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Episcopal Church announces delegates, invites churchwide participation in 67th UN Commission on the Status of Women

February 22, 2023
Office of Public Affairs

Returning in person for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020, The Episcopal Church and Anglican partners will advocate for global issues that impact women and girls in all their diversity at the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York City, March 6-17.

A presiding bishop’s delegation of nine women will represent the church in person and virtually at the conference. All Episcopalians and Anglicans are invited to register online for events that include the following:

  • Mon., Feb. 27, 4-5:30 p.m. ET (virtual): “Welcome to CSW67: Meet the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation,” a meet-and-greet, Q&A session
  • Mon., March 6, 12:10-1 p.m. ET (hybrid): “UNCSW67 Opening Eucharist” for all participants, hosted by the presiding bishop’s delegation
  • Fri., March 17, 12:10-1 p.m. ET (hybrid): “UNCSW67 Closing Eucharist”
  • Thurs., March 23, 4-5:30 p.m. ET (virtual): “Taking It Back Home: Report Back from the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation,” Q&A session

Members of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s delegation—selected through an application process earlier this year—are as follows:   

  • Delores Alleyne, Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Province I
  • Mary Ellen Arthurs, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Province III
  • The Rev. Lilo Carr Rivera, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Province II
  • Ailysh Cooper, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Province V
  • The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Province I
  • The Rev. Luz Maria Lambis Garces, Episcopal Diocese of Colombia, Province IX
  • Ellen Lindeen, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Province V
  • Yvonne Lodico, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, Province I
  • Ruth McLain, Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee, Province IV

This year’s conference theme—”innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”—is timely, considering how the world has evolved since the pandemic began, noted Lynnaia Main, The Episcopal Church’s representative to the United Nations.

“Innovation and technologies have expanded opportunities for all, including women and girls in all their diversity, and access has become even more essential,” she said. “It is exciting both to return to an in-person delegation for the first time since March 2020, and also to seize these new opportunities to expand the reach of Episcopal representation through virtual participation as well.”

The presiding bishop’s delegation includes women who have lived through waves of technological advances—including the introduction of computers, smartphones, the internet, and social media—as well as digital natives, Main said. The delegates are school-age and university-level educators, lawyers, a former president of the Girls’ Friendly Society, a former UN staffer who runs her own nongovernmental organization, clergy with social work and pastoral experience, and an enrolled Cherokee nation member.

Presiding bishop’s staff members and other leaders—from The Episcopal Church offices of Global Partnerships and Government Relations, as well as Episcopal Relief & Development—will guide, accompany, and support the delegation. The leadership team also includes former UNCSW presiding bishop’s delegates.

Along with opportunities to write and share about their experiences, Episcopal delegates will observe official UNCSW meetings in person and online and advocate for the priorities outlined in Curry’s statement to the UNCSW, submitted in October as part of the formal consultative process for nongovernmental organizations. 

His letter outlines three priorities:

  • Extend accessibility to all and prioritize marginalized women and girls.
  • Ensure human rights protections, safety, and security.
  • Accelerate gender equality education for all.

“Our Christian values explain The Episcopal Church’s affirmation of United Nations international conventions, agreements, and declarations calling for just and equal treatment of women and girls in all their diversity,” the letter states. “Episcopalians support women and girls through their mission, programs, legislation, policies, and advocacy by individuals, congregations, dioceses, schools, seminaries, agencies, and networks.”

Each delegate has participated in preparatory conference calls and is expected to complete evaluations, reports and follow-up actions in their diocese and province.

As the conference gets underway, all are invited to follow The Episcopal Church delegation’s presence and work via the Episcopal UNCSW website and on social media, utilizing the hashtags #CSW67, #EpiscopalUN, and #EpiscopalCSW.

This includes a special invitation to join the presiding bishop’s delegation and wider interfaith community in daily praying the Beijing Noonday Prayer. Co-written by Episcopalians and other faith partners, this tradition began during the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995.

Contact
Amanda Skofstad

Public Affairs Officer

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