GCSRW at General Conference

Since 1972, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women has been challenging the United Methodist Church for full and equal participation and responsibility at all levels.

Logo for the 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church with new 2021 date.

Ever forward on our journey

In 2022, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of the agency. We applaud the work to advance the role of women in the Church, including:

  • Increasing the percentage of active, female bishops from zero in 1972 to 33.3% across the connection in 2023; and
  • Expanding the percentage of women delegates to General Conference from zero clergywomen in 1972 to 36% in 2019; and
  • Narrowing the pay gap between female and male clergy in the United States to an 11% disparity

Download our legislative summary

View our daily Monitoring Reports to learn more about the data and statistics pertaining to gender equality at General Conference. 

View data

Review the 10 pieces of legislation that GCSRW submitted and that the General Conference delegates approved.

View legislation

Read the GCSRW Quadrennial Report submitted to the 2020 General Conference, which can be found in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate.

Read report

Watch a series of Emily Explains videos to learn more about General Conference and view our step-by-step guide to becoming a delegate.

Learn More


Our work at General Conference

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) is a working agency at General Conference. Some of GCSRW's responsibilities are to:

  1. Monitor legislative sessions and plenary
  2. Assist in delegate orientation and encourage healthy boundaries
  3. Guide the Church in the prevention and response to sexual misconduct

As the highest legislative body of The United Methodist Church, General Conference holds the power to revise The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions while also initiating amendments to the denominations constitution.  Service of Lament

Watch this Emily Explains video to learn more about General Conference.



The primary purpose of The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women shall be to challenge the UMC, including it’s general agencies, institutions, and connectional structures, to a continuing commitment to the full and equal responsibility and participation of women in the total life and mission of the Church, sharing fully in the power and the policy-making at all levels of the Church’s life. (¶2102, Book of Discipline 2016)

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