Mission and Establishment
The Mission of the Unity Women’s Desk is to empower Moravian girls and women for global change. We work to improve the lives of girls and women, and through them to improve the lives of the Church and entire communities. We do this by coordinating spiritual and economic resources that exist throughout the Moravian Unity. In most provinces of the Unity, women comprise the majority of active members in worship and the work of the church. The majority of leadership roles, however, at the congregational, provincial and Unity Board levels are still occupied by men.
The Unity Women’s Desk was established by Unity Synod in 2011 and we are thus an official agency of the Unitas Fratrum, also known as the Worldwide Moravian Church or Moravian Unity.
The 2016 Unity Synod affirmed the following:
– The UWD is responsible for coordinating with the women of The Unity to plan and implement future Consultations, in addition to our “regular work” of looking out for the welfare of the women of The Unity in these areas:
Education
Ending Violence against Women
Alleviating Poverty and Unemployment
Health Issues of Women and Children
Overcoming Poverty
Parenting for Justice
Issues regarding Women in Ministry
It is important to note that the Unity Women’s Desk has been charged with addressing issues that Unity Synod raised repeatedly through the years, particularly regarding equal rights of women within the ordained and lay leadership fo the Moravian Church and efforts by the church end violence against women. The establishment of the Unity Women’s Desk confirms this statement in the Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum:
Members of the UWD Advisory Board, our governing board, represent the 4 regions of the Moravian Unity: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LA/C), Europe, and North America. The Advisory Board nominates Advisory Board members and the Unity Board approves them.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE UNITY
Official website of the Unitas Fratrum, or Unity of the Worldwide Moravian Church, including contacts in all provinces of the Moravian Church and statistics on the church.
www.moravian.org (North America)
www.ebu.de/brueder-unitaet/weltweite-kirche/ (Germany)
The Center for Moravian Studies at Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, PA shares the rich history and scholarship of the Moravian Church. This site includes archived videos, bibliographies, and resources to those interested in the history of the Moravian Church and academic research about Moravian history and culture.