Commission on Status & Role of Women

Two women of COSROWThe General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. We're helping the church recognize every person--clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children--as full and equal parts of God's human family. We 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."

The purpose of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) is to serve as advocate, catalyst and monitor to empower women and to transform the Church so that we, as inclusive people of God, can be in ministry to a hungering and hurting world.

COSROW pursues its vision by monitoring the status and roles of all women, including gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information relating to participation in all areas of the Church; acting as a catalyst for inclusiveness through the Church; and advocating with and on behalf of women in all aspects of the life and ministry of the Church.

What We Do

Through training, education, research and monitoring, GCSRW:

  • Addresses gender discrimination and sexism within Church structure
  • Nurtures clergy and lay leaders in the Church
  • Raises awareness of women's issues and opportunities
  • Educates Church leaders and seminarians on sexual ethics and policies
  • Supports victims/survivors of sexual harassment or abuse
  • Develops guidelines for inclusive and expansive language
  • Trains and supports Central Conferences women
  • Monitors Annual Conferences and the General Conference for inclusiveness

GCSRW is one of 13 general agencies of The United Methodist Church and is financed through the World Service Fund (apportioned giving from local congregations). The commission is accountable to the General Conference, the Church's chief law-making body, and is a member of the Connectional Table, which coordinates the program and administrative life of Church-wide agencies.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Liturgy (submitted by COSROW members)

Leader: Come to that place of quiet rest, that place where sin cannot molest, that place called the heart of God.

People: Let us go to that place of comfort sweet, that place where we our Savior will meet, that place called the heart of God.

Leader: Come in that place of full release, that place where all is joy and peace, that place called the heart of God.

People: We'll meet Jesus, our blest Redeemer, who holds us as we wait, as we wait near the heart of God.

Suggested Hymns

  • Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
  • God Will Take Care of You
  • I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
  • Jesu, Jesu
  • Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
  • Kum Ba Ya
  • Morning Has Broken
  • Precious Lord, Take My Hand
  • This is My Song
  • We Shall Overcome

Suggested Scriptures

  • Psalm 22:1-2; 14-15; Psalm 25:16-18; Psalm 27; Psalm 55:1-8
  • Proverbs 24:11-12
  • Isaiah 52:1-2; 7-10
  • Zechariah 13:6
  • Luke 23:32-38
  • Romans 8:31-39

Prayers

Dear Lord, we pray today for those in pain-pain suffered at the hands of others. Give to these servants who are in pain the ability to soothe that pain. Give them quiet times in which the pain can ease. Give them the ability to ease each other's pain. For all, who in that pain, suffered at the hands of others, wrap them in your healing embrace-that embrace that causes all pain to ease, and carry them to that place of quiet rest. Amen.

Hear our prayer, O Lord; we wait to feel your touch. We are deeply wounded souls coming to you for relief. We confess that we are at a time when our faith is feeble, and we faintly trust in your word. Will you help us any less? As of old, we ask, "Lord, help our unbelief." We long to hear the words, "Go in peace; your faith has made you whole." We come with hopes and fears to touch you if we may; do not send us home empty. Touch us and make us whole. Amen.

We come to you silenced, frenzied and unclean. We flee from reality as the night flees the sun, for it is the reality that hurts too much. An Christ joins our journey. Christ drives the demons from our lives, and even from the gray cells of our minds. Christ flees us frees us from the tyrant voices, the twisted thoughts, the doubts and the fears. Clear out thoughts and calm our souls. By the power of your healing, make us faithful, true and whole. Amen.

I have been in darkness, Lord. You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and have brought me to your kingdom. I now live in the light of you. The troubles have been brought into the light and made visible. Help me to grow in your grace. I desire to be a doer of the word, and not just a hearer. I want to be your willing servant. I thank you, for the evil powers in my life are broken, overthrown and cast down. Amen.

An Invitation to Christ

Come into the darkness with me, O Christ. Come into the dark part of me where I can put aside the pain. You, O Lord, have experienced such pain. You have experienced the pain suffered at the hands of others. You have been humiliated and you have been damaged. Come into the darkness with me, O Christ, that you might light my way out, that you might take this pain from me. You and I, O Lord, are together in our suffering. You, O Christ, will bring me to the light once again. You know my pain, take it from me. What a wonderful Lord you are! Amen.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month takes place during the month of October of each year.

General Links

Resources for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

COSROW Contacts

Diane Quade
Chair

Sue Bryce
715-672-5611

Brenda Smith White