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Quadrennial brought change to Atlanta
 "What do we want? Break the chains! When do we want it? Now!"
The 2014 Quadrennial of Disciples Women has made an impact on "Quadrennial City" a.k.a. Atlanta. More than 350 women marched in the streets to demonstrate against human trafficking. More than 1,100 women gathered in the Marriott Marquis to listen, learn, reconnect, revive and make a joyful noise unto the Lord. (For photos, quotes from speakers and more, "like" the Quadrennial Facebook page.)
The walk against trafficking raised just over $6,400 for youthSpark, an Atlanta organization that works against human trafficking. But those were not the only dollars raised to make an impact on the community. The Masks for a Cause project had 37 entries and the voting (with dollars) on the masks netted more than $1,000 for the Wellspring Living Program that provides trauma therapy to women who have been sexually abused.
All this was in addition to the 400+ books, 650 pieces of underwear, 550 pairs of socks, 840 hygiene items taken to the women and children at the City of Refuge mission and the 2,200 pairs of eyeglasses donated to the Lions Club. (And it doesn't even count the Blessing Box offerings that were approaching $9,000 at last count.)
During Friday's plenary session, the leadership announced a continued emphasis on human trafficking for the next four years with the introduction of a new webpage Breaking the Chains: Link by Link that will be populated with resources on the issue. The resources will be focused on three areas of trafficking: sex trafficking, labor/immigration trafficking and demand.
And did they learn! Nearly half of the women attending visited the Martin Luther King Jr. History Center on guided tours in addition to two afternoons of about 80 different workshops on everything from ministry tips to self-care to global concerns and autism. Global Ministries also had frequent talks in the exhibit hall by mission partners as well as a large contingent of visitors from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. And Minnie Vautrin, an Illinois Disciple who taught in China in the early 20th century, was remembered and honored for her protection of 250,000 Chinese on the grounds of
Gingling College during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing in 1937.
More than 300 gathered at First Congregational Church (UCC) to remember the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, signed into law on July 2, 1964. The setting was particularly appropriate as the congregation was founded as an integrated one in 1867 and was connected to a school for education of freedmen. Mary Frances Early, the first African-American graduate student of the University of Georgia (1962) and Joan C. Browning, a freedom rider (1961) were both on hand to tell their first-person stories of the time leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
There was fun to be had both in plenary sessions and worship as well as shopping in the exhibit hall from outside vendors as well as the Bizarre Bazaar featuring Disciple women on Saturday afternoon. Those who chose the meal plan were treated to conversations with a new group of friends at every meal. The National Benevolent Association hosted an ice cream social. Movies and games were available for aftersessions and morning exercise as well.
Morning plenary sessions featured a focus on a biblical woman with a telling of her story and then a reflection ("unpacking") of the story by scholars followed by a "modern day story" and a time to reflect in small groups. Evening and Sunday worship had a series of dynamic speakers from the general expression of church as well as global and congregational perspectives.
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The Office of Christian Vocations has available Elder Emeritus and Deacon Emeritus pins. The cost is $5 per pin, including shipping. 
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