Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Trinity

Stay informed about the Synod PW!

Click the link to sign up for “The PWSnews!” newsletter.

Click here to check out the latest news from The PWSnews! Fall 2024 issue.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Well – a Project of The Welcome Church is Selected as the 2025 PW Synod Mission Project

The Well, located in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, currently refers to the whole community of support for women who are experiencing homelessness, which is a part of The Welcome Church.

In 2016, The Welcome Church founded an overnight shelter for women called The Well, when it became apparent that there were few places where women felt safe going inside for the night. Grounded in the relationships that The Welcome Church had with the women, The Well had two amazing successes in the first two winter seasons: the women, who had been labeled “shelter resistant,” were consistently coming in, and after the second season, most moved into permanent housing. The Welcome Church developed a relationship with Bethesda Project, and the City of Philadelphia began paying Bethesda Project to cover staffing for The Well, as a year-round shelter, in November 2017.

Unfortunately, the building and congregation (Christ’s Presbyterian Church) housing The Well had to close in 2024, and the City of Philadelphia, in the midst of budget cuts, stopped funding for this shelter. But The Welcome Church maintains strong relationships with the women! The pastors meet and check in with women who are on the streets with few resources. The Welcome Church holds two women’s group meetings each month. The women keep in touch with one another.

The Welcome Church continues to look for a new location for the shelter, for which the City will provide funding as a winter shelter this year. We have redefined The Well as the whole community of women, which gathers in different places, both inside and outside, offering mutual support.

For more information check out information on The Welcome Church website: https://www.thewelcomechurch.org/getting-to-know-us

2025 Contributions from PWs in the Synod of the Trinity should be sent from PWs in the Congregation to their PW in the Presbytery Treasurer by Dec. 1, 2025. PW in the Presbytery Treasurers should send final contributions to PW in the Synod Treasurer, Doreen Stiffler, 99 Cedar Drive, Kittanning, PA 16201 by Dec. 15, 2025.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

69th Commission on the Status of Women Accepting Applications

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women around the world. It’s also an annual event that brings together advocates, experts and eager learners to advance gender justice around the world.

The 69th CSW will be held March 10-21, 2025, in New York, and offers an opportunity to learn about and advocate for justice for women throughout the world, and to find ways to apply insights to local, state and national levels. Presbyterian Women will once again be forming a delegation.

Kelsey Law, PW’s 2024-2027 vice moderator says,

“Presbyterian Women’s delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women will mobilize our PW Purpose with our voices of diversity into the connectional and intersectional spaces of the Commission where “advocacy is worship and worship is advocacy.”

Would you like to join?

Minimum participation for delegates is Monday, March 10-Friday, March 14, 2025; ideal participation is Monday, March 10-Friday, March 21. Delegates are encouraged to attend as many events in person as possible. Attending some events online is also an option. Learn more about expectations and goals of participation.

Are you looking for more information about CSW?

Each annual session of the Commission focuses on a specific priority theme and a review theme. The focus of the 69th session of the Commission is “the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” which is a sweeping plan for advancing women’s rights that was outlined 30 years ago. Learn more about the format of CSW and PW’s partners.

Ready to apply?

A brief application form is the first step! Download the electronically fillable application. Applications are due by Dec. 8, 2024.

Presbyterian Women Churchwide is offering financial support for CSW participation:

Please note that applications for these grants are separate from the CSW application. And early application for these funds is advised!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

PWS Racial Equity Dialogue (RED) Team – Volunteers Needed!

Presbyterian Women Churchwide has a goal to establish a Racial Equity Dialogue (RED) team in each Synod. Karen Haas is the PW team leader tasked with forming our Synod of the Trinity RED team. The purpose of this team is to fulfill the PW purpose and (support the PCUSA Matthew 25 Initiative) by “building an inclusive, caring community” that “works for justice and peace” using dialogue as a tool for building relationships among and between women from different racial-ethnic groups and backgrounds.

The goal is to have two representatives from each Presbytery on the RED team. For this team to be successful we need women to volunteer to be on the team. The team will meet via zoom. In 2025 we plan to meet twice and in 2026 we hope to meet quarterly.

Prior to the Churchwide Gathering synod representatives attended a one-day training session. The most significant thing that happened at this event is that we were trained to facilitate Community Circles. This method of communicating allowed for all in the circle to share in a way in which each person felt supported and included.

If you are interested in joining this team or want to suggest someone that might be willing to join the team, please contact Karen Haas at 814-397-1619 karenhaas79@gmail.com. Karen is the moderator of PW for the Presbytery of Lake Erie.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

PDF version of the Presbyterian Women’s Administrative Team available by clicking here.

(NOTE: The 2024-25 list will be available soon.)