Celebrating the Gifts of Honored Laywomen
By Karen Smith
The banquet meal at the annual meeting was
drawing to a close; people were finishing dessert and coffee, and
a feeling of excitement could
be felt, especially at certain tables where awards were expected.
Close friends and families of the recipients were thrilled that
long-deserved
recognition for years of service would soon be given.
As in the
other conferences, the Faith and Nurturing Committee of the Rocky
Mountain Conference had chosen three laywomen to receive the "Celebrating
the Gifts of Honored Laywomen" award. These women chosen to
receive the honored laywomen
award this year, Danni Bangert, Susan
Duncan and Nell
Wyley, are
celebrated for their contributions to the church through their significant
leadership
and spiritual vitality.
 Danni Bangert is known to many across the Rocky Mountain Conference
because of her enthusiastic involvement in this conferences' Global
Partners. Danni, and her husband Merv, have chaired Global Partners
since its inception, over six years ago. In this ministry of mutual
sharing and learning with a group of churches in Venezuela, Danni
has recruited and trained many groups. She has been part of several
trips whose purpose was construction, medical care, or education,
but above all the development of relationships and mutual respect.
Danni is a valued and faithful member of First
Congregational UCC in Boulder, Colorado. She has served her church in many capacities;
recently, along with Merv and a few others, she planned and executed
the $3.2 Million Capital Fund Drive for a new Education and Administration
Building. In her field of ceramics, Danni has been honored both locally
and nationally for her art and her work with the Boulder Potter's
Guild.
 Susan Duncan was taught by her parents that
she must give back some of her many blessings to help others, and
is often pleased to see
how her help has allowed others to move forward. Susan has served
in many areas of her congregation, Christ
Congregational UCC in Denver,
and continues to chair two committees. Through the years, she has
served on boards and as an officer in many organizations including
the Denver Metro YMCA, Iliff School of Theology (22 years), Colorado
College, and many service organizations and charities. As Trustee
of her family's Schlessman Family Foundation for 40 years, she has
helped many local non-profit agencies in areas of education and human
services. Susan is president of a scholarship fund for needy students
and trustee of a foundation that funds education and life skills
training in two villages in Mexico. Since Susan’s goal is to
help, she willingly rolls up her sleeves for everyday tasks like
painting, doing dishes and helps wherever she is needed.
 Nell Wyley of Creede, Colorado, owned and operated a guest ranch.
Maybe that is where she learned to do whatever needed to be done
without expecting notice or reward. As a life-long member of her
church, Creede Community UCC, she has served her congregation in
nearly every possible position, becoming admired, respected, and
nearly indispensable. Nell has not only led committees but also quietly
worked behind the scenes. She has not restricted her care and concern
to members of her church, but gladly serves members of the entire
community. She is part of a group that makes quilts to benefit the
local theater; these have earned over $35,000 to date. When there
are deaths or other emergencies in the community, Nell is there with
comfort, meals, and other help. After a local family lost its home
to fire, she helped them locate the things they needed. Nell says
that in all that she does, she tries to serve God.
Our three honored laywomen received a certificate
from the Rocky Mountain Conference at the banquet. At General Synod,
awards were
presented at a luncheon in their honor. Each woman received an “Honored
Laywoman” pin, an award certificate and a commemorative program.
These laywomen
make visible the many and varied contributions that have been made
to the church by UCC laywomen. The opportunity to honor specific
laywomen for their special contributions, and thus, honor all laywomen
who have served the church, will inspire
others by their stories.
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