GCSRW Resources

Check out this resource from one of our panelists, Rev. Nathalie Parker!

Have you seen these resources from GCSRW?

The Integrity Project

Inspired by The Integrity Project at Emory University, this curriculum was developed to encourage living in right relationship with self and others within the faith communities of our local UM ministries. Through deep exploration of scripture and other resources, participants will give intentional attention to core values and the development of self-awareness in all they do. This resource is easily adaptable to a sermon series, use in spiritual formation groups, Sunday School classes, youth ministry, campus ministry, and other settings. The four-session study is free for download. To order physical copies, contact GCSRW at info@gcsrw.org.

#MeToo Toolkit - Resources for a Faithful Response

The #MeToo Toolkit has been developed by the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) which joins others around the world in addressing the prevalence and problem of sexual misconduct throughout our Church and society. The #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, an African-American activist, has seemed like the Spirit of Truth moving through our world, uncovering that which has been hidden in plain sight for decades. The toolkit offers resources of printed materials, links to important websites, as well as suggestions for participatory conversations designed to encourage dialogue to help people identify, understand, and respond to the reality of sexual misconduct. All of which are intended to help guide people to a deeper understanding of the problem of sexual misconduct and resources/beliefs of The United Methodist Church in response to this problem.

God of the Bible

God of the Bible is a five week study designed for small groups to explore expansive language- the names, images and ways God has been revealed to us in Scripture. Exploring both common and less known passages, this study challenges participants to strengthen their personal relationship with God by removing barriers of human limitations from our understanding of who God is. The addendum includes sermon ideas, hymns and reading lists to further your personal study and to develop worship utilizing expansive language. Finally, there is a list of nonsexist names for God.

Women Called to Ministry

"Women Called to Ministry" is a six-session study exploring our understanding of women's roles in The United Methodist Church. Why are women ordained? Why are they included in all areas of leadership? How did we arrive at those understandings? Produced by the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women to mark the 50th anniversary of women's ordination, the series is designed primarily for use by local congregations. Study guides, leader's guides and supplemental materials are available for download in PDF format in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Russian.

Sexual Misconduct in the Church- Understanding the Role of Power

Clergy, church leaders, and anyone working in ministry, have power over the people they serve. This inherent power is often referred to as a sacred trust. People look to those in ministerial roles to nurture and guide them, making themselves spiritually and emotionally vulnerable, because they believe God has given their leaders authority. The Bible says that clergy and lay ministers have been “entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed” and “those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2 NIV). In other words, where there is power there is also responsibility to do no harm; the betrayal of sacred trust occurs when professional boundaries are violated, potentially turning God-given power into a weapon of abuse (UM Sexual Ethics, 2019). This booklet examines that sacred trust and power that clergy and lay ministers have been entrusted with and outlines some common myths of sexual misconduct.