The 60th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meeting in New York City March 14 to March 24 will gather women from The Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion.

The 2016 UNCSW Priority Theme is, “Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development” and the Review Theme is, “The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.”

The provincial delegate and the Church delegates will be able to attend the UNCSW official meetings as observers on the floor of the United Nations and will represent The Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion in their advocacy, including joint advocacy with the coalition Ecumenical Women. They will be able to report on United Nations meetings during debriefs, speak about official Episcopal Church and Ecumenical Women priorities with United Nations entities and permanent mission representatives, attend parallel events, and reflect during UNCSW on how they can share the knowledge when they return to their communities and train new women leaders.

Information is available here 

Of note for the event:

• The Episcopal Church will host an opening Eucharist on Monday, March 14 in the Chapel of Christ the Lord in the Episcopal Church Center, as well as a closing Eucharist on March 24 during which the Rev. Margaret Rose will celebrate and the Rev. Deacon Carey Chirico will serve as deacon. Both services will begin at 12:10 pm Eastern and will incorporate the stories, songs and experiences of the delegates.
   
• On March 17, 3 pm – 4 pm, The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, will welcome participants during a “Meet and Greet” in the Chapel of Christ the Lord.
   
• On March 17, 5 pm – 6 pm, a special UNCSW Eucharist for participants, Episcopal Church Center staff and the public will feature Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as the preacher and the Most Rev. Dr. Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, as the celebrant.
   
• Regular midday Eucharist worship will continue Monday-Friday in the Chapel of Christ the Lord at 12:10 pm.

Additionally, many groups are hosting parallel events and contributing to hospitality at the Episcopal Church Center.

• On March 15, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Episcopal Relief & Development will sponsor a parallel event entitled “Engaging Faith Communities in the Fight to End Violence Against Women and Girls” in the Chapel. They will also host a parallel event at the Church Center for the United Nations.

• On March 15, 1 pm – 2:30 pm, Anglican Women’s Empowerment will host a Lunch & Learn event featuring Elizabeth Boe, Global Networking Officer of The Episcopal Church. They will also host a parallel event at the Church Center for the United Nations.

• On March 16, the Anglican Communion will host two events in the Chapel of Christ the Lord: 10 am – 11:30 am, Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Anglican Communion speaker, and 2 pm – 3:30 pm, the Most Rev. Dr. Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion also will host a parallel event at the Church Center for the United Nations.  

• St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, VA will bring a group of young adults and their parents to UNCSW. St. George’s will write and lead the Prayers of the People for the UNCSW Opening Eucharist on March 14.

In addition to these events at the Episcopal Church Center, Episcopalians will be organizing many other UNCSW parallel events and worship opportunities through the Episcopal Diocese of New York, including the Church of the Epiphany, Church of the Incarnation, the Global Women’s Fund and Holy Trinity Manhattan. More information can be found on The Episcopal Church calendar here 

The Episcopal Church Center, located one block from the United Nations, will provide hospitality space for participants and will host advocacy debriefs by Ecumenical Women, an international coalition of faith-based organizations accredited to the United Nations. Both The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion are members of Ecumenical Women.

Anglican and Episcopal delegates will also participate in Ecumenical Women’s advocacy, including training, ecumenical worship, visiting permanent missions at the United Nations, and continuing advocacy upon return to their local communities.

Episcopal delegates

Nineteen Episcopal delegates and one Episcopal provincial representative to the Anglican Communion delegation will attend the official UNCSW proceedings at the United Nations and represent The Episcopal Church’s positions.

The UNCSW delegation is: Jennifer M. Allen, Diocese of Kansas; Victoria Rose Bell, Diocese of Michigan; Kristina (Nina) Boe, Diocese of Olympia; the Rev. Adrian Dannhauser, Diocese of New York; Judith Lane Gregory, Diocese of Delaware; the Rev. Deborah M. Jackson, Diocese of Florida; Cynthia Katsarelis, Diocese of Colorado; Zoraida Maldonado, Diocese of Puerto Rico; Erin Morey, Diocese of Pittsburgh; Gillian Payne, Diocese of Fond du Lac; Lucy Rinzler-Day, Diocese of New York; the Rev. Connie Sanchez, Diocese of Honduras; Sarah Watkins, Diocese of Texas; the Rev. Valerie Webster, Diocese of Montana, Diane M. Wright, Diocese of Virginia.

The Episcopal Church staff named to the delegation are: Jayce Hafner, Domestic Policy Analyst; Lynnaia Main, Global Relations Officer; Kayla Massey, Young Adult Service Corps intern; and the Rev. Glenda McQueen, Latin American and Caribbean Officer.

Julia Ayala Harris of the Diocese of Oklahoma, and a member of the Episcopal Church Executive Council, will serve as the provincial delegate to represent The Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion delegation.

For more information about UNCSW, contact Lynnaia Main.