Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/521232
May/June 2015 31 T h e year 2015 marks the third year that I've coordinated PW's participation in the UN Commission on the S tatus of Women. This role and serving on Ecumenical Women's planning team have enhanced my leadership skills and allowed me to view gender justice and women's empowerment through different lenses. Each year, many of the women experience CSW for the first time. This year, 27 women active in Presbyterian Women joined with 11 young women who attended through PC(USA)'s Office of Women's Leadership Development and Young Women's Ministries to form a denominational witness. These women, representing diverse backgrounds and faith journeys, came to listen and look for ways to partner and promote justice for women. Following an orientation by Mark Koenig, director of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, our delegates were ready for the main events and more than 150 parallel and side events that addressed the theme—a review of the Beijing Platform for Action. Presbyterian Women and the PC(USA) helped sponsor the parallel event "Sacred and Safe: Building Capacity of Faith Communities to Address Gender- based Violence." Diane Smalley, a former co-moderator of Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence who previously attended CSW with a scholarship from PW, planned the event. This event explored the role of faith communities in preventing and eliminating gender-based violence. Experts on the panel shared best practices in effectively engaging seminary students and religious leaders in addressing violence against women. During intermittent "Empty Chair Moments," attendees heard monologue portrayals of women who were incarcerated for domestic violence when they were trying to protect themselves from domestic violence. Two additional CSW events that were meaningful to me were a march/rally and an intergenerational dialogue of young and older women who have been instrumental in the movement for gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The march began at the United Nations Headquarters ending in downtown Manhattan. The rally included speakers from the United Nations and local dignitaries, such as the mayor of New York City. All speakers spoke about gender equality and women's empowerment, stressing that everyone, not just women, must engage the issue. The intergenerational dialogue focused on how women of all ages must work together to meet goals for justice. Sheila Louder is vice moderator justice and peace concerns for Presbyterian Women. An Intergenerational Experience B Y SHEILA LOUDER Top: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) delegates stepping it up on the streets of New York City for the International Women's Day march. Right: Sheila Louder presents during the orientation for PC(USA) delegates to CSW. Photos courtesy of Mark Koenig