and students will broaden and
deepen in coming months. As new
supporters join and new alliances
form, the vision for the coalition will
unfold.
What Will You Do?
In November 2014, the Feminist
Liberation Theologians' Network
annual meeting was held in conjunc-
tion with the American Academy of
Religion/Society of Biblical Litera-
ture. On a panel that explored teach-
ing and activism's role in ending
gender-based violence, panelist Eliza-
beth J. A. Siwo-Okundi, a Ph.D.
candidate in practical theology and
homiletics, offered a call to action.
She asserted that where bold
preaching is needed, timidity and
fear often prevail. "The same fear
that prevents us from preaching
about violence against women and
girls is the same fear that allows and
strengthens a perpetrator's boldness
while threatening to imprison our
own boldness," she said.
Boldness in the pulpit is empower-
ing for women and faith communi-
ties. But each of us—installed in a
pulpit or not—can act boldly to
ensure equality and justice for
women and girls. Each of us can
make real the life-changing vision of
CSW, CEDAW and the Beijing
Platform for women's rights.
Mary Sue Barnett is a Catholic woman
priest, the former director of the
Women's Center at Louisville Seminary
and founder of the Louisville Coalition
for CEDAW.
Notes
1. "Short History on the Commission on the
Status of Women," www.un.org/womenwatch
/daw/CSW60YRS/CSWbriefhistory.pdf, 5.
2. "Historic overview on the World Conferences
on Women," www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?page
=article_s&id;_article=1725.
3. "Fourth World Conference on Women,"
www.un.org/geninfo/bp/women.html.
4. "To Empower Women: The Fourth World
Conference on Women Beijing, China 1995,"
Margot W. Smith 2010; www.offcentervideo.com.
5. Ibid.
May/June 2015
29
Read the full text of the Beijing Platform for Action at www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform.
2000 Market Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-3298 | Tel: 800 -773-7752 (800 -PRESPL AN) | Fax: 215-587- 6215 | pensions.org
©2015 The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
"So now faith,
hope, and love
abide, these three;
but the greatest of
these is love."
— 1 Corinthians 13:13
When PC(USA) church workers face financial burdens
they cannot carry alone, the Assistance Program of the
Board of Pensions is there for them, providing help —
and hope — made possible by your gifts. Many of the
recipients of the more than 1,200 grants given each
year say they experience this assistance as a tangible
expression of God's love.
Your support makes a real diference in the lives of our
church workers and their families in need. So please, visit
pensions.org/giveassistance and make your gift today.
To learn more, watch the videos at pensions.org/aisha,
pensions.org/bill, and pensions.org/cindy, or call the Board of
Pensions at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
THE GREATEST GIFT
Boldness in the pulpit is empowering for women and faith communities.
But each of us—installed in a pulpit or not—can act boldly to ensure
equality and justice for women and girls.