Kia ora! My name is Bridie Boyd and I am from a parish in Christchurch. I am involved in advocacy for women in the Church and I am about to represent our province at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. I would like some input from other people in our province so that my preparations and work during my time at the U.N is as effective as possible. This year, I am going as an Anglican representative.
We are looking at the importance of engagement with faith communities, women and gender-based violence: transforming unjust structures of society, women and climate change: safeguarding the integrity of creation, and lastly, women and economic empowerment: responding to human need by loving service.
I have included the Anglican Consultative Council statement if you would like more information on these topics.
In order for me to represent all the people in our province, it would be helpful to know what issues we as a province are concerned with.From your experience, could you please answer these questions….
- What are areas of concern for you personally?
- For your parish?
- For the Church in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Polynesia?
- Where do you feel we stand globally on gender equality?
As a thank you for your participation, you will go in the draw to win a box of chocolates. And if you are ever in Christchurch, I would love to meet to talk more about your experiences. boyd.bridie@gmail.com
The 64th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing+25: Realizing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls)
Written Statement from the Anglican Consultative Council, March 2020…
The Anglican Consultative Council welcomes the 25th anniversary review of the Beijing Platform for Action at the 64th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Anglican Communion is the world’s third largest Christian communion, comprised of forty provinces across over 165 countries, all working in various capacities to transform unjust structures of society, challenge violence, pursue peace and reconciliation, safeguard creation and act in loving service.
Tackling the deep injustices of gender inequality is an integral part of our Anglican mission. This is based on our Christian belief that women and men are created equally in the image of God and that just relationships between women and men, girls and boys are fundamental to human flourishing. Sadly, the global family is falling drastically short of this Gospel imperative. Gendered attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes can shape negative behaviours and impose burdens on all of us. Harmful patterns of patriarchy and misogyny need to be held to the light of God’s redemptive love.
In this moment of celebration of twenty-five years of the Beijing Platform, we seek to uphold the intrinsic value of women and girls and the commitment to social justice and empowerment outlined in the Declaration, while lamenting that much of its powerful vision remains unrealized.
