Who is ACWC?
What is the mission of the ACWC?
The ACWC's primary responsibilities include:
- Advocating for full inclusiveness and equality in the church and in society.
- Providing a prophetic witness to and for the church on existing and emerging issues of women's concern.
- Monitoring the implementation of policies and programs of the PC(USA) related to women's concerns.
- Resourcing and advising the General Assembly (GA) and the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB) on issues of concern to women.
- Assisting the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) in maintaining an up-to-date and accurate compilation of GA policy on women's concerns.
- Voicing concerns of women to the Stated Clerk, the Moderator of the GA and the Executive Director of Presbyterian Mission Agency, offering information as they fulfill their responsibilities to communicate and interpret policies on women's concerns.
ACWC has adopted a statement from the former Women’s Ministries Program Area
Our call:
Together we seek to:
- nurture and share the good news of Jesus Christ
- engage in ministries of justice and quality of life on behalf of all women everywhere
- envision and advocate for the wholeness of the church in which women are full partners in leadership and ministry
- encourage and strengthen cultural diversity and work for the full participation of racial ethnic women in leadership
- promote cooperative decision-making within the church
- listen, learn and walk with those on the margins of the church and society
- encourage the theological and liturgical contributions of women
- support the mission of the church worldwide
- Assured of God’s love and grace, women of faith forge a vital partnership with one another.
Meet the committee members
ACWC's membership includes:There are currently 12 members of the committee, 12 that are nominated by the General Assembly Nominating committee and are elected by the General Assembly and five liaison members from various partners in ministry.”
- two clergywomen
- one female lay employee of the church
- vice moderator for Justice and Peace of Presbyterian Women's Churchwide Coordinating Team
- one member of the General Assembly Mission Council Executive Committee
- seven members-at-large, chosen to balance the committee geographically, racially and ethnically, and with persons of diverse ages and varied expertise.
In addition, at least four of the members shall be racial ethnic women, and at least two, not more than three, will be men. Members may serve up to two four-year terms.
Meet our partners
ACWC invites liaisons from other entities of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to sit with the committee at its regularly scheduled meetings.
We do this recognizing the complex ways in which gender inequality manifests itself differently because of class, race, ethnicity, education, age, status in employment, disability, sexual orientation, marital status and culture.
Learn more about ACWC
The Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns is called into being and understands its work in the context of a human situation where women experience injustice because they are women. Grounded in communal faith in "God [who] liberated the people of Israel from oppression ... [and] covenanted with Israel ... that they might do justice" (Book of Order, G-3.010b.) and motivated by painful recognition of sexism within and without the church explicitly articulated in the Articles of Agreement its commitment to work against gender-based discrimination. The Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns (ACWC) is a contemporary fulfillment of this historic commitment.
Presbyterians interested in serving on ACWC should submit an endorsement form for nomination to the General Assembly Nominating Committee (GANC). Learn more about the skills and expertise needed and the time requirements for members of ACWC.
Submit your application online.
For more information, contact the Office of GANC by calling (888) 728-7228, x5406, or by emailing Valerie Small.
Created by the 205th General Assembly (1993), the ACWC has direct access to the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) and the General Assembly (GA). ACWC has three co-chairs who serve as corresponding members to the General Assembly and the General Assembly Mission Council.
The ACWC is funded and supported through the Office of the Executive Director of the GAMC. Staff support is provided by the Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries program area , PC(USA).
