GCSRW Blog

Cultivating Leadership: A Journey of Faith and Influence

Finding Home in Faith: Dr. Christina Lee's Story

Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Lanette Plambeck

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Delores "Dee" Williamston

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Laura Merrill

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Connie Shelton

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Robin Dease

Remembering Carolyn Oehler and Bishop Shamana

A Day in the Life of an Army Chaplain

Women for Times Such As These

Holiness in High Heels

My Ministry as the ‘Different’ and ‘Unique’ Ministry: A Reflection from Rev. AHyun Lee

Rev. Nancy Grissom Self: First Secretariat of GCSRW

GCSRW's 2023 in review

The Foremothers of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women Advocating for Women for 50 Years

Laywomen Promote Hope and Healing

Deaconesses Promote Hope and Healing

Clergy Women Promote Hope and Healing

Methodists and the Struggle for Women's Suffrage

Neurodivergence in Ministry Leadership: Navigating the Expectations of Leadership

GCORR Book Study: The Flag + The Cross by Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry

Love As Blessings

What will it take to make things okay?

May 2026 Weekly Devotionals

Gear up! The UMCStore is now open

MAY 31, 2026 Peace with Justice Sunday - Trinity Sunday

MAY 24, 2026 Heritage Sunday - Pentecost Sunday

MAY 17, 2026 Asian American Ministry Plan - 7th Sunday of Easter

MAY 10, 2026 - Pacific Islander's Ministry Plan - 6th Sunday of Easter

MAY 03, 2026 - United Methodist Student Day Sunday- 5th Sunday of Easter

God Will Not Be Mocked

Commission proposes changes to GC 2028 schedule and programming

MyCom Podcast Ep. 118: Accessible digital content for all

Commission elects Worship Director for GC 2028

Commission offers update on travel and safety precautions for GC 2028

Forming Family/Preparing a People worship series

God Poured Out worship series

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Reject The $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget

Proposal introduced for new connectional ministries agency

Local church leadership: Treasurer

Board Approves $4 Million Distribution to the 11 UM-Related HBCUs

GBHEM Launches Regional Conference Higher Education Fund

Women in Methodism resource list (Heritage Sunday 2026)

Black College Fund Helps Power a New Era at Paine College

Dignity Without Permission

UMC Acronyms Guide

Ask the UMC Shorts

Ask The UMC Shorts: How do I address concerns about my clergy or church staff?

Missionaries Commissioned for Service in Kenya

Venue Contract Tips for Churches and Ministries: What to Know Before You Sign or Share Your Space

Monday Reflections: Metamorphosis

UMCom Releases 2025 Annual Report

General Secretary Highlights Urgent Call to Peace in Spring Report

Deaf Ministry Farming Project Brings Hope to Mutare

The Divine Mystery in Things

Live from Wespath: Wed, May 6, 2026 11:00 AM CDT

Encounter with Christ Fund Hits $2 Million Milestone in Global Ministries Grants

GBHEM's 2026 Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award

Stories That Matter Easter season worship series

United Methodist Support Helps Philander Smith Build Health Programs and Hope

Fear Is Not the Final Word

Destination websites: Enhancing your church’s virtual front door <br> Part 2: Developing a content and SEO strategy

An Unholy Fear of Neighbor

Bishop Kennetha's Lenten Study—Building Beloved Community

Communicating your summer ministry calendar

The day fear of ICE turned Into death

General Conference Commission activity highlights

Destination websites: Enhancing your church's virtual front door <br> Part 1: Evaluating your site

2026 Easter Message from Bishop Malone, President of the Council of Bishops

Wespath's vision of bold love

GCORR Convenes Global Leaders for Strategic DEI Roundtable in Baltimore

Women of Wespath: Leadership Grounded in Purpose

Heritage Sunday 2026: 'The Spirit Falls Equally'

A Beacon in the Community

“I Belong: Stories on Resurrection & Belonging” - Eastertide Devotional

GCSRW board affirms strategic priorities at Spring 2026 meeting

God Makes Room for Us All

Lenten Reflections 2026: The Rev. Justin Colón

Meharry Medical College: Faith and Funding Fuel Health Equity

Miracle Sunday worship & study resources

Huston-Tillotson University Marks 150 Years of Impact

miracle-sunday-resources

Miracle Sunday Worship & Study Resources

"Lead Courageously" webinar discussion guide

Explore Sacred Texts with Scouts Around the World

Justice Takes Courage: Protecting Transgender Civil and Human Rights

Am I Willing to Be a Neighbor?

Reflections for Lent 2026: Break the Mirror

Women and Water -- Advancing Equality on World Water Day

MyCom Podcast Ep. 117: Hot-button issues in church communication

Wiley University uses Black College Funds to Help Break Cycles and Build Opportunity

Wespath Announces 2025 Calkins and Lee Award Recipients

Ask The UMC Shorts: Do United Methodists pray for the dead?

Ask The UMC Shorts Where do our apportionment dollars go?

April 2026 Weekly Devotionals

April 26, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Easter - General Administration Fund <br><br>(General Conference)<br><br>

April 19, 2026 – Third Sunday of Easter – Native American Ministries Sunday<br><br>

April 12, 2026 – Second Sunday of Easter – Volunteers in Missions Awareness Sunday<br><br>

April 05, 2026 – Easter Sunday – Golden Cross Sunday<br><br>

Women Around the World: Celebrating the Young Women’s Movement in the Philippines

Honoring Women of Color in the Local Church

"Racial Justice: A Mandate to Our Discipleship" Webinar Series

Putting Aside Differences to Protect Our Neighbors

Petition 8 Jurisdictions Study Brief

Get the Feedback You Need: Best Practices for Event Surveys

Reflections for Lent 2026: From Aspiration to Inspiration

Lenten Reflections 2026: The Rev. David Wright

Cuando el silencio se convierte en pecado: Solidaridad en la era de Epstein

COB names Interim Committee on Organization for the New US Regional Conference

Turning Easter visitors into regular attenders: a 30-day follow-up communication plan

Living Out Our Calling: Confronting White Privilege

"Throw dirt on me and you will see how I bloom"

United Methodists set sexual ethics policies and procedures others could follow

Thursdays in Black

Domestic Violence Awareness: Resources for Healing and Support

51 Reasons to be in Connection with GCSRW

Join the Movement: Shape the Future with GCSRW’s Young Adult Think Tank!

Our Call as United Methodists to Eradicate Sexual Harassment

To be a woman... is a gift from God

New Women Bishops of the UMC: A Profile of Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella

Parity Among Methodist Clergy

Starter Questions for Episcopal Discernment

Connexionalism Vital to Continued Ministry of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women

Sexual Ethics Remains Vital to the United Methodist Church

A Maundy Thursday Reflection

More Than “Just a Deacon”: Celebrating 25 Years of The Order of Deacon

North Alabama Annual Conference COSROWs Parity Resolution

Top Ten Success Principles for Career Women

Nevertheless, She Preached: Women's History Month 2021

A Woman's Right to Life

No Justice, No Peace!

The Way of Integrity Kindness Respect and Consideration

Thursdays in Black Devotion - May 28th, 2020

Thursdays in Black Devotion- May 7, 2020

Self-Care and Boundaries During These Times

Broken Glass

Response Team Ministry Is Still Needed as Long as There Is Harm Being Done

When one part of the body suffers we all suffer

The Importance of Boundaries Training in the African United Methodist Churches

Women Arise for Better Lives

Walking in the Way: A Deacon's Journey

"I don’t want to be a deacon; God wants me to be a deacon."

“Once God has a hold of you, it’s hard to be let loose.”

“Just” a Deacon – Ministry That Matters

Delegates by the Numbers—Then and Now

Word. Service. Justice. Compassion.

Annual Conferences Uplifted Women During 2018

A Year Later

Sexual Misconduct on Stage: A Dramatic Vignette As A Poignette Approach to Ethics Training

GCSRW Statement Regarding Proposed Constitutional Amendments One and Two

"Stand Erect, Lift Your Head, Let Your Voice be Heard"

Leading from the Pew—“Why Not?”

Finding Our Voices—A Path for Women

"...the Church and I are stronger for it."

A Laywoman's Journey

Journey of Leadership in the Church

Reflection on South Carolina COSROWs Violence in Relationships

Expansive Language for the Divine: Come, Holy Power Within! Help us Thy Names to sing!

Divine Omnipresence and Human Language

Why We Need a NonGendered God

#HerTruth

Paragraph 4, Article 4: A pastor and a mother shares her passion about an amendment to the UMC Constitution

The Interconnectedness of Age

Paragraph 4, Article 4: Changing the Game

Paragraph 4, Article 4 by the numbers

Open the Door to Add 'Abilities' in The United Methodist Constitution

Women Working Together to Be Heard

What Might Heraclitus Think? : Some Thoughts on Our New Female Episcopal Leaders

Why We Count Women

Are We There Yet? Bishop Hope Morgan Ward

Equipping Advocates

Are We There Yet? Laurie Haller

Miles to Go Before We Sleep

Sliding Off-Base

What It's Like to be a Pastor's Kid in a New Church Start

If Every Barrier Is Down, Why Does My Head Hurt from Hitting the Stained Glass Ceiling?

The Benefit of Clergywomen Friendships A Vlog from PastorBesties

Confessions of a New-Start Pastor

Changing the Mindset: Full Acceptance or Just an Exception?

Shapers of the Journey: Celebrating Women of Faith

Dominos and Equity

Partnership in Ministry

Rest. Reflect. Renew.

Advent Through the Eyes of Women: The Innkeeper’s Wife

Advent Through the Eyes of Women: Trust Like Ruth, Give Like Ruth, Honor the Other

Statistics, Stigma and the Stained-Glass Ceiling

Advent Through the Eyes of Women: Making Way for Another’s Voice with the Help of Elizabeth

Advent Through the Eyes of Women: On the Road with Mary...

Spotlighting the Need for Providing a Just System

Women Advocating for Women

The Unfinished Business of “Suffragette”

We Are Here to Serve

Connections: The Role of Clergywomen

Who Is at Whose Table?

How Big is God?

Hispanic Heritage Month through the Eyes of an Elder-in-Training

Korean Womens Narratives of Being Pastor and Pastors Wife

Somebody, but Nobody… Nobody, but Somebody

Generation Transformation

Week 5: Sermon Resources for Women's History Month

Firefighting is a Ministry

When I Changed My Mind…

Images of Liberation and Life

Throwback Thursday: How the church can help women

Throwback Thursday: UMC Nigeria: One voice counts

Women in My Faith Journey

Week 4: Sermon Resources for Women's History Month

Throwback Thursday: The doorway that changed my life

Cultivating the Roots of Best Practices

Mae Rachel Garwood Nelson

Week 3: Sermon Resources for Women's History Month

Throwback Thursday: Learning the Bible from Auntie Milda

Great-Grandma Williams

Week 2 Sermon Resources for Womens History Month

Week 1: Sermon Resources for Women’s History Month

Introduction: Sermon Resources for Women’s History Month

Does Your Husband…?

Why don’t more of our largest churches have women as senior pastors?

The Intern’s Corner: The Age Issue (or Living in the Middle of the Sandwich)

Answering God's call

The Intern's Corner: Experiencing God's grace in the aftermath of clergy misconduct

Check it out: Gender Inequality is a Man's Problem (crosspost)

The Intern's Corner: Of ivory towers and care packages

Personal reflection uncovers 'benevolent' sexism

The Intern's Corner: Does feminism have a role in Christian ministry?

The Intern's Corner: Disarming the Harm

Listening to stories, learning, and holding them sacred

Accountability and grace

Remembering the unnamed women who inspired and encouraged

Enjoying renewal and rejuvenation at UM Clergywomen's gathering

#YesAllWomen: Some resources for considering the massacre in California

Two medieval saints who model Christian womanhood

Central Conference Ministers and Their Spouses - A Shared Ministry

The praying woman

A Woman of Words, Poetry and Power

Two seamstresses

In memory of Lizzie Glide a church honors her mission

How the church can help women

Women as role models for the next generation

UMC Nigeria: One voice counts

Mary Lib Lowery: Reflecting the love and light of Christ

Forget the 'to do' list; remember the 'to be' gift

A faithful witness

For our mothers before us

A Man Who Showed Courage and Commitment in Opening Leadership Doors for Women

Celebrating the women who went first

Broadening our perspectives of God and the world

Remembering a Saint: Miss Sue Swindell

Re-creating the human heart

Martha E. King, teacher and mentor

Nurtured in the faith

To Persist in Love

Being woman being human

Learning the Bible from Auntie Milda

The doorway that changed my life

Alice Finch Lee: Woman of Character, Courage, and Commitment

Why is women's ordination still optional in some churches?

Thoughts on double standards, women and the church

GCSRW and UMW - Uniquely Connected

We're still listening

The perils of pastoring while parenting

Latina UM clergywomen wove their stories at national assembly

Redefining family ministry to match the real world

Our faith can guide us toward dignity equality respect

Wendy Davis and the importance of community support

GCSRW adopts a new look

Follow Christ's example by supporting equal treatment and respect of all God's people

A Time to Listen, A Time to Speak

“I’m Not a Y’all; I’m a We”

Defend Equity and Full Participation of Women and People of Color

Intersection: Can We Come Out to Each Other?

Who is Being Compromised?

Being a Global Church is Hard Work

Whose Stories Are Told?

Who Will Ask The Questions?

‘I’m one of the good guys!’

Update from the General Secretary on Planned Parenthood

Update From the General Secretary 2010

The Transformational Need for Women

Update From the General Secretary 2008