The scene opens
at a kitchen table where five women have been enjoying pastries and coffee. The
curtain rises on the planning portion of the meeting just getting underway.
Missy: "Okay, okay,
girls! Let's get going, alright?" (She bangs her spoon lightly against her
coffee cup.) "The meeting of the Women's Spring Conference Program Committee is
officially underway."
June: "Great, I'd
like to make as the first program suggestion that we bring back Glenda Brownley.
Her seminar last year on 'Giving Up What You Don't Want to Get What You Do' was
a real winner. She was great."
Blythe: "And more
people attended her session than any other. I don't think we need to even vote
on this one, do we?"
Katie: (Amid
general sounds of approval.) "Well...I...I'm not sure."
June: "What's
wrong, Katie? You don't think Glenda's presentation was terrific? I mean, she
was funny and provocative. And the sexual angle was a stroke of genius!"
Zelda: "Remember
that quiz she gave! And those cartoons! Why on earth wouldn't you want her
again, Katie? She'll be just as popular as last year, I guarantee."
Missy: "Yes, Katie,
what is it?"
Katie: "Well, I
don't know. To be honest, I found her presentation rather odd. I mean, it was
more like listening to some late night comedian than it was a Christian leader."
Missy: "Oh, come on
now. It was all in good, clean fun."
June: "Well, good
fun anyhow!" (Laughing.) "Hey, I'm just kidding. Everybody loved her. She was a
great addition to the conference and, like Zelda said, she'll sure be a draw."
Blythe: "Actually,
I can sympathize with Katie a little. I was kinda' embarrassed by Glenda's
presentation last year. For example, there was no way I could have told my
husband what she was telling us.”
June: “Oh, don’t go
all prudish on us, Blythe. She wasn't that bad. A little racy perhaps, but
where’s the harm there? No, we need to concentrate on speakers that will get
women to the conference in the first place. And she most certainly will!"
Zelda: "Exactly!
So, who all is in favor of inviting Glenda back?"
Three hands shoot
up. A bit slower comes Blythe's hand and then sheepishly, Katie's.
Katie: "Okay, I'll
vote yes too. But I do hope we also invite some...you know...more serious
speakers this year."
Zelda: "Like who?
Ms. Boyce-Jackson was popular last time around with her investment seminar."
June: "Yes. And
Bibi Anderson's 'Divine Decorating' seminar was excellent."
Missy: "Uh huh. And
the lady from Western Bank who gave the talk on dressing for success. Wasn't
that an effective seminar?"
Katie: "Well, yes,
I guess those were all okay but...I don't know. Couldn't we have some more
specifically Christian seminars?"
Zelda: "Come on
now, Katie. I understand your point, I guess; but isn't the whole purpose of the
conference to get more ladies involved in the church and to reach out to new
women?"
Missy: "And to have
professional-types lend us their expertise on practical, day-to-day things?"
Katie: (With only
slightly disguised sarcasm.) "Like Darlene's session on flower arranging or that
other lady's presentation on, what did she call it?" (She opens last year's
program.) 'Building Bridges through Beauty: How the Christian Woman Can be a
Looker for the Lord'?"
June: "Oh, lighten
up, Katie. Like Zelda said, all of these sessions are for good purposes – and
that's to present a more attractive face to the community and to get our own
ladies to branch out a bit and not be so, well, you know...so like the
stereotypes of religious women that people in the community think we are."
Blythe: "Well, I
must admit that I see Katie's point. I mean, I went to that 'Looker' session
myself and it was more than just corny. It really did present a very unbiblical
picture of Christian womanhood."
June: "Okay, sure;
we may have had a clunker now and then. And yes, we can agree not to invite that
gal back again. So, what's the big deal?"
Missy: "Katie, you
obviously are thinking on a different wave length than the rest of us here. What
kind of seminars would you like to see us put on?"
Katie: (She pulls
out a small sheet of paper for reference.) "Well, okay; I did have some specific
ideas and I guess I was hoping that we might okay at least a couple of them."
Blythe: "You mean
sessions that would be on more traditional topics?"
Katie: "Well...."
Zelda: "We already
have the pastor's wife. She always does a little thing on prayer."
Missy: "And there's
Mrs. Stamp, a woman who my sister knows who works at the downtown library. I
thought we could invite her to do her talk on what American Indian religion has
to offer today's churches. She has a college degree in something like that."
Blythe: "Go ahead,
Katie. You had more to say, I think."
Katie: "Well, yes.
Thank you. You see, I think Mrs. Gate’s session on prayer would be great
but, I guess I was thinking more about some Christian ministries specifically
concerned with women which we've never properly addressed."
June: "Like what?"
Katie: "Well,
there's Allie Grosovich. You all know her. She's a nurse who does volunteer work
down at the pregnancy center. She counsels there and she's involved in doing
ultrasounds so that the abortion-prone girls can see their children – you know,
bond with them. I think she'd be terrific and she could tell us how we could get
involved in helping out with that ministry. And there are the women who do
sidewalk counseling down at the abortion clinic or Dr. Leddivol – he’s a
nationally-known expert on women's health issues but he practices from a
strictly Christian ethic and...."
Zelda: "Whoa there,
Katie! Before you go on, are all the people on your list anti-abortion folks?"
Katie: "Well, no,
but I think the issue certainly is relevant to Christian women. I mean, there
isn't…"
Missy: "Wait a sec,
Katie. Now just think for a moment. We're trying to develop an upbeat program
here, one that will let women have a fun time, one that will give a positive
spin to being a Christian woman today. And you want us to put in sessions about
abortion?"
June: "The most
controversial issue there is? Honey, you couldn't get more downbeat...or make
women feel more uncomfortable. And it surely would create divisions of opinion.
No, I agree with Missy here. Having speakers bring up abortion or anything like
that would certainly kill the thing for sure."
Katie: "Well, what
about Lacey Rodriquez? She's a woman who's walking in the victory of Christ's
forgiveness even though she's had an abortion in her past. Her story is very
inspiring and joyful."
Zelda: "Downer,
Katie! Big, big downer! I agree with the others. We can maybe consider putting
something a bit more serious in the program, I guess. But there's no way we can
even think about bringing anti-abortion activists in for a Christian
women’s conference if we want it to be successful."
Missy: "No way."
Blythe: "But, you
know, girls; Katie does have a point here. There is hardly an issue that
concerns today's woman more than abortion does and if we selected balanced
pro-life speakers who...."
June: (Laughing.)
"Balanced pro-life speakers? Are there such things?"
Blythe: "Oh, come
now, June. That's uncalled for. You know better."
June: "Yeah, okay.
I'm sorry; it's just that...."
Zelda: "It's just
that we're getting nowhere here. Suddenly a nice friendly meeting has turned
sour and we're starting to get snippy with each other and it all started..."
Missy: "Right! It
all started when we began talking about abortion. I’d say that rather proves my
point, don't you think?"
Blythe: "Well, it
may prove a point, Missy. But I don't think it's necessarily the one you tried
to make."
June: "Okay, girls,
lets just drop it, okay? Remember, we only have this afternoon to make our
suggestions to the general committee. So, can we please get back to our task
here?"
Missy: "I agree. We
voted for Glenda already and we're admitting we have to have pastor's wife do
her deal on prayer. Okay, next up; I move we accept the proposal June made
earlier. So, all in favor of a seminar about volunteering to help the public
broadcasting station raise your hands.”
Scene fades.
