CWU, NCC announce annual young women
leadership experiences March 1-6 at U.N.

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New York, November 5, 2012 --Church Women United, Inc. (CWU) and The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) are offering Young Women’s Leadership Experiences to provide opportunities for women between the ages of 18 and 30, who are active in a NCC member communion or Church Women United unit, to engage in global women’s issues through the ecumenical movement.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) event will be a five day experience March 1-6, 2013 providing orientation to the CWU, NCC, Ecumenical Women at the UN, the UN-CSW, and this year’s theme – Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. As visitors to the CSW, participants will get a small taste of this annual UN event and will be involved in side events at the Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN).

Church Women United, Inc. (CWU)

Church Women United (CWU) is a national volunteer Christian ecumenical women’s movement initiated and carried out by women in the United States and Puerto Rico. Since 1941, CWU has been a movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace with justice in the world. CWU engages millions of women representing twenty-six supporting denominations and participating Christian women. For more information go to website http://www.churchwomen.org/.

National Council of Churches (NCC)

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC's member faith groups — from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American, and Peace churches — include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 congregations in communities across the nation. For a full list of member communions and to learn more about the NCC go to www.ncccusa.org.

This Young Women’s Leadership Experience at the CSW will be sponsored by the Justice for Women Working Group of the NCC and coordinated by the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, Director of the NCC Program for Women’s Ministries.

Ecumenical Women at the UN (EW)

Ecumenical Women is a coalition of denominations and ecumenical organizations at the United Nations who focus on the global intersection of religion and human rights with a gender perspective. Each year, as a coalition, the members of EW annually form an international delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). They work together to prepare worship and advocacy positions for the CSW.
Every year, they usually host between 60 and 100 women from around the world during the two weeks of the CSW. Members of the Ecumenical Women include: Anglican Communion Observer, Anglican Women’s Empowerment, Church Women United, Episcopal Church (USA), Lutheran World Federation, National Council of Churches (USA), Presbyterian Church (USA), Salvation Army, United Methodist Church, World Conference on Religious for Peace, World Council of Churches, World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, World Student Christian Federation, and World YWCA (www.ecumenicalwomen.org).

Church Centre for the United Nations

For over 40 years, the Church Centre for the United Nations (CCUN) has stood as a witness to Christian support for efforts to advance the causes of peace, human rights, development, and ecology, in international diplomacy. The CCUN provides twelve floors of office and meeting space for religious and other non-governmental organizations concerned with UN issues. It will be the location for Saturday’s Ecumenical Women’s orientation session, daily worship/Bible study, and other interesting side events during the CSW. For more history about the CCUN read the article here.

Commission on the Status of Women – United Nations

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The CSW is a principal policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Representatives of Member States gather annually at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the CSW to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards, and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women world-wide. Each year the theme of the CSW focuses on one priority from the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome from previous sessions of the General Assembly of the UN. The 57th CSW this year has as its Priority theme – Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Read more here.

The Interchurch Center

Located on New York's Upper West Side, The Interchurch Center is a 19-story building which houses offices and agencies of various religions, and of ecumenical and interreligious organizations. The Interchurch Center was first envisioned as a tangible symbol of growing unity and of joint service in Christian enterprises better done together than separately. After years of persevering effort by dedicated workers, the inspired dream became a reality when on November 17, 1957 the ground breaking ceremonies for The Interchurch Center took place. Currently the Interchurch Center is the home of over 70 organizations (including CWU and NCC) which represent community development, educational initiatives and inter-cultural and religious exchange.

Tentative Schedule for March 1 to 6, 2013
CWU and NCC Young Women’s Leadership Experience at the UN CSW:

Friday 2 pm Arrive at NYC housing Location
Orientation – general and subway
Registration at the UN for Badges
Dinner
Orientation to CWU and NCC

Saturday – Ecumenical Training and Formation (Hosted by Ecumenical Women at the UN)
Worship at CCUN
UN Orientation and CSW Overview
Registration and Lunch at UN
Strategy Groups
Dinner – Debrief Day – Evening Prayer

Sunday – Young Adult Gathering with other Ecumenical Women Participants
(location to be determined)
Attend Worship
Learn about Ecumenical Movement
Theological Exploration of CSW Theme
Plan young adult worship for CCUN
Dinner – Debrief Day – Evening Prayer

Monday and Tuesday – Events of CSW at the UN and Side Events
Worship at CCUN (lead worship with other Young Adults)
All Day Events at UN and surrounding area
Dinner – Debriefing Day – Evening Prayer

Wednesday – CSW at the UN and Side Events at the CCUN
Worship at CCUN
Group Lunch – evaluation time
Return to Housing and Departing Prayer
Departure after 2 pm

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Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 40 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org