wanted to hike out to ``one of the most beautiful places in the fall in the Roanoke Valley'' and spend some time praising God for it.
He's posted fliers in different places urging others to meet at the Appalachian Trail parking lot near the top of Catawba Mountain on Virginia 311 at 9 a.m. Morgan said he will also arrange for shuttles from overflow parking at The Homeplace Restaurant at Catawba if the other lot fills up. He asks that church groups who plan to come call him by Monday at 345-8710 so he can finalize those additional parking plans.
Participants are asked to bring lunch and something to drink.
``It's just a time to get to know each other, for Christians to give God the praise.''
by CNB