Presbyterian Women and its predecessor organizations have been involved in advocacy on many issues of justice and peace, including hunger, racism and domestic violence.

Initiatives and Emphases

Theological Basis for Social Justice and Peacemaking
Presbyterian Women affirms that advocacy on issues of justice and peace is part of living out one’s faith. Scripture verses as well as church documents and statements call Presbyterian Women to be involved in working toward justice and peace for all of God’s people.  Learn more about the theological basis for justice and peace advocacy.

Ending Discrimination Against Women

Did you know that the United States is just one of seven United Nations member countries that has not ratified a treaty that works to end the oppression of women around the world? This agreement, called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), addresses the major issues facing women worldwide, including human trafficking, education, employment, and economic and social standing.

Learn more about CEDAW, the impact it has had upon acceptance in other countries, and what you can do to promote U.S.-ratification of the agreement.  Download

Antiracism Initiative
The voting representatives to the 2000 Churchwide Business Meeting of Presbyterian Women unanimously approved a resolution declaring Presbyterian Women an antiracism organization and reaffirmed their 1997 commitment to strive to eradicate racism. The voting representatives acknowledged that “racism is imbedded in the very structure of our society and thus requires a very intentional effort to eradicate it”

Racial Ethnic Dialog
The Racial Ethnic Dialog Group consists of 21 women, including white and racial ethnic members-at-large from the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women and women from each of the six racial ethnic women’s constituency groups (African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latin, Korean American, Middle Eastern American and Native American). The group seeks to honor the gifts of all people while finding ways to dialogue and work together as an inclusive caring community. Following the success of the racial ethnic dialog on a churchwide level, Presbyterian Women established funding for synods to create their own racial ethnic dialogs.

Test your social justice knowledge

Did you know that many rural and agricultural problems have links to gender and racial injustice? What does the word “empire” mean to you? Do you know how many people immigrate each year worldwide? Take the social justice literacy quiz from Agricultural Missions Inc. to find out these answers and more about rural issues.