Commission On the Status and Role Of Women Contact: Co-Conveners Glenna Berry-Horton (543-1058) Kathy Lamoree (543-9328)

At the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church, COSROW (the letters stand for Commission on the Status and Role of Women) is a group of women who work for full and equal participation of women in the total life of the church. We advocate for the use of inclusive imagery for God and for humanity, and for consideration of historical, biblical and theological scholarship that supports a rich diversity of names and images for God. We challenge all stereotypes. Our leadership is collaborative and our decision-making is by consensus.

We are primarily a sisterhood and social action group with an emphasis on women within the church community and world community. Activities and opportunities are:

Ÿ         Monthly dinner meetings which include elements of sisterhood/member support, celebrations, and discussion/faith exploration
Ÿ         Stretching our faith through book studies
Ÿ         Spiritual growth through overnight women’s retreats
Ÿ         Wise Older Women project where we honor and record life stories of the women in our congregation
Ÿ         Alternative Gift Market offering holiday gifts with real meaning
Ÿ         Socks Box to collect new and gently used socks for the homeless in our community
Ÿ         Annual kayak outing with “High Tea at High Tide”
Ÿ         Organizing the Church’s participation in local Church World Service - CROP Hunger Walks
Ÿ         Providing home-cooked meals for members of the Wesley group (college-age)

Within the churchwide scope of The United Methodist Church, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSR) is one of two independent commissions (the other is the General Commission on Religion and Race) charged with advocating, monitoring and challenging the church to seek justice and inclusiveness. Along with its equivalent structures in annual conferences, districts and local churches, GCSR functions as an ADVOCATE on behalf of women and girls in the denomination; serves as a CATALYST for positive change, calling the church to redress inequities of the past and prevent further inequities and gender bias against women (individually and collectively) in the church; and MONITORS United Methodist structures, policy-making bodies and related agencies to ensure inclusiveness in the TOTAL life of the United Methodist Church. 

Website for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, The United Methodist Church:  http://www.gcsrw.org/