General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
The United Methodist Church
For Immediate Release
October 20, 2022
Chicago, Il. – The Board of Directors of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) met online October 13-14th and affirmed the agency’s work and impact within The United Methodist Church (UMC), while moving forward into the next 50 years of ministry. During their time together, the Board welcomed a new Vice-President, reviewed its legislative work and celebrated the diverse leadership of the GCSRW connexion.
The Rev. Juyeon Jeon, who was recently recognized as an elder in full connection within the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, was elected Vice-President and Secretary of the Board. As GCSRW’s board chair, Bishop Tracy S. Malone affirmed the decision stating, “I celebrate the leadership of Rev. Juyeon Jeon and her faithful service as a board member of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. I had the joy of installing her as the newly elected vice president and secretary to the Board. We are blessed by her gifts to GCSRW and the church.”
The Board also heard from the Legislative Committee, led by Katrena King and Bob Zilhaver, and the implications of an extended quadrennium. Themes related to GCSRW’s six pieces of legislation to be considered at the next General Conference include:
- Response team ministries for cases of sexual misconduct
- Sexual misconduct within ministerial relationships
- Prevention of the use of and effects of pornography within the church
- Eradication of sexism within the church
- Apologizing to victims and survivors of sexual misconduct within the UMC
- Amending Paragraph 4, Article IV of the UMC Constitution
There was active participation from U.S. board members, multiple Central Conference leaders from the Baltic and Mozambique annual conferences and United Women of Faith liaisons. During their times of centering, the Board heard reflections from men and women regarding a range of social issues pertinent to the work of GCSRW such as racial advancement, women’s rights and age-related concerns. The diversity represented at the meeting reconfirmed for the Board the importance of monitoring at Central Conferences moving forward.
GCSRW staff shared progress on a variety of fronts including the Welcoming a Woman Pastor resource launch, staff changes and the welcoming of Rev. Meg Lassiat as the Director of Resource Development and Training and their new communication strategy implementation. They also announced upcoming agency initiatives including:
- Developing and launching a young adult advisory board for GCSRW projects
- Enhancing GCSRW’s materials related to the sexual misconduct complaint process
- Organizing a time of remembrance for survivors of sexual misconduct for the next General Conference
The Board passed next year’s proposed agency budget of $977,160.00 and approved the spending plan submitted to the Connectional Table and General Council on Finance and Administration.
General Secretary Dawn Wiggins Hare expressed her excitement for the next 50 years of GCSRW’s ministry stating, “the commitment and hope expressed by the members of our board of directors during our meeting, by leaders across the church during our 50th Anniversary celebration, and by the young women and men who are finding their voices and their space to lead the church give us the energy to keep challenging the church to the equal participation of women. With God’s continued help, great things are happening!”
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About the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. GCSRW helps the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children – as full and equal parts of God’s human family. They believe that a fully engaged and empowered membership is vital to The United Methodist Church’s mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Learn more at GCSRW.org.
Media contact:
Aileen Delgado
Email: adelgado@gcsrw.org