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Committee on Status of Women addresses issue of violence
Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
2001-323-1
Posted: Wednesday, November 07, 2001
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The Executive Council's Committee on the Status of Women addressed a wide range of issues but its early November meeting at a retreat center in Nashville quickly focused on the issue of violence in the world.
A committee resolution was adopted by the Denver General Convention, asking Episcopalians 'to become, with God's help, a non-violent and peaceful person.' The committee renewed its recommendation that everyone strive 'to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self-destructive behavior, to look for safe ways to express anger and work at solving problems peacefully.' The Pledge of Non-Violence assumed some urgency, members of the committee concluded, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and at the Pentagon.
Because women in many parts of the world are victims of violence, the committee adopted a statement, beginning with a definition that said 'Violence is any outside force that limits the God-given potential of one of God's children. Violence can be verbal, emotional, sexual or physical.'
Since the terrorist attacks, the committee statement said that 'we decry the violence of that day and of subsequent weeks. We also profess our unity with all peoples everywhere, all children of the same God, no matter how named.'
The statement expressed particular support for 'our Muslim and Christian sisters in Palestine in their struggle to survive in a violent time and country, and we pledge our prayers and economic assistance to them.'
The committee decided to update a 1987 survey of attitudes among congregational members and diocesan leaders on the role and status of women by a random sampling in 18 dioceses. A summary of that report will be part of the committee's report to the 2003 General Convention in Minneapolis.
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