October 2021
The Commission's Report
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for the full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. We’re helping the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children - as full and equal parts of God’s human family. We 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."
GCSRW Releases Do No More Harm Resource to Assist United Methodists Navigating the Formal Complaint Process
GCSRW is thrilled to announce the release of a new resource, Do No More Harm! This resource was developed to assist those navigating the complexities of the complaint process in a more comprehensive way. Throughout the resource, participants in the complaint process receive clear step-by-step guidance, learn what to expect from other participants in the complaint process, and view videos from various perspectives that highlight key parts in the complaint process. Do No More Harm also includes an updated flowchart and process summary to show what each role is responsible for throughout the complaint process. You can access this resource at donomoreharm.org.

GCSRW has partnered with United Methodist Communications (UMCOM) to re-launch the UM Sexual Ethics website on ResourceUMC. This collaboration allows this crucial website to be more user-friendly on desktops and mobile devices. You can check out the newly relaunched site at umsexualethics.org.

Read the media release about all of this exciting new resource and new website here.

On the GCSRW Blog: Remembering Carolyn Oehler and Bishop Beverly Shamana
Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader wrote a beautiful tribute to celebrate the lives of Carolyn Oehler and Bishop Beverly Shamana. These two women contributed their gifts to both The United Methodist Church and the mission of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. We are so grateful for their witness and ministry. During this time, we remember them and hold their loved ones in our hearts and prayers.

Find the tribute here on our blog.
Save the Date: Annual Conference COSROW Training on October 30th at 10 AM CDT
Does your Annual Conference COSROW need a refresher on the functions of an Annual Conference COSROW? Do you need some guidance on how to get your Annual Conference COSROW back up and running? Do you need some ideas of what your Annual Conference COSROW could be doing? On Saturday, October 30th from 10 AM-1 PM CDT, we will be hosting an Annual Conference COSROW training on Zoom. All members of an Annual Conference COSROW are invited to attend. If you have any questions, email Rev. Pamela Pirtle at ppirtle@gcsrw.org.

General Commission on the Status and Role of Women Presents I AM Her Lunch and Learn- "2020 Geographic Trends of Gender Disparities in Compensation for UMC" with Dr. Magaela Bethune on Thursday, October 21st at 12 PM CDT
GCSRW is taking last year’s I AM Her Women’s Leadership Summit and bringing you I AM Her Lunch and Learn! Bring your lunch and join this movement of women to be inspired, be empowered, and to be equipped to do the work both personally, and professionally within The United Methodist Church.

On October 21st from 12-1:00 PM CDT, we will be going through our second part of the 2020 Salary Study with researcher and writer Dr. Magaela Bethune. We will discuss the geographic trends of the salary study by examining the individual jurisdictions and annual conferences.

Did you miss the first session of the Salary Study? You can find the recording on YouTube here.

Join this informative session at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81432748779?pwd=NW5tSWl6QmE5OHlTVUd2NjRwcUEzUT09

Meeting ID: 814 3274 8779
Passcode: 033204
Remembering Native American victims of U.S. schools
GCSRW joined other United Methodist agencies in releasing this statement that decries church sponsorship of U.S. Abusive “Indian Boarding Schools” and calls for a remembrance of victims and survivors.

"The National Day of Remembrance is being observed by Native American United Methodist leaders, including the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, Native American Comprehensive Plan, Native American International Caucus and numerous annual conference committees on Native American Ministries. Our agencies join our Native American sisters and brothers in this special occasion, an opportunity for individual grief and collective reaffirmation of the 2012 'Act of Repentance Toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous People.'"
GCSRW Board Celebrate the Development of Valuable Resources and Programming During Extended Quadrennium
The Board of Directors of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) met virtually on September 9-11th, 2021. The board and staff worked in tandem to discuss and assess the progress of the GCSRW's mission of faithfully answering its call to advocate for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church.

With the theme for the meeting being set as “The Journey Continues,” the staff noted many of GCSRW’s global pandemic-related adjustments and adaptations that have proven valuable and necessary, as navigating the COVID-19 pandemic has proved a challenging task. After the pandemic forced the General Conference to be postponed to 2022, GCSRW was allowed to shift work to provide valuable resources to The United Methodist connection.