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Notwithstanding, many had served in responsible positions, as Deacons and even as Elders, in other Presbyterian churches, many Southern. Nor did they all understand why women were denied any role as an officer of the church, even as a Deacon. When one, a lady, requested an explanation of this policy of the Session at a congregational meeting held on January 29,	1967,
the answer given by the Clerk of the Session left the woman in tears. Later, Ingrid Ling and John Mefford individually wrote the Session letters requesting an apology for that person, all to no avail. The Session refused to acknowledge that there were any problems.
These two would write again, as reflected in the Minutes of the Session dated March 2nd. Reference was therein made to the announcement in the Bulletin of February 13th that, "after much discussion and study of scriptural teaching, the Session does not recommend that women be elected to the office of Elders and Deacons." In their letters this time, Ingrid Ling and John Mefford were additionally critical of the Session for not electing additional Elders, even though below the number that should be on the Session.
As the Session had a right to do under the Book of Order. It is also to be remembered that these Elders were elected, at that time in this church as in many of that era, for life. Moreover, their micro-management was pervasive and all encompassing. For instance, they approved all the Bible study materials, all music, all Sunday school teachers, all Vacation Bible Study teachers and materials, even the budgets of the Women of the Church and Men of the Church, as well as all officers of these two organizations elected by their members.
One must remember, too, that this was a time when the "separate but equal" doctrine had been outlawed by the United States Supreme Court and school desegregation had been ordered to be carried out with "all deliberate speed." Troops had previously been called out to integrate the Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mrs. Rosa Parks had already sparked a boycott of the bus lines in Montgomery,	Alabama, thrusting the