New York City - UNCSW62 blog 1

            Last year at this time, I began a new way to engage in the work of gender justice. There is an annual Anglican Communion Delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), and I was the appointed Canadian representative.

            It is an honour to be appointed again to represent the Anglican Church of Canada in this way; to listen and learn, engage and advocate, network and collaborate. This past year I have been privileged to speak about the CSW in a large variety of venues and formats, highlighting the work of those dedicated to achieving Gender Equality, the 5th Sustainable Development Goal.

            The Anglican Communion Delegation comprises 20 women from around the world, who commit to tae in as much as we can, so that we might return to our homes empowered and inspired to take firm actions in our home contexts. It is  truly a gift of the Communion; we are one of the most diverse invited delegations represented.

            This year's priority theme addresses challenges to woman and girls in rural contexts; we are also reviewing issues of media, communications, and information technology. I will attend discussions and panels on matters of climate change, food security, transportation, access to education and health care, and many others.

            Throughout the year, and particularly throughout CSW, women of faith intentionally connect to develop strong networks: we pray together and collaborate on ways of working through the Ecumenical Women Coalition. We participate in discussions with our national UN Missions, with regional caucuses, at round tables; we hold high the faith which permeates every aspect of our lives, and which calls us to live our ministry as equals.

            So I have arrived in New York, and the adventure continues. It is a privilege and honour to be here; it is a responsibility to be engaged here so as to bring home new ideas, new learnings, new possibilities for ways in which we, the church, might strive toward gender justice.

            Wherever we are, we are God's people: made in God's image, in God's world, equal and beloved in God's eyes. I pray our efforts will respect and uphold that sacred truth.