International Anglican Women's Network - News

General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) met June 11 – 13, 2009. Elaine Cameron, IAWN Provincial Link for SEC and Marion Chatterley, SEC representative with the Anglican Consultative Council Non-Governmental Organization delegation at the United Nations Commission on the Status Women, March 2009, presented the work of the International Anglican Women’s Network to Synod, at the invitation of the Most Revd Idris Jones.

Two motions were passed:

1. That this Synod confirm its commitment to engage with the work of the Inter-Anglican Women’s Network, as appropriate.
2. That this Synod, affirming its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, invites the undertaking of a gender audit within the Scottish Episcopal Church in time to report to General Synod 2010.

Later in the Synod, Rt Rev David Chillingworth was elected Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. 

Text of Speech given by Elaine Cameron, June 11, 2009

Chair, Members of Synod:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Thank you particularly to the Primus, Bishop Idris Jones, for inviting me to be the International Anglican Women’s Network Link for the Scottish Episcopal Church.

When the Primus asked last autumn if I would be the Provincial Link for the SEC, I was uncertain how to respond – maybe some of you today would have shared my questions. I agreed to attend the first Provincial Link training last February to ascertain what the International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN) was, research the Provincial Link role; and ask what it has to offer the women in our own Church.

This afternoon I want to focus on 3 questions:

1. What and who is IAWN?
2. What is the Provincial Link’s role?
3. Why do I think it important for Scottish Episcopal Church to support IAWN’s work?

1. What is IAWN?

It is one of the networks of the world wide Anglican Communion. Although established in 1996, it has become particularly visible since 2006, when a steering-group was formed. IAWN advocates for women and women’s concerns in the church; facilitates networking among women and women’s organisations within the church and beyond. IAWN builds on the work of the Mother’s Union, who, known for their vision and strong practical global commitment, have permanent representation on IAWN’s steering group.

Who? In one sense IAWN is all the women here this afternoon - as the strong African MU past-President boomed sonorously on our last morning: “Remember – IAWN is for all women in our church, whether Mothers’ Union members or not!” IAWN is the voice of women, many prepared to speak out against injustices in their own country. We were shocked to learn that the Pakistani government offers women few rights. Women may still be punished by losing body parts – or they may be buried alive. At that moment that any lingering doubts I might have had about the raison d’être of this Network evaporated. IAWN aims to strengthen women, as women strengthen the church. Political and social concerns are at its core – both inside the Anglican Church body, and in God’s wider world.

2. Provincial Links

Provincial Links, appointed in all but two Provinces, are responsible for communicating the particular issues of women in their own Church to the Network, and for bringing the voices of global Anglican women back to their own Church.

We build awareness on two fronts:

• The social focus is best defined as the promotion of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, to which the SEC committed in 2007, especially Goal 3: the empowerment of women of women and gender equality.
• IAWN is also concerned with church structures, specifically the promotion of the 31^st Resolution passed at the Anglican Consultative Council in 2005, and known as ACC13/31. This seeks equal representation of women and men at all decision-making units that help design policies in the Church. As requested, and with the Secretary-General’s able support, I submitted a report to IAWN on the SEC’s progress in implementing this resolution. In one sense, this aspect of IAWN’s concern builds on the work of the SEC’s former Movement for Whole Ministry, which promoted the opening of the priesthood and episcopate to women.

3. Why do I think it important for the SEC to support it?

• The existence & meeting (even e-meetings) of the Provincial Links makes the personal contact real: it links Anglican women around the globe. People in Pakistan know that their situation is being prayed for by people throughout the Communion – a very strengthening feature – helping us grow in trust and our ability to work together. This reminds me of the excitement expressed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu at our Provincial conference in 1995 when he spoke of the thrill of learning that Anglicans in Alaska were praying for them in South Africa. Such personal contact also helps emphasize the unity of Anglican women even in the mist of controversy over issues such as human sexuality.
• The Anglican Communion is a global family of God to which we all belong – so we should be aware of plight of all members of the Communion & interconnectedness of many issues. IAWN is one way of being aware of the international & intercommunion dimension – whether it be abusive issues making the news headlines, such as sex trafficking, or lesser known abuses such as the disappearance of hundreds of young Aboriginal women in Canada.
• The SEC is proud of its work of mission. Any organisation is best placed to fulfil its mission when all its members are enabled to acknowledge their gifts and talents fully, and so exercise their unique individual calling. The ACC has urged full implementation of ACC Resolution 13/31, & requests a further report. I believe that the best way in which the SEC may work towards the realisation of the goal of equal representation of women & men is in the execution of a gender audit.

The Gender Budgeting Tool Kit produced by Anglican Women’s Empowerment in 2009 says “Many of us are not well versed with gender issues - we equate gender issues to women’s issues. We need to be aware that when we talk of gender, we are talking about men and women, boys and girls, and trying to uplift the disadvantaged gender.”

It is not enough to think that we have equal representation in decision-making processes – we need to know we have it – or not!

The Church in Wales completed such an audit last year, and we have access to their approach. Gill Jones, who chaired the Working Group which conducted the Welsh gender audit, is present at this Synod as the Observer from the Church in Wales.

I am in no doubt that the SEC should support IAWN. Here, every story is welcomed, every voice heard. Its core concerns are centred on our hurting world, laden with insecurity and conflict, badly in need of God’s healing message.

Thank you 

Elaine Cameron, IAWN Provincial Link, Scottish Episcopal Church