Global Women's Project reaffirms its purpose.

The Global Women's Project's Steering Committee met in Richmond, Ind., on March 7-9. The steering committee also led worship for Bethany Theological Seminary and Earlham School of Religion. The group includes Judi Brown of N. Manchester, Ind.; Nan Erbaugh of W. Alexandria, Ohio; Anna Lisa Gross of Richmond, Ind.; Lois Grove of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Jacki Hartley of Elgin, Ill.; and Bonnie Kline- Smeltzer of Boalsburg, Pa.

The Global Women's Project is a Church of the Brethren group that seeks to educate about the global poverty, oppression, and injustice which women suffer and how our own over consumption and misuse of resources directly contributes to their suffering.

At the meeting, the committee reaffirmed the educational purpose of the project regarding lifestyles and luxury, and rejoiced in the steady flow of generosity from women and men in the Church of the Brethren. The committee also reveled in the astounding work of empowerment of women throughout the world, responded to several requests for support, received the gratitude of ambassadors and partners with the project, and recognized the important work they are doing.

The group reflected on the balance between building deeper relationships with partners, and giving freedom and all possible resources to partner sites. Partner sites include Casa Materna in Matalgapa, Nicaragua; Women Empowerment, Nepal; Palestine News Network radio show for women in Bethlehem; Carpentry Cooperative in Maridi, Sudan; and Shifting Ideas Through Education for African Women, Uganda and Kenya. The project gave one-time grants to Christian Commission for Development in Honduras and a women's sewing cooperative in Nimule, Sudan.

The committee expressed gratitude for the long and dedicated work of Lois Grove and Bonnie Kline-Smeltzer, whose terms end this spring, and announced the affirmation of new members Myrna Frantz-Wheeler of Haverhill, Iowa, and Elizabeth Keller of Richmond, Ind. Go to www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/gwp for more information, or contact the steering committee at cobgwp@gmail.com.

--Anna Lisa Gross is a member of the Global Women's Project steering committee.

Source: 5/07/2008 Newsline