Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns

A General Assembly mandated committee advocating on behalf of women within the church and throughout the world

The Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC) is called to its work in a world where women experience injustice and oppression because of their gender.  As Presbyterians, we claim a communal faith in “God [who] liberated the people of Israel from oppression … [and] covenanted with Israel … that they might do justice” (Book of Order, G-3.010b.).  The church is motivated by the painful recognition of sexism, and has explicitly articulated in the Articles of Agreement (Section 5.6) its commitment to work against gender-based discrimination. The Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s contemporary fulfillment of this historic commitment. Learn more about ACWC.

The United Nations launches special Web site for the 30th anniversary Of CEDAW

December 18, 2009, marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  A working group of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality  has come together to plan a number of activities in 2009 to celebrate this important anniversary, including a special anniversary Web site which they invite you to visit.

Response to the tragic death of Dr. George Tiller

The members of the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns wish to express their deep sadness over the recent murder of Dr. George Tiller. As a provider committed to offering safe reproductive health care services to women, including tremendously difficult yet sometimes necessary late-term pregnancy terminations, Dr. Tiller provided care essential to the health and well-being of countless women. Keep reading.

Since the 218th General Assembly

ACWC brings items of business to the General Assembly that attend to gender justice and highlight the significance of issues facing women within the church and throughout the world.  Members of the committee attend the Assembly to support its work and to serve as resource persons for business before the General Assembly (GA).  

• Study immigration detention in the United States ;
• Expand the Church’s Ministry with Advocacy Against Human Trafficking ; and
• Explore the Study of the Status of Women at All Levels in the PC(USA)

Highlights of ACWC July 2009 Meeting

ACWC held its summer meeting, July 16-18, 2009, in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) national offices. Read more.

Get involved — read with us

The Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns invites you to, “… add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge” ( 2 Peter 1:5).  Effective advocacy requires an accurate awareness of the facts involved and a firm grasp of the complex dynamics of an issue.  ACWC encourages us all to increase our understanding of women’s concerns and then work to have our faithful voices heard. You can begin with reading a book.

We're reading Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World For Crucifixion and Empire, by Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker. Read a review by the Rev. Terry Alexander.