Swords into plowshares
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Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
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Posts with tag: presbyterian women
April 1, 2013From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Women of faith are reinterpreting the traditional understandings of sacred texts of Christianity to challenge violence condoned and promoted within the church. What can we learn from such efforts about confronting all forms of institutional violence?
On 6 March 2013, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Young Women’s Leadership Development of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Women Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Interfaith Worker Justice co-hosted a parallel event at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The event explored Ecumenical Women’s talking point ...
March 31, 2013
Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow shares her work confronting economic violence against women through the organization Interfaith Worker Justice at the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Mary Ann Pedde - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Mary Ann Pedde shares her work confronting the institution of the legal system vis a vis violence against women at the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Ann Rhee Menzie - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
The Rev. Ann Rhee Menzie shares the story of her work confronting institutional violence against women in the church at the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Ola Leasi - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Ola Leasi, Presbyterian Women Aotearoa/New Zealand, presents her story of how culture can be violent towards women the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Exegesis - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
The Rev. Carmen Torres, Presbyterian Women, and Alex Zareth, Young Women’s Leadership Development Field Staff for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) present an exegesis of the Biblical story of John 8:1-11 at the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Scripture reading - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
The Rev. Laetitia Wells, Presbyterian Women, reads John 8:1-11 at the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
March 31, 2013
Opening - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Sheila Louder, Vice Moderator for Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), welcomes attendees to the parallel event From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Pamela Tankersly and Ola Leasi, from Presbyterian Women Aotearoa/New Zealand bring greetings and a song.
March 31, 2013
Commitments - From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence
Participants in From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence, the parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women, discussed what they had heard in small groups and then shared their commitments on how they would follow up at home. Commitments included:
- Break the code of silence. If you know of sexual going ons, report it to the police. Be active. Call or write congress to give your opinion either for or against what they have voted for. Call radio stations to protest hate speech.
- The faith based communities and churches need to talk about ...
March 3, 2013
Making plans
Who is here?
What is our task?
What will we do to achieve that task?
What else will happen?
Around a Christ candle, in the Fellowship Hall of New York's Church of the Covenant, Presbyterian participants in the 57th Commission on the Status of Women gathered on Friday, March 1 to explore these and related questions.
Who is here?
A significant portion of the afternoon and evening was spent meeting one another and building the community. A generationally and ethnically diverse group, the Presbyterian participants come from across the country. Most are members and leaders of Presbyterian Women on ...
October 23, 2012
Presbyterian Women celebrate UN Day in the Presbytery of Monmouth
O God, who formed creation and made each living thing,
We’ve seen the devastation that war and conflict bring.
We long to stop the violence and end the scourge of war;
We yearn for peace and justice, now and forevermore.
- O God Who Formed Creation by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
On Saturday, October 20, the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Monmouth held their gathering at the First Presbyterian Church of Belmar.
This particular gathering included a celebration, early, of the birth of the United Nations - United Nations Day.
Participants heard a report on the 2012 Churchwide Gathering and had ...
March 28, 2012
10 Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma, 2012
In 2012, Presbyterian Women will join their voices with others around the world who are concerned with justice for the Roma, who are marginalized throughout Europe.
Presbyterian Women and Presbyterian World Mission have created a 10-day prayer and study guide to lead up to International Day of the Roma, celebrated on April 8. Beginning March 29, you are invited to use the booklet to learn about the issues affecting Roma in Europe and offer prayers for change. Each day is dated for your convenience, but the booklet is timeless, so use it at any time of the year to learn ...
March 6, 2012
From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
A Parallel Event at the 56th Commission on the Status of Women
During this parallel event women from rural contexts shared their stories connecting experience to issues, Global North to Global South, and the Bible to advocacy, with small group opportunities to learn more and determine actions we can take during the Commission on the Status of Women and at home to address poverty and hunger and work for just development. The event was organized by Presbyterian Women, Young Women’s Leadership Development, Women’s Leadership Development, and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in the PC(USA), and ...
March 6, 2012
Action plans from the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
During the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas, held at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, participants were invited to share action plans that they plan to implement:
- look at laws that limit movement of women
- raise voices beyond the CSW; go beyond our comfort zone
- increase political representation of women
- continue to tell our stories
- develop mentoring programs
- provide leadership training
- tell our stories
- set up a mentoring program for women and girls – professional women and women who work yet remain in poverty
- create awareness campaigns on women ...
March 6, 2012
Key insights from the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
During the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas, held at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, participants were invited to gather and discuss and share key insights they gleaned:
- share, connect, net and work about resources
- go beyond the group gathered for the CSW
- share stories – beyond the CSW
- agenda for justice needs to be for people who have been victimized
- women still devalued and being denied their true worth
- perseverance
- be OK with being uncomfortable
- communication is the key
- we need to get connected and engage in conversation ...
February 27, 2012
Demands
Reconciliation demands justice.
Justice demands repentance.
Repentance demands restitution.
Restitution demands mercy.
From the reflection by Irma Rodriguez-Leon during the Ecumenical Women worship service led this morning by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran World Federation.
February 27, 2012
Closing song from Monday morning worship
Ecumenical Women's worship this morning was led by the Lutheran World Federation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Here's a clip from the closing song.
February 26, 2012
Welcome to the Commission on the Status of Women
H.E. Marjon Kamara, Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations and Chair of the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women welcomes everyone to this year's session.
Note that the volume appears to be low.
February 26, 2012
Giving thanks for the community of advocates
February 25, 2012
"I'm a Delegate"
Rhonda Everdyke, communicator for the Presbytery of Geneva, is blogging her experiences at the Commission on the Status of Women at I'm a Delegate. Today she reflects on the Ecumenical Women's Orientation:
It is hard to just put into words our experiences from today! So many women (even some brave men too) coming together to talk about common issues for women all over the world (including the United States) and what the struggles are within rural settings. Things need to change and women are the powerful voices to make it happen.
Tomorrow, some Presbyterian participants will worship with ...
February 25, 2012
Tweetable quotes - 25 February 2012
We are tweeting events around the Committee on the Status of Women as @PresbyUN. Here are a few highlights from the Ecumenical Women Orientation:
It’s some times easier to stay at home than to enter the struggle. Easier, but not better.
- Ana Chã, Brazil
You know what, I am that statistic. When we talk about statistics, we are talking about people.
- Michelle Deshong, Australia
I wish I could find that teacher who told me I would never amount to anything and tell him where I am speaking.
- Michelle Deshong, Australia
If women around the world were paid for the ...
February 25, 2012
CSW encounters
Building community across nations - meeting sisters, and brothers, - happens regularly at the Commission on the Status of Women.
Peng Leong, volunteer with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, reflects on an encounter - the beginning of a relationship with Naw Lee Myar - that took place today during the Ecumenical Women Orientation:
I met a delegate from Myanmar . . . she was sponsored by the Asian Rural Institute and the United Methodist church. She could not believe that God provided this opportunity since she had no means at all. She is so appreciative. . . . I am grateful to have met this wonderful sister who ...
February 24, 2012
It begins
The largest Presbyerian delegation to attend a meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women gathered at the Church of the Covenant for an orientation today. Thanks to our partners!
Our time together began with prayer for the delegation, the participants in the Commission, and our sisters and brothers around the world. The prayer included a special mention for Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010).
Particpants then introduced themselves. Representatives of Presbyerian Women spoke about their role in engaging the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with the Commission. Staff for Women's Leadership Development and Young ...
February 24, 2012
Ready!
With excitiment and anticipation, I have read the posts on Facebook from Presbyterian participants in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) noting their travel. If I followed other pages, I would probably know about the travel plans participants with other organizations.
Some individuals have already arrived in New York City.
Some individuals have already experienced travel challenges.
Some individuals will arrive today; other individuals between now and Monday.
For the Presbyterians, our CSW experience begins this afternoon at 4:00 pm with an orientation. A BIG SHOUT OUT by the way to our partners at the Church of ...
February 23, 2012
Why we attend the Commission on the Status of Women
The 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (“CSW” or “the Commission”) begins on Monday, February 27. Presbyterian participants will gather for an orientation tomorrow - February 24.
The CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Comprised of representatives of 45 UN Member States, the Commission gathers every year at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality ...
February 22, 2012
The 2012 Commission on the Status of Women
The 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women begins on Monday, February 27.
Presbyterian and other participants will arrive in New York over the next few days. The Presbyterian Orientation will take place on Friday, February 24. We will join our partners at the Ecumenical Women's Orientation on Saturday, February 25.
There are a number of places to follow the events - including this blog. Watch the plenary sessions of the Commission on UN Webcast.
Other sources of information include:
- The Ecumenical Women Web page
- Presbyterian United Nations Ministry Facebook page
- Presbyerian Women Facebook page
- Ecumenical Women ...
December 10, 2011
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Year in Review ~ 2011
In 2011, your gifts to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations helped Presbyterians advocate for peace and justice in the name of Jesus Christ, based on policies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assemblies, to the United Nations.
The ministry participated in working groups on the following issues:
- Food and Hunger
- The Security Council
- Israel-Palestine (serving as co-moderator)
- International Religious Freedom
- Faith and Ethics Network for the International Criminal Court
- Ecumenical Women (serving as co-chair of advocacy)
- Human Trafficking
Public presentations were arranged for PC(USA) partners from:
- Sudan
- Colombia
- Madagascar
- South Sudan
Introductions to UN programs ...
October 17, 2011
Presbyterian Women say "No Child Soldiers"
They brought Red Hands.
They made Red Hands.
They made plans to create Red Hands in their congregations.
The Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of New York City gathered for their Fall Gathering on October 15 at the First Presbyterian Church in Williamsbridge.
Their varied program featured a presentation by the Rev. Kellie Anderson-Picallo on the diverse gifts God gives to us; the Rev. Lynn West on working for a world in which hunger is no more; and the Rev. Rev. Nadine Hundertmark preaching on claiming our voice and serving Jesus. I also had the chance to talk about the ...
September 26, 2011
The Witness of the Church in Madagascar
Forgiveness means liberation.
Forgiveness means restitution and repairing.
Forgiveness means reconciliation.
The Rev. Hubert Rakotoarivony, International Peacemaker from Madagascar, reflected on the importance of forgiveness as he spoke to a group of 18 people from 9 congregations.
Hubert, along with Dan Turk, PC(USA) mission co-worker in Madagascar, addressed the witness of the church in Madagascar.
Hubert spoke of the work toward peacemaking and reconciliation of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM). This begins with an awareness that peace is not just the absence of war or conflict. Peace is active. Peace involves social justice, equity, dignity, non-discrimination ...
September 16, 2011
Learn about Madagascar in New York
In the New York City area? Consider learning about the church at work in Madagascar.
Madagascar: The Witness of the Church
A Brown Bag Lunch
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
September 26, 2011
Presbytery of New York City
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1600
The Rev. Hubert Rakotoarivony and Dan Turk will speak to the current situation in Madagascar and efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) to respond. An island of incredible beauty, Madagascar currently experiences growing poverty, environmental exploitation, and an increase in sex trafficking during a time of political crisis. In this setting, the ...
June 27, 2011
Support Women's Rights - Ratify CEDAW
John’s Gospel records the story of Jesus and a woman engaged in a long conversation at a well. Jesus recognized and honored her humanity as he did the humanity of all the women he encountered. Jesus consistently affirmed the dignity and worth of each person. Here is one way you can follow his example:
Participate in the campaign to call the United States Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Presbyterian Women encourages Presbyterians to take part in this campaign, organized by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights ...
May 27, 2011
Justice and Peace Links—Words Matter
Check out the current issue of Links: Words can hurt, words can heal, and words shape our realities, coloring the ways we experience the world. They are the tools we use to interpret our experiences, to relate to one another,...
April 18, 2011
Blessed are the peacemakers
How does the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations equip and inspire Presbyterians to make peace following Jesus? The Presbyterian Women of Monmouth Presbytery explored that question when then met on April 16 at the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury for...
March 29, 2011
Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma starts March 30
Presbyterian Women have a new resource available to help us pray for and learn about the Roma people. This prayer resource is designed for use beginning on March 30. Here is a description from the introduction: The International Day of...
March 18, 2011
What are your concerns for Sudan?
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 17, 2011
How you can support RECONCILE
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 16, 2011
What are your hopes for Sudan
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 16, 2011
The story of Joseph
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 15, 2011
How does your faith guide your work?
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 14, 2011
The role of art in trauma healing
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 12, 2011
Advocacy resources on Libya and Côte d'Ivoire
Reports from Libya and Côte d'Ivoire tell of violence and displacement. Ecumenical Women at the United Nations — an international coalition of church denominations and ecumenical organizations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — has developed tools to encourage women and...
March 10, 2011
How does RECONCILE Work
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 10, 2011
What is RECONCILE?
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 1, 2011
A world where all live, all thrive
Carolyn Groseclose Sprinkle, a member of Presbyterian Women from Sparta, North Carolina, reflects on her experience at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She considers God's vision of a world where all live and all...
March 1, 2011
Going home to make a difference
Pam Snyder, a member of Presbyterian Women from Staunton, Virginia, reflects on her experience at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She considers what she has learned and what she will do when she returns...
February 28, 2011
Now brothers and sisters
"They are now brothers and sisters, and now death amongst us shall stop." That's the promise made by Nuer women and Murle women in South Sudan who worked with RECONCILE International - a promise all the more amazing because of...
February 25, 2011
Ratify CEDAW
On behalf of Presbyterian participants in the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Louise Davidson of Presbyterian Women invites the ecumenical community to join in an advocacy effort to secure Senate ratification of the Convention to...
February 25, 2011
Worship at Ecumenical Women CSW - 2/24/11
Each day at the Commission on the Status of Women begins with worship for Ecumenical Women. Different denominations take turns leading the service. Today was the turn of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Here's the Prayer of Confession and Assurance of...
February 23, 2011
Intergenerational Empowerment and the Work of the Church at the 55th Commission of the Status of Women
by Honna Eichler I am currently sitting in the PC(USA) office in the UN Church Center, peering out the window at the busy UN complex below. The streets below are vibrantly full and include many from an international community dedicated...
February 21, 2011
We gathered
From churches and countries around the world, we gathered at the Church Center for the United Nations. Followers of Jesus Christ, seekers of justice, supporters of human rights for women, men, and all people, we gathered. To dance, to worship,...
February 14, 2011
Upcoming: side event at the CSW
Presbyterian Women are bringing Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE in Sudan to the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) in February. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations will host the Presbyterian presence at the CSW. RECONCILE's mission is to...
February 9, 2011
Coming in February ... the Commission on the Status of Women
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is preparing to welcome Presbyterian participants for the Commission on the Status of Women from February 22 through March 4. Presbyterian Women is a key partner in this event. The Commission on the...
January 10, 2011
PC(USA)-backed domestic violence special begins airing Jan. 9 on ABC
PC(USA)-backed domestic violence special begins airing Jan. 9 on ABC From an article by the Presbyterian News Service: On Sunday, Jan. 9, an interfaith documentary that explores faith groups’ efforts to support the victims of domestic violence begins airing on...
July 11, 2010
Part of the problem, part of the solution
Conversations on a number of topics opened the day on Saturday, July 3 at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Among the conversations was “Equipping the Church for Ministry with God’s Diverse Family” led by the Rev....
May 13, 2010
Not just on Mother's Day
Ann Ferguson of Presbyterian Women commented on a recent post with the good word that it is always the right time to give mothers and all women of the world the gift of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of...
March 12, 2009
Advocates for women the world over
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) has been meeting in New York from March 2. The meeting ends on March 13. And Presbyterians are there. Again. For the fourth year, Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church...
February 29, 2008
South Africa: Rainbow School
It started in a building built of shipping containers. Today, the children of the Rainbow School after-school study programme fill the rooms of JL Zwane Presbyterian Church and Centre. They gather around teachers for two hours of tutoring. Children come...