Meeting urges more women leaders.Why are there not more women in leadership roles around the world, both within church structures and secular governments? That was one of the issues considered at the 50th United Nations Conference on the Status of Women, held in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Feb. 27 to March 10 and at about 125 accompanying events. Anglican presence was stronger than ever, thanks to an initiative by the Episcopal Church Episcopal Church, Anglican church of the United States. Its separate existence as an American ecclesiastical body with its own episcopate began in 1789. Doctrine and Organization of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. that brought at least two women from each of the 38 Anglican provinces to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . Canadian attendees included Canon Alice Medcof, Elizabeth Loweth, Annette Graydon, Margaret Rodrigues, Marilyn Ashby, Celia Ahlstrom-Soderling and Angela Clark." More than 100 Anglican women attended daily worship, UN briefings, plenary sessions and caucuses and a forum at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, "This is the only opportunity for Anglican women worldwide to gather and meet face to face," said Phoebe Griswold, co-founder of Anglican Women's Empowerment, part of the Episcopal Church's office of women's ministries. The Anglican Consultative Council The Anglican Consultative Council or ACC is one of the four "Instruments of Communion" of the Anglican Communion. It was created by a resolution of the 1968 Lambeth Conference. (the worldwide Anglican Communion's executive committee) held workshops On global education and leadership of women and linking faith and finances. Other discussions covered AIDS, violence against women, maternal health Maternal health care is a concept that encompasses preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care. Goals of preconception care can include providing health promotion, screening and interventions for women of reproductive age to reduce risk factors that might affect future pregnancies. , human trafficking, the role of religion for good or for oppression and the role of women in development. The UN commission issued two statements at the end of the two-week meeting. One of them noted that women's progress toward full participation in decision-making has been "slow and uneven" and that women continue to encounter challenges to their participation and leadership. The commission also supported the advancement of women in health, education and development and urged governments and society to include gender issues in planning and decision-making. Ms. Medcof, a priest in the diocese of Toronto, said she was interested in "overcoming Biblical and cultural obstacles to women's leadership." What churches can do now is "press for education of girls and press for curricula that ... give equal place to women and men and recognize women as leaders," said Ms. Medcof, noting that in many developing countries, village schools are run by churches. Ms. Griswold, in a speech at the St. John the Divine event, commended Ms. Medcof for keeping alive the International Anglican Women's Network through a period of restructuring. Founded in 1996 as an "official network" of the consultative council, the network was moribund moribund /mor·i·bund/ (mor´i-bund) in a dying state. mor·i·bund n. At the point of death; dying. mor for several years due to lack of funding, however, Ms. Griswold noted in her speech the a new elected steering committee steer·ing committee n. A committee that sets agendas and schedules of business, as for a legislative body or other assemblage. steering committee Noun has been formed for the network. The network is intended to "bring the voices of women" to the consultative council SOLANGE DE SANTOS STAFF WRITER |
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