Women’s Stories Day: The Gift of Triennials, Celebrating Women and Evoking Change

Women’s Stories Day Looks at Gatherings that Helped Change the Church

In 1962, women from across the Reformed Church in America (RCA) gathered for what would be the first of sixteen triennial—every third year—celebrations. Among their many goals, the Triennials sought to:

• help women in the RCA enjoy and encourage one another;
• help the participants be challenged and grow spiritually;
• help them gain social awareness;
• help participants work together for inclusion and justice for women; and
• gave RCA women a way to lend financial and hands-on support to those in need.

During the four and a half decades which followed, women were welcomed into all four offices of the church: deacon, elder, minister of the Word and Sacrament, and professor of theology. Their roles in the church and in society changed dramatically. The complexion of the church began to change dramatically, as did its governance and organization, more than once, and as did the way candidates for ministry were trained. There were dramatic changes to the way the church viewed missions, as well.

At Women’s Stories Day 2026, to be held on Saturday, March 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern Time on Zoom, we will examine and share the history and impact of these sixteen events as part of the 2025-2026 Hazel B. Gnade Lecture in RCA Women’s Studies. “The Gift of Triennials: Celebrating Women and Evoking Change” will be presented by three former directors of Reformed Church Women’s Ministries who are sharing the Gnade fellowship this year.

Dianna Walker is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College who studied at Grand Rapids Community College, Iona College, and Princeton Theological Seminary. She was Executive Director of Reformed Church Women from 1986 to 1994.

Christina Van Eyl graduated from Hope College and studied at Western Theological Seminary. She served as Executive Director of Reformed Church Women’s Ministries (RCWM) from 1994 to 1996, then went on to be editor of The Church Herald.

Arlene Walters Waldorf is a graduate of Hope College who studied at Depaul University, Western Michigan University, and NBTS. She has been a Christian educator in various Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, Executive and Program Director of Warwick Conference Center, and was Executive Director of Reformed Church Women’s ministries from 1996 to 2004.

Claudette Reid, commissioned pastor at North Reformed Church, Newark, New Jersey, and former associate for women’s ministries in the RCA, will lead us in devotions to begin our time together and a prayer to close out our webinar.

Like all Reformed Church Center programs, Women’s Stories Day will be free, but registration is required. Go to https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P73WEaeGSzWPw8fTCA-q9g to reserve your place for the day.