THE PB'S CONSULTATION ON WOMEN'S MINISTRIES

       Some fifty women representing the various women's ministries met with the Presiding Bishop, January 16-17, 2001, at the Church Center in New York City. The purpose of the meeting was ... "to begin to identify how the national mission programs and structures can effectively encourage, coordinate, and resource mission and ministry by and for women and to gather information and ideas about how structures and ministries might be more creatively and effectively linked so that the capacities of each increase to promote the full empowerment of women. "

       Prior to the meeting, the participants completed a questionnaire, responses of which were used to provide a commonality of experience and perspective from the diverse group of participants. The common themes emerging from these responses and dialogue/conversations during the two days were on context, diversity, and structure.

        While this consultation was not to end up with a decision or decisions, recommendations on a "national" structure were made. They are as follows:

1. provide resources and referrals;
2. intend visibility and awareness among women and about women (data base, magazine, web presence, legislation, linked efforts, etc.)
3. facilitate the internal and external lives of women;
4. facilitate the individual and collective efforts and ministries of women;
5. operate as a clearing house for information and actions
6. create linkages between women's ministry efforts and other structures in the Episcopal Church, the ecumenical environment, and the global arena.

       Harriet Kollin, Kyoko Kageyama and Vivian Lam represented the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Women's Convocation.

Information from the Presentation Notes on … by Miller & Associates.