Invitation

Invitation to participate in an online discussion on “Women and men: equal
sharing of responsibilities”
You are invited to participate in the online discussion on “Women and men:
equal sharing of responsibilities” organized by the Division for the
Advancement of Women, United Nations, which will run from 7 July to 1 August
2008.
To register, please click on the following link to fill out an online
form:http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/forum/forum-register-daw-equalsharing.aspYou
are encouraged to register before 3 July 2008.You will receive an email with
your username and password before the start of the online discussion.
The online discussion will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the
issue of equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including
caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS, and to identify good practices and
strategies required to accelerate gender equality in this regard. The
discussion is part of the preparatory process for the 53rd session of the
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2009. It will provide background
information for an Expert Group Meeting organized by the Division for the
Advancement of Women on this theme.
For more information on the online discussion, please
visit:http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/forum/forum-daw-equalsharing.htm
If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact us at
daw-e-discussions@un.org
Please feel free to circulate this invitation widely. Apologies for
crossposting.We look forward to your participation in the online discussion.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2

Ok Brain, let’s get sharp and think about the second article of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Oh do we all, worldwide, have work to do on this article. This article calls for no discrimination of any form for any reason whatsoever. The first example of work that can be done is an experience an acquaintance of mine had. My friend’s first name is Mohammad. Mohammad was born and raised in the Middle East. He recently graduated with a Master’s in Business specializing in Project Management. He applied for many jobs for which he was very qualified (he also had solid work experience in related areas) but never got called in for interviews. This occurred in Boston, MA in 2008, in my backyard! I personally feel that because his first name is Mohammad that readers of his resume were immediately struck with a stigma towards him and were blinded to his qualifications.

Maybe I am wrong and there were other significantly more qualified people applying for the same jobs, however to me it seems he wasn’t even considered as a candidate from the moment they read his name at the top of the resume. This may not have been a conscious judgement call by the reader. In fact to me it seems our culture in the United States of America has subconscious reactions to the name Mohammad, similar reactions that we have to the date 9-11 or the phrase terrorist. This is largely in part due to the current socio-political state of the world and our country’s role in that. I do want to share that after several months of searching for a job Mohammad left the Boston area and found a position in California.

I could have shared with you my views on the caste system in India and how they are quite contrary to this article on the basic human rights as agreed by all UN Member States. Or I could have talked about any number of instances of ethnic cleansing occurring all over the world. But, I chose to share an experience that someone had in my backyard as often we forget that there are problems there too.

Drum roll, and now for the solutions…in this particular instance I almost feel we should not list our names on the top of our Resume. This would help eliminate discrimination of gender and of ethnicity. While that may be a small solution to isolated problems, we need to think about the bigger problem which is the subconscious reaction. This is difficult because this reaction comes from our society as a whole, our government and their efforts to get a message across the media to support their political actions, our media trying to spin articles to add sensation and keep our interest, and our neighbors who are fed the same information and have similar subconscious reactions which affect us all.

My solution, while simple in nature is to get to know people that are different from you. When you get to know Mohammad you recognize him as an intelligent, well educated and highly qualified individual, not just as Mohammad a name that holds a cultural stigma. We are all human and are all built from the same parts. While we may grow up in different cultures, languages, religions, skin colors and costumes, we are still flesh, bone and brain underneath. Maybe we should issue worldwide school uniforms so we all look the same, I joke. One of my personal passions is to learn about people from other cultures, understand why their culture believes and practices what they do. Understand why these differences make sense to them and all the while understand these differences as they relate to basic human rights. Again, I encourage you to reflect on this article and share any reactions or ideas this article inspires in the comments section.

Peace be with you.

Women as Bishops Church of England Lay Petition

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19571.html

This petition is a result of wishing to support a similar petition signed by women clergy to the House of Bishops in the Church of England calling for the legislation for women bishops to be free from discrimination.

The women clergy petition was sent in May 2008 and there has been substantial pressure from lay people to conduct a similar exercise.
Petition:
We, lay members of the Church of England, call upon the House of Bishops wholeheartedly to support legislation for women bishops that is free from discrimination.

We are confident that acceptable non-statutory arrangements can be made for those who remain opposed to women’s ordained ministries.

To view the letter from the senior women clergy click on the link above.

We urge the bishops at General Synod strongly to support having women as bishops without further delay.

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

I went to NYC as an Episcopal Delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) on February 22-March 2. I applied to be a delegate, and by the grace of Tunkasila (Great Spirit), was selected. I’m extremely honored to do this because not many people get a chance to be part of an amazing event like this. One of my main focuses of my personal ministry in The Episcopal Church (TEC) is to provide communication, especially for young people! I want all to know about what is happening today and what you can be part of.

The initial focus of this group is at the 52nd session of the UNCSW is “Gender Budget Financing”. Members include the women of Anglican Women’s Empowerment (AWE), related representatives of International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN), and the participants in the three activities sponsored by AWE: advocacy at the UN sessions by the Episcopal Church (TEC), advocacy at the UN sessions by the international delegates of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the Beijing Circles conference. We work with our individual talents to do God’s will together.

The group is Anglican women gathered in communion under the auspices of the Anglican Consultative Council to advance the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in the context of our faith. Our prayer, and our work, is for equality and justice for all women and men, of all faiths and walks of life.

UNCSW 52 Provincial Delegates (women from around the world!) This is just to give an idea of where people are coming from:

AFRICA ( representing: The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, The Church of Nigeria, The Church of the Province of Southern Africa, The Episcopal Church of Sudan, The Anglican Church of Tanzania, The Church of the Province of West Africa, The Church of the Province of the Congo, The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East

ASIA (7) representing: Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Nippon Sei Ko Kai, Nippon Sei Ko Kai, The Anglican Church of Korea, The Church of North India, and The Church of Pakistan

US, UK, CANADA (6) representing: The Church of England, The Episcopal Church in the USA, The Church in Wales, The Church of Ireland, The Church of Canada

OCEANIA (4) representing: The Anglican Church in ANZP, The Anglican Church of Australia

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN (3) representing: La Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America, La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico, Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil

Canadian Group (12)

Anglican Observer’s Office (10) representing: South Africa, Malawi, Brazil, Uganda, UK, Uganda, Kenya, Mexico, Uganda, USA

The Episcopal Church (16): Texas, Rhode Island, Missouri, Washington and Panamá, Massachusetts, Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin and Nicaragua, Florida, California, Texas, North Dakota, Venezuela and Colorado.

Location: NYC

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1

I’ve decided to start a thinking excercise for myself in which I look at 1 of the 30 articles in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights at a time and try to understand it, apply it to the conditions I see around me and try to offer solutions to improve the conditions around me. I open the forum to everyone to add their voices and reflections and to develop I dialogue on each article.

To start this excercise I want to share with you the language the UN uses to address the potency of the human rights declarations:

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

 I am struck by the idea of nation states striving to educate & “promote respect for these rights and freedoms”. My first reaction is that many of my peers have likely never even seen these 30 basic human rights written out. They may be able to generate their own list off the top of their heads, however they may not realize some of the basic human rights that are not fully being carried out in thier own nation state.

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

I witnessed a gross display of human inequality last night. Now I know you are likely expecting me to describe something graphic and violent. Brace yourselves…I was staying in a hotel this weekend for an ice hockey tournament I played in. As I was leaving my room to go to dinner last night a group of preteen girls was sitting on a couch in the lobby. One girl was leaving for her room as another girl loudly called to her from the couch “if you liked me you’d come over here and [blah blah blah blah] before you went to bed” which was then followed by “you can’t go to bed until you come over here and [blah blah blah blah]“. The speaker was clearly the ring leader, as she had just through these statements identified herself as superior to the girl wanting to go to bed and that girl inferior. I was so appalled by this minipulation of power that I nearly jumped in and made several pointed remarks to the ring leader.

If I had been armed with Article 1, it would have been the ideal remark to make to the ring leader. I was disgusted to witness this all too common adolescent display of power. Maybe I am off point in relating this to Article 1 but to me, the girl trying to go to bed was being manipulated into a role of less dignity and unequal rights.

On my way to work for several months, I would drive past a billboard that was quite weathered. I loved this billboard because it was the place holder the advertising company used when no customers where renting ad space. It read “Always Be Kinder than Necessary”. This is a personal mantra I have adopted and feel helps me to treat others ”in a spirit of brotherhood”.

Now, to offer solutions, this is the hard part. It is so easy for us to identify problems, but to offer practical, appicable solutions is quite a feat. Challenge on Virginia…*gulp*. We as humans, can take it upon our shoulders to lookout for our neighbors. In the sense that, if I witness a 13 year old bully picking on another 13 year old and pushing her down a level to in turn elevate herself, I will not silently walk by, painfully identifying with the underdog, I will instead speak up and take the opportunity to teach the bully and the posse the simple act of equality through human kindness. What would I say? Last night I wanted to say “oh boy you sure are manipulative”, but that would not solve the problem it would only feed my ego and elevate me while pushing down the bully. It may or may not have elevated the girl trying to go to bed. I think a better approach we could adopt would be to say something like “don’t you mean to wish her goodnight and send her on her way so that she may be well rested for tomorrow?” Since it is a question as opposed to a remark it causes the listener to think and chose their own action, though guided, and allows both the bully and the girl being picked on freedom, dignity and equality.

While these thoughts are mere anecdotes from my life and experiences, I hope they may be applicable on a larger scale and in the environments you all find yourselves. Again, I invite you to contribute your own reflection on Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Peace be with you.

 

My Reflections from the UNCSW

Experiencing the 52nd United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was an amazing learning process of non-governmental advocacy, held February 22-March 2 in New York City. The 125 Anglican Women, including myself as a first time Episcopal Church delegate and Province 4 representative, joined other faith-based non governmental organizations (NGOs) to empower women to strengthen world wide communities through equality and justice for all women and men, of all faiths and walks of life.

As a young Lakota woman from South Dakota and proud member of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, I have to tell you it was difficult to express the words to describe the UNCSW event. The organizations and topics were wide ranging as well as extremely important. There were three different organizations (the UN, the UN Church Center, and The Episcopal Church Women’s Ministries) holding events simultaneously for 10 days straight. The best advice was from previous women, who said choose events that call to you. So I did carefully, often running from place to place, once eating dinner in the hallway before a popular meeting, as you had to get there early to ensure a seat.

The primary theme was “Financing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women”. Financing for gender equity calls on us to care for the poor and work for economic justice with the equitable distribution of society’s resources through the analysis of gender budgeting. Gender equality has many dimensions: health and well being, educational attainment, political empowerment, and economic participation. The NGO Anglican Women’s Empowerment states, “By paying attention to all aspects of gender equality, including economic participation, faith communities such as diocese and churches can do God’s work of helping the poor.”

Many issues were addressed including through the emerging theme: “Gender Perspectives on Climate Change”. As well as review themes: “Women’s Equal Participation in Conflict Prevention, Management and Conflict Resolution and in Post-conflict Peacebuilding”, and “Indicators on Violence against Women and Children”. These themes influence agreed conclusions containing priority recommendations for governments, intergovernmental bodies and other institutions, civil society actors and other stakeholders, to be implemented at the international, national, regional, and local level. Additionally, the Commission adopts resolutions on a range of issues during this time.

Anglican Women join the Ecumenical Women which brings women of faith from around the world to tell their stories and address government delegates. The Ecumenical Women advocate for governments to fully implement the Beijing Platform for Action, agreed upon at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in China in 1995. The Beijing Platform for Actions addresses Millennium Development Goal #3-Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women. The Ecumenical Women coalition trains religious women on UN procedures and effective advocacy techniques. As well as provide time for fellowship, prayer, and discussion during the Commission. Services were held daily at the United Nations Church Center. Orientations, trainings, and reporting for the delegates (Provincial and US) were held at the Episcopal Church Center every evening.

A highlight of the opening plenary was the launch of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon multi-year campaign to intensify action to end violence against women and girls. “Violence against women and girls makes its hideous imprint on every continent, country and culture,” said the Secretary-General. “It is time to focus on the concrete actions that all of us can and must take to prevent and eliminate this scourge — Member States, the United Nations family, civil society and individuals — women and men. It is time to break through the walls of silence, and make legal norms a reality in women’s lives.” Another inspiring speaker was Kevin Powell, MTV’s Real World Star turned activist and author of “The Confessions of a Recovering Misogynist”, discussed the Role and Responsibility of Men to Prevent Violence against Women. I was ecstatic to see the unity across cultures and genders to stop violence again women.

The CSW Bureau plays a crucial role in preparing and ensuring the successful outcome of annual sessions of the Commission. CSW’s Future Program of Work — Annual Priority Themes and Review Themes — is based around the outcome of the ten-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 2005 World Summit and the work of the Commission on the Status of Women since 1996. 2009 Priority Theme and 2011 Review Theme: “Sharing of responsibilities for home and family, including care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS.” For more information on the current membership of the commission by country and Bureau officers, as well as this year’s agreed conclusions published on March 13, please visit http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/index.html.

A personal highlight was “Envisioning a 5th UN Women’s World Conference” with Gloria Steinem, and Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD. The goal of this conference is about the need for women to participate in peacemaking at every level. A UN sponsored conference would allow women to attend who otherwise would not be able to get visas and support from their countries. Women would share information about what has worked and find role models, mentors, and allies. The book “Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women and Save the World” written by Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, resonated with me. I received an indigenous elder’s meditation a week prior to the event reading: “At an Elders gathering, held in July 1991, we were told the Indian woman would play an instrumental part in leading the healing of Indian nations. The old people said we were to look up to her in a sacred manner. They said the Earth Mother would give the woman special gifts of love. The woman and the Earth Mother are connected in a special way. Women should pay attention to the lessons coming from the earth. Men should treat the women with respect, dignity and honor.” This was a message from the Creator as the meditation was sent on February 16, which would’ve been my deceased great grandmother’s (Emma Brave Hawk) birthday. Old Grandma, as we called her, was the first generation in my family to become involved in the Episcopal Church and was leader in our native community. This connection led to a meeting with Office of Native American Missioner Janine Tinsley-Roe and other Episcopal delegates to plan advocacy events in the next year.

Another network born from the 52nd UNCSW, is Young Anglican Women. A group dedicated to the global network of Young Episcopal and Anglican Women to share information and support one another in our endeavors. We are on Facebook, as well as began a blog site at http://younganglicanwomen.wordpress.com/.

I am incredibly inspired by so many great women making an impact in our world from the grassroots levels, as wells as witnessing our women leaders in action. We also must partner with men to help everyone understand the message. I see true unity can be reality! I’m not saying I’m an expert, just a young Lakota woman with a true passion for advocacy and hoping that others will hear my story get inspired into action.

Overall what I learned is for change to happen, we must begin to step out of our boxes and do it. Yes, you will encounter resistance. Yes, you will encounter politics. Yes, it will be difficult at times. But, we must remember all good things come from struggle. You will find local allies (they’ve been here working all along!). You will find answers if you search. Search for the tools you need to make change! Don’t wait for someone to come to you with an idea, time passes quickly and passion can be forgotten. It can be on any issue that the Creator calls you to do…pray for guidance and open your heart to seeing the signs. But you have to make it reality.

Wakan Tanka Kici Un (May God Bless You).

I am in Love with the 21st Century

I recently was in NYC for the week attending the 52nd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and as per last year found it to be inspiring politically, socially and fashionably. I had the privilege to see Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speak during the launch of his Campaign to End Violence Against Women. He took a very powerful stand against violence towards women. The following passage from his speech truly resonated with me:

Today, we come together to launch a global campaign to end violence against women. I am counting on you — advocates from Government, civil society and the UN — to carry our message around the world.

Violence against women is an issue that cannot wait. A brief look at the statistics makes it clear. At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Through the practice of prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to exist. No country, no culture, no woman young or old is immune to this scourge. Far too often, the crimes go unpunished, the perpetrators walk free.

War has always been devastating, but now, women and girls are themselves targets in the war zone. Today’s weapons of armed conflict include rape, sexual violence, and the abduction of children conscripted as soldiers or forced into sexual slavery.

On my visits to conflict-torn areas around the world, I have spoken with women who have endured horrific forms of violence. I will forever be haunted by their suffering — but equally, I will always be inspired by their courage. These mothers, sisters, daughters and friends are determined to reclaim their lives.

This is a campaign for them. It is a campaign for the women and girls who have the right to live free of violence, today and in the future. It is a campaign to stop the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on all humankind.

Please click here to view Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s entire statement and more on the campaign.

Additionally, I attended a gathering in which Gloria Steinem, founder of Ms. Magazine, Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of “Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women. Save the World” and Nancy Gruver, Publisher & Founder of New Moon Magazine for girls, spoke on “Envisioning a 5th UN Women’s World Conference (5WWC)“. This is significant as the the last UN sponsored World Wide Women’s Conference was held in Beijing in 1995. It is supposed to happen every decade and this decade is nearly over and the UN is so far not willing to support the 5th Women’s World Conference.

At every previous conference, women came from all over the world, talked and bonded, learned from each other, and formed a network of friendship and political alliances on behalf of women. Most significantly, women’s rights were recognized as human rights in the Beijing Platform for Action. Until this conference women were considered passive victims in an unequal world. The conference addressed gender relations rather than women’s issues, recognizing that women’s roles and status are equal in relation to men.

-Excerpt taken from http://www.5wwc.org/origins/index.html where you can find more information on the need for a 5WWC

Of course one does not go to NYC without allowing some time for shopping and tourism. I have fallen madly and deeply in love with Century 21, a TJMaxx flavored department store that is a) huge, b) specializes in all designer goods, c) amazingly priced and d) probably my new most favorite place to shop (next to thrift shops of course…oh the joy of treasure hunting). Accordingly, when in NYC you need to make a stop at Century 21; official mandate from me.

Talking Points Shared with Diocese of Western MA ECW Board Meeting

The following are some talking points I used to speak to the Diocese of Western Massachusetts’ Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Board Meeting. They are in bullet format based on some questions Susan Howland, President of the ECW here posed to me to guide a presentation and dialogue I lead at the board meeting. Pieces of Susan’s note to me are used so as to offer structure to my talking points:

“Dear Virginia,

So glad you can come on the 29th!  Let me tell you a little about our diocesan ECW board….which is a dedicated, but small and evolving group.  Historically the ECW  was a very mission  minded group, and we still are.  Our place as diocesan leaders is really educational and support….financial and otherwise.  Our current mission statement is “to become a cornerstone of community, learning and ministry that seeks to invite all women into fellowship.”    We follow the guidance of the National ECW…if you haven’t been to the website it is here: http://www.nationalecw.org   The national ECW oversees a granting initiative called “Women to Woman” providing small grants of seed money to women.   This triennium the National ECW is suggesting a focus of millennium development goal # 3 To promote gender equality and empower women.

 I have just gotten an ECW web page on the diocesan website and it is here: http://www.diocesewma.org/ecw.html We are not an ultra formal group and you will be meeting with maybe 5 to 10 women…so we will probably  just sit around the table.  I think those present would like to hear:

- Something about you…your story.”

                -grew up in Minnesota

                -Active in church              

                                *acolyte

                                * youth member of vestry

                                *youth rep to convention

                                *active in regional youth events

                                *started youth group

-Graduated from Skidmore College with a double Major in Political Science and Spanish, with a focus on International Affairs & Women’s Studies

-Wrote my Honors Thesis on Female Circumcision, Through a Global Feminist Perspective. Which attempts to understand the issue by looking at how it lines up to the UN agreed conclusions of the basic human rights and by trying to understand the cultural significance and value in the practice.

“-Something about AWE, the history, the mission, and how you happened to become involved”

                -AWE – Anglican Women’s Empowerment

-Currently undergoing an identity evaluation.  NYC based and not looking to expand, but open to those outside of NYC coming to meetings every third Thursday of the month at the Episcopal Church Center

-have been very active in getting women to attend and have an active presence at the UN

-work closely with IAWN – International Anglican Women’s Network (who is funded partly by the United Thank Offering) to bring Anglican’s from around the world (India, Seychelles, parts of Africa, UK, Canada and beyond) to the UN Commission on the Status of Women

-I got involved because the office of Women’s Ministry in conjunction with AWE sent out an announcement soliciting applicants to be Delegates to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

“- Share your experience as a delegate to the UN…what was it like…..talk about anything you are passionate about….I think people are always inspired by passion about an issue”

-The first year I went was focused on the topic of “Ending all forms of violence against the girl child”. My Honors Thesis and Women’s studies background were both very useful in providing me significant background knowledge on the topic but also in allowing me to be selected as a Delegate.

-There are a couple of approaches a Delegate can take to attending the UN CSW. They can participate as active lobbyists or they can attend the numerous parallel events sponsored by the various Non-Governmental Organizations present at the UN CSW.

-The main objective of the various countries meeting at the UN CSW is to work on what is called the Draft Agreed Conclusions. They spend the two weeks of the event debating the language in the conclusions that all countries are supposed to follow to improve the status of women worldwide.

- In that first year, I worked very actively in the lobbying role. I worked with several other North American NGO’s to draft our own suggested changes to the Draft Agreed Conclusions and to submit those to as many countries as possible.

-This year’s topic was “Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women: Women’s participation in conflict prevention, management, conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace-building.”

-As this is not a topic I have significant knowledge base in, I chose to attend the parallel events and try to learn as much as I could about this topic and how to employ it in my community and environment

-It seems one of the “Women to Woman” granting program truly encompasses this topic and the goals of the UN in relation to this topic.

“-Then you might say how, from what you have learned,  we might take action to support women.”

-The “Women to Woman” granting program seems like an excellent action to take to support women. In some of the presentations I attended both years, the idea that economically empowering women is good for the economy and the society as a whole, came up quite often

-Amongst the group of women from the International Anglican Communion (both domestic and outside of the US) there are many women with very valuable projects occurring that could use support in many ways. Some could use economic support, some could use womanpower to spread the word, others could use materials and supplies.

-I have this ‘vision’ of sorts to create a database of the numerous initiatives going on amongst the group of Anglican UN Delegates so that we may support each other in any way we can.

“- We could also ask you some questions, and then informally talk about some of the topics you address. (if it seems appropriate)

I will use the press release and the corrections below to put together a little something for publicity…it is a little short notice to get the word out but we might get a few extra people to the meeting

I hope that helps. I think it will be very enlightening and inspiring to talk with you, especially as you come from a completely different generation…..we need to be listening to your thoughts and ideas.

 Take care,

 Susan”

My overview of how the various groups involved in getting Delegates to attend the UN Commission on the Status of Women and what we do there, inspired many wonderful questions from the ECW women attending the presentation. These questions allowed the dialogue to go into specific antecdotes from my experiences and the experiences of the many fascinating women I have met who are living thier lives as catalysts for humanity. From these antecdotes I then shared how the stories had changed my perspective on any given topic.

Please note: for those of you offering presentations to various groups feel free to use any of the above talking points/questions in your presentations.

‘And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy’: Reflection Easter 2

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.’
(Acts 2.17-1 A reflection by Imogen NayWe follow the story of Acts in the Easter Season and with the first Sunday after Easter we begin with Peter’s address to the crowd. It has intrigued me to find however that the verses shown above have been sidestepped in the lectionary; on Monday of Easter week and today the same readings from Acts are given: Acts 2.14a, 22-32 and on both days Acts 2.14b-21 is missed out.

It may be that these verses are read in different lectionary years; however, it seems significant that they are deliberately not included. Reading with a hermeneutic of suspicion I can’t help but wonder: is it because there is the prediction of radical inclusiveness in the Kindom (sic) of God for the post-resurrection community of believers?

I couldn’t help but wonder if the selectors felt: Is it better not to read this passage regularly as a Christian community? Is it more convenient to turn away from the resurrection witness of Mary Magdalen in John’s Gospel and move into the circle of male discipleship authorized to declare the good news? Is it better to forget the devotion of women to Jesus during his worst hours? Is it better to control the radical nature of the gift of the Spirit?

During Holy Week Bishop Victoria Matthews was the visiting preacher at Westcott House Seminary, Cambridge, UK. At the Good Friday addresses she explained the significance of the tearing of the temple curtain as Jesus breathed his last and cried out. The temple curtain marked the entrance to the Holy of Holies into which the High Priest only could enter once a year to offer sacrifices to God. A hierarchy of access to the sacred space was employed, with gentiles furthest away and then Jewish women, followed by Jewish men and the priests. The tearing of the curtain reveals how Jesus has destroyed the regular division between humankind and God and the need for a hierarchy of access to the sacred. Jesus invites all to reach the Father through him: all are equal.

In ‘the last days’ as the Spirit is poured out upon the people and we follow the story of that through Acts and into our own lives we do well to remember the radical nature of Christ’s salvation promise. Jesus humbled himself, utterly, coming into the world, washing his disciple’s feet, showing us the way of love even to the Cross and revealing the new commandment to love one another. He closes the gap between heaven and earth, having broken into the economy as love, as the divine. It is very hard to believe. The story of doubting Thomas in the lectionary today from John’s Gospel is a necessary reminder of the task of faith and of the extraordinary nature of what we believe. It is easy to doubt. It is easy to doubt what salvation means in Christ and it is easy to doubt that all are included. As humans we want to monitor, guard and control access to the divine. We want to say who is allowed and who isn’t allowed access to the sacred mysteries.

Training for the priesthood in the Church of England in which women are still barred from the Episcopate there is a definite punch to this reading. As communities of believers it seems that we still doubt the resurrection of Christ and the implication of that resurrection. We prefer to select and read with our own prejudices, and of course I am no exception. To have the honesty to read with the eyes of Christ and to act with the mind of Christ demands great faith; we all no doubt would prefer Christ to come among us and show us his wounds so we could prod and poke them and have definite proof of his resurrection. With John we can truly assent to Jesus’ saying: ‘Blessed are those that have not seen but have come to believe’ (John 20.29).

But let us rejoice in the Sunday after Easter in the promises of Christ and of the last days. We can confidently expect our ‘sons and daughters to prophesy’ and that the Spirit will be poured out upon those who have low status in society ‘both men and women’. Christ disrupts our categories of status and authority, freely bestowing all manner of gifts upon those whom society least expects to be blessed. PRAISE BE TO GOD.

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