Status and Role of Women Coordinator

Result Expected

An effective coordinator focuses the congregation’s attention on a commitment to full participation of women in leadership and responsibility for the life of the congregation. The coordinator will plan and implement learning experiences for people of all ages so that the community will grow in their understanding of women’s roles in the world, in The United Methodist Church, and in Scripture.

Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Job

• This ministry coordinator benefits from having one or more of these spiritual gifts: prophecy (truth telling), teaching, exhortation (encouragement), leadership, wisdom, and knowledge.
• This leader should show evidence of passion for learning and helping others learn about the gifts and contributions of women.
• Useful skills for this position are the ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages and an interest in equality of women in the congregation, the community, the denomination, and the world.
• This leader should have skills for researching issues related to women’s lives and developing programs and events.

Responsibilities of the Position

• This leader will keep the church leadership team aware of of the church’s continuing commitment to full, equal responsibility and participation of women in the total life and mission of the congregation. All people in the congregation will have opportunities to exercise and develop their knowledge, spiritual gifts, and experiences so that the church is stronger and more effective in its mission.
• This leader will keep before the congregation issues related to gender discrimination in the community, the congregation, and the denomination.
• The coordinator will make recommendations and suggestions to the church leadership team concerning elimination of sexism and sexist attitudes in the congregation.
• The coordinator will collaborate with organizations, people, and resources in and beyond the congregation that are concerned with women’s issues. This will include, but is not limited to, publications and the website of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.
• This leader will make efforts to ensure that women of all ages and ethnicities have opportunities to consider their vocation as Christians, including ordination, and how they may fully express their Christian discipleship in their careers, occupations, and daily living.
• In conjunction with United Methodist Women, the coordinator will lead the congregation in celebrations of worship and fellowship to highlight women’s ministry.

Getting Started

1. Learn about the lives of women in your congregation and ways your ministries can address women’s issues. Learn about neighborhood groups, events, and programs that will enhance the congregational plan of advocacy for women’s advancement. Seek to identify gaps in women’s leadership where your congregation can lead the way in making a positive difference in your community.
2. Talk with your pastor and others in the congregation to understand their hopes and dreams for the congregation toward fulfilling the mission of the church and for your leadership role with the status and role of women.
3. Soon after you are elected, convene a meeting of interested people to evaluate, share hopes, and concerns, and plan for your work. Share the ministry with others by delegating projects to people in the church or community who have passion for a particular women’s issue.
4. Help the congregation understand that a vital Christian faith means full inclusion of all God’s people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or age.

People and Agencies That Can Help

• Your pastor, people in your congregation, and people in other congregations who share your interest in advocacy for women.
• Your annual conference COSROW (Commission on the Status and Role of Women) chair. Obtain this individual’s contact information by calling your annual conference office.
• The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) can provide resources. Reach this agency at 312-346-4900 or [email protected].
• InfoServ, the information service for the church, provides current information about United Methodist resources, programs, and staff services. Email: [email protected]; Website: infoserv.umc.org.

Web and Print Resources

• The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016 (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016)
• Calling God She? Reflections and Insights of a Great-Grandmother, Retired Clergywoman, and Doctor of Theology by Rev. Barbara Thorington Green (CreateSpace, 2014; available from amazon.com)
• The Christ Centered Woman: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes by Kimberly Dunnam Reisman (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013)
• Church Women: Probing History with Girls (Voices) by Laurie Delgatto (Saint Mary's Press, 2002)
• The Commission Monthly, a monthly publication from GCSRW that provides resources and updates regarding women’s issues within and beyond the church. Subscribe at www.gcsrw.org.
• Connections, a monthly newsletter from GCSRW that provides expansive language liturgy and promotes activities for annual conference COSROWs. (Subscribe at www.gcsrw.org.)
• God of the Bible, free downloadable five-week study available from www.gcsrw.org
• Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2017-2020: Advocates for Inclusiveness (Cokesbury, 2016)
• In the Sanctuary of Women: A Companion for Reflection and Prayer by Jan L. Richardson (Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2010)
• Interpreter, www.interpretermagazine.org
• Mother Roots: The Female Ancestors of Jesus by Helen Bruch Pearson (Wipf & Stock, 2015; available from www.cokesbury.com)
• Uppity Women of the Bible – Four volume DVD-based series featuring Hebrew Bible professor Dr. Lisa Wolfe (available from www.livingthequestions.com)
• Women Called to Ministry, a six-session study that explores our understanding of women's roles in The United Methodist Church (free from www.gcsrw.org)
• Words That Hurt Words That Heal by Carol Mayhall