General Commission on the
Status and Role of Women

Challenging The UMC for the full and equal participation of women in the total life and mission of the Church.

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The Postponed 2020 General Conference voted to add the words "gender" and "ability" to The UMC Constituion. The vote must be ratified by all annual conferences.

The Postponed 2020 General Conference voted to add the words "gender" and "ability" to Paragraph 4, Article 4 of The United Methodist Church's Constitution. This historic vote now needs to be ratified by all the annual conferences across the worldwide connection.

Rev. Stephanie York Arnold has been elected general secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, effective March 1, 2025. Photo courtesy of Stephanie York Arnold.

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women elected the Rev. Stephanie York Arnold to the position of general secretary to replace Dawn Wiggins Hare who is set to retire Feb. 28, 2025.

GCSRW Board of Directors met at Wespath for its Organizing Meeting Oct. 9-11, 2024. Photo by Crystal Caviness

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women held its Organizing Meeting Oct. 9-11, 2024, to elect new directors and to set quadrennial goals.

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. We’re helping the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children - as full and equal parts of God’s human family. We believe that a fully engaged and empowered membership is vital to The United Methodist Church’s mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

We provide resources for how to respond to and prevent sexual misconduct in The United Methodist Church through education, policies and support.

Visit UMSexualEthics.org
Monitoring

We monitor annual conferences, jurisdictional conferences, and the General Conference for inclusiveness and report this information to the UMC.

Education

We educate on inclusiveness, expansive language and women's issues in support of both the Church and the world.

Leadership

We nurture clergy and lay leaders in the church, both women and men, to recognize every person – as full and equal parts of God’s human family.

Alabama West Florida AC COSROW members speak to congregation.

For more than 50 years, GCSRW and leaders across The UMC have labored to eradicate sexism in the church. Discover resources available for your Annual Conference's journey.

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A guide to identifying, understanding and responding to sexual misconduct.

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Wisdom Talks is our monthly e-newsletter designed to communicate information to facilitate the advancement of women at all levels of The United Methodist Church, presented by The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.

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General Commission on Status and Role of Women Equal Pay Resource

UMC Clergywomen are Still Significantly Undercompensated.

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General Commission on Status and Role of Women - Way of Integrity Project
The Way of Integrity 

A small group study encouraging living in right relationship with self and others.

Leaders Guide Participants Guide

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