Inaugural Women’s Assembly and Program Initiative
Dear Friends,I started writing this letter just after we departed Utah, soaring on immense fulfillment and possibility generated by our historic Inaugural Women’s Assembly at the 2015 Parliament.
Yet over the last several weeks, I’ve waited to talk with you about women at the Parliament as we focused on the triumph and tragedy unfolding in Paris, the United States and elsewhere – from the global action to address climate change to utterly heartbreaking losses at the hands of extremists. It seems no place is untouched by the very critical issues the 2015 Parliament aimed to heal.
Global conditions today call us to do more.
In October, we agreed that answers to these complex - but curable - global nightmares will only come when women’s voices are welcomed to the tables of power. “The time is now” for women’s unrestricted contributions. As we gathered together – more than 6500 women, 10,000 overall at the 2015 Parliament - our faiths were strengthened, in our own humanity and power to make change.And through the first ever global interfaith Assembly and Program Initiative by and for women, we set a new paradigm.
Let us speak clearly to the world now from the hearts, minds, and deep spiritual strength of the world’s women.
I cannot emphasize enough my personal gratitude for your participation in our launch of Faith in Women, which continues as an ongoing effort to advance the wellbeing, human rights and spiritual contributions of women:
- During the initial planning of the Inaugural Women’s Assembly and Program Initiative, it was boldly announced that this gathering would make history. We did it, and we absolutely will not stop here.
- 10,000 of us are now settled back into the places we call home, turning our promises into practice, and talking about Faith in Women.
- In 2015, women participants made up 65 percent of attendees at the largest Parliament ever, and led 50 percent of all programming.
- Because of your gifts for scholarships and travel assistance, dozens of small, diverse, and often ignored communities were represented at the Assembly & the Parliament by powerhouse women.
- 3,500 men and women attending the Inaugural Women’s Assembly ended the day by spontaneously dancing in the aisles. We moved to the biggest hall holding 10,000 people for the Faith In Women’s women’s plenary the following morning and we packed the hall.
- Wise and diverse women - religious leaders and spiritual icons - had everyone on their feet cheering, and it was my privilege to deliver the Declaration for the Dignity and Human Rights of Women to a standing ovation.
- Hundreds of you offered important and inspiring talks, presentations, services, ceremonies, art and music.
- And, most important of all, thousands of you shared your heartfelt and hard-earned wisdom as participants of the first-ever Women’s Program Initiative.
It was a convening and honoring of women’s grace and energy, and the visions and values women share across all faith traditions. Even as we tackled the greatest challenges at the nexus of women and religion, so often side-stepped, like religious justifications for the subjugation of women, we also inspired one another with sources of profound religious and spiritual inspiration and experiences that heal the heart of humanity. It was extraordinary to see the heartfelt spirit of good will between women and men of all the world’s faiths ignited.
The realization was clear - we were creating the world that we pray for.
But history isn’t made, or changed, in just five days.
I hope you will join me, and the Parliament, in our commitment to create many more opportunities for women of faith to share their spiritual wisdom and transformative leadership. And I hope you will join us in calling upon the world’s religious leaders and institutions to lead the way in the universal and urgent human rights issue of our era – the Dignity and Human Rights of Women.
I am so grateful to each of you who participated, to the courageous and inspiring speakers and panelists, our hard-working staff and all of you whose generous support made this historic convening possible: the Kalliopeia Foundation, the Rachael and Ben Vaughan Foundation, the Utah State Legislature, and donors to the Global Sisters Fund and the Women’s Task Force.
Thank you for your faith in women at the Parliament of the World's Religions. I treasure all the memories we made together and look forward to continuing to make women’s history with Faith in Women and with the Second Women’s Assembly at the 2017 Parliament of the World’s Religions!
I've been grateful to serve on the Board of Trustees for the last six years, and as Chair of the Women's Task Force. I wish the new Chair and 2016 Parliament Board much success as I complete my six-year term, and I look forward to working with all of you in the future.
May you have a peaceful and wonderful new year!
With gratitude,
Phyllis Curott
Vice-Chair, Parliament of the World's Religions
Chair, Women’s Task Force of the Parliament of the World's Religions