Dr. Wedel Presses WCC Role to Bishops
Episcopal News Service. July 28, 1978 [78212]
CANTERBURY, England -- She is one of two women, and the only American, among the 22 consultants at the Lambeth Conference.
Dr. Cynthia Wedel is also one of six presidents of the World Council of Churches, of whom two are women.
"I've had great fun being the first woman who..." she says, and goes on to list the achievements which she says modestly "just happened to fall my way."
She was National Secretary of College Work for the Episcopal Church in America when she married the Rev. Dr. Theodore Wedel and went to Washington, D.C. where he took charge of the College of Preachers.
As a clergy wife, she became active in the Episcopal Church Women and when the Church Women United was formed, it was not long before she became its national president. This led to her being sent to New Delhi in 1961, as representative to the World Council of Churches gathering there.
When the National Council of Churches was looking for a replacement, she joined that organization as a staff member and was eventually elected its first woman president.
Always active as a Red Cross volunteer, she holds the post of National Chairman of Volunteers at the present time.
While listing her numerous credits, however, she modestly disclaims any reason for undue pride. Instead, she feels that God has directed her footsteps and says she was taken by surprise when she was nominated to be a president of the World Council of Churches. She wishes more people understood the purpose of that organization.
"I feel a great responsibility to interpret the World Council of Churches to people in the United States," she says, feeling that people are disinterested and suspicious because they are uninformed.
"The World Council grew out of the missionary experience," she adds. "It is God's way of providing us with what we need today -- a chance for old and young churches to get together and plan jointly. "
Her name was suggested as a consultant for the Lambeth Conference by the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, who felt her background would be a valuable addition. Consultants are assigned to groups and may join in all the discussions.
Although the World Council of Churches is one of Dr. Wedel's primary concerns, her interest in the ministry of the laity, adult education, youth work and the opportunities for women make her a keen listener and eager voice in this gathering of the Anglican Communion.