Crystal Caviness
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General Commission on Status and Role of Women | March 30, 2026
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) convened its Spring 2026 Board of Directors meeting March 19–20 in a virtual gathering that included strategic alignment, leadership updates, and a continued commitment to advancing the full participation of women across The United Methodist Church.
The meeting, led by Board President Bishop Delores J. Williamston, opened with the welcome of new board members Rev. Myriam Cortes (Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference) and Rev. Sophia Hyon Hyewon Carno (Northern Illinois Conference) and the election of a new vice president/secretary, Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses (Philippines Central Conference), strengthening the leadership of the organization for the work ahead. The board affirmed its ongoing focus on board member collaboration, consensus-building, and decision-making guided by shared discernment.
“As we look toward the future, we remain committed to advancing the full participation of women and ensuring they are fully seen and valued in every aspect of the Church’s life.”
– The Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, general secretary
Throughout the meeting, the board received and affirmed reports from GCSRW staff, highlighting the breadth of work taking place across key ministry areas, including leadership development, monitoring and resource development, sexual ethics, and communications. The reports reflect GCSRW’s continued role in equipping leaders, supporting conferences, and addressing barriers to full inclusion.
Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, GCSRW’s general secretary, offered reflections on her time serving in the role and on the organization’s work over the past year. She also identified common themes in women’s experiences within The UMC and the Norwegian Free Churches, drawing on direct quotes from women reflecting their lived experiences and supporting data. This work reaffirmed GCSRW’s ongoing commitment to advocacy and education within the Church.
The board celebrated the successful launch of the 70th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination resources and its continued commitment to actively build and strengthen relationships with lay, clergy, and agency partners. Additional updates included preparations for the upcoming Do No Harm conference taking place in the fall, expanded monitoring efforts, and continued development of tools and training to support inclusiveness across the connection.
The GCSRW board approved several governance and policy updates, including revisions to internal policies and bylaws, and the formation of a new Legislative Task Force to support ongoing denominational engagement. The board also affirmed the completion and conclusion of the Ratification Task Force following the successful ratification of Paragraph 4, Article IV. That section of the UMC's constitution now reads: I"n the United Methodist Church, no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or constituent body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, ability or economic condition, nor shall any member be denied access to an equal place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church becauseof race, color, gender, national origin, ability, status, or economic condition."
Looking ahead, GCSRW staff shared plans for a website redesign and refreshed agency branding aimed at improving user experience and better reflecting the organization’s mission and impact.
“The work of GCSRW continues to be grounded in our call to advocate, equip, and lead,” said York Arnold. “As we look toward the future, we remain committed to advancing the full participation of women and ensuring they are fully seen and valued in every aspect of the Church’s life.”
The meeting concluded with a spirit of gratitude, as board members and staff look forward to continued collaboration and impact in the months ahead.
The next meeting of the GCSRW Board of Directors will take place in person, September 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama.
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. GCSRW helps the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children – as full and equal parts of God’s human family. They believe that a fully engaged and empowered membership is vital to The United Methodist Church’s mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Learn more at GCSRW.org.