Over the years, many have heard the question, “Who’s missing from the table?” While our hearts long for full inclusion of all, we sometimes struggle to embody that sentiment. Wishing won’t make it so; even prayer, while personally encouraging, isn’t a magic wand. What are the challenges, and what can we do to take concrete steps toward fulfilling our vision of a table where everyone has a seat?
Dr. Edith Guffey (pronouns she/her) served the United Church of Christ for over 30 years. Guffey served first as the Secretary of the denomination, then as the Associate General Minister, always focusing primarily on the organization’s internal operations and serving as the Administrator of the General Synod from 1995 to 2011. Following her years in the national offices, Guffey served as the Conference Minister of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, retiring in 2021. Guffey says she was first attracted to the UCC when she discovered a church that connected faith with justice and considered advocacy as both a legitimate and necessary expression of faith.