With the theme “of many generations,” participants of the Ninth Triennial Gathering in Charlotte, N.C., are honoring women of all ages.
“We will be honoring and remembering generations, the generations of women upon whose shoulders we stand,” said Claire Shenot Burkat, bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA and the preacher for the July 24 Thankoffering service. The gathering is July 24-27, 2014.
“And we will be discerning ways to equip and raise up the next generation for word and witness and service in the world,” she added.
Burkat said that “we are living in a time in history unlike any other time ever in the history of humanity.” Six generations are living at the same time, she said. She asked women under the age of 18 to women above the age of 90 to raise their hands in categories. The categories were under 18, 18-35, 36-50, 51-68, 69-89, and over 90. After asking the first five categories of women to raise their hands, she decided to add the sixth category to the list of those present.
“And wait a minute, wait a minute. How many of you here tonight are over age 90? Anybody?” Burkat asked.
To cheers and applause, those over 90 raising their hands were Dot, Laura, Lillian, Betsy, and Violet.
“Well, do you see what I’m saying?” she asked. “This is the first time in the history of humanity, six generations of women living at the same time. Let us give ourselves a hand.”
Terri Lackey/Gather magazine
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