The Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada
The Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) is a national council of representatives from 11 church partners, focusing on four main concerns of social justice, women's issues, ecumenism, and the growth of women's spirituality.
For more information about WICC Council members, click here.
The Council respects diversity; fosters connections between church and society; creates opportunities for communication, education, advocacy and theological critique; and encourages expressions of spirituality rooted in women's experience.
WICC, through project grants, supports grassroots work to help women caught in the web of violence. It also prepares an annual service to mark December 6, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.
The annual World Day of Prayer and the Fellowship of the Least Coin movement for peace and reconciliation are both coordinated by WICC in Canada. The council also supports networks across the country committed to working for gender justice in church and society. The ecumenical feminist journal, Making Waves, helps to connect these networks and acts as a forum for discussion of theological and social justice issues.
Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada Board of Directors
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Judith Snowdon
President |
Janet Anstead
President-Elect |
Marilyn Fortin
Chair, Ecumenical Gatherings Committee |
Hazel Campayne
Chair, Justice and Peace Committee |
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Holly Patterson
Chair, Communications Committee |
Elaine MacInnis
Chair, Membership & Nominating Committee |
Irene Churchill
Secretary-Treasurer |
Megumi Matsuo Saunders
Past President |
Our Mission Statement
The Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada encourages women to grow in ecumenism; to share their spirituality and prayer; to respond to national and international issues affecting women; and to take action together for justice.
Our Core Values
- We trust in God, and seek to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- We have faith in the power of women to transform the world.
- We are strengthened and energized by diversity and mutual respect.
- We share a hopeful vision of equality for all peoples and the integrity of the whole created earth.
Our Commitments
WICC's work and priorities are guided by the following commitments:
- to justice and peace in Canada and globally
- to gender justice analysis and action
- to racial justice in how we work as an organization and in our work priorities
- to focus on elimination of women's poverty
- to focus on overcoming violence against women
- to respond to the changing face of Canada: diversity of race, age, religious and spiritual traditions
- to work in inclusive partnerships or coalition with other organizations and with communities pushed to the margins now and historically
- to using inclusive language in all our resources and worship services.
WICC Council Members
Women on WICC are from the following churches:
The Council is made up of 25 members, 11 of whom are appointed by its denominational partners. Currently, there are elected positions to fill at the Spring Council meeting in May. The Membership Committee of WICC is now receiving names of women interested in these positions. To be considered we ask you to fill out a Personal Profile form and to submit it to the office by April 16, 2008. The Membership Committee will present its recommendations to the Spring Council, May 29-31, 2008.
Criteria for Membership:
To be appointed or elected, the nominee must be committed to the following criteria:
- Agreement with the above mission statement and core values of WICC
- Be available for two weekend meetings a year (Spring and Fall Council)
- Be willing to further the work of WICC through committees and task groups, and to communicate the work of WICC through your denominational networks.
- Be willing to make a minimum commitment of 2 years.
Skills required: The skills and gifts WICC needs are outlined on Page 2 of the Personal Profile form.
Priorities to guide WICC’s process for selection of members: These are the priorities identified by the Council in order to widen the WICC circle.
- Racial/ethnic diversity
- Young women
- Regional representation – WICC is missing participation from Alberta, Saskatchewan, northern Ontario, francophone/Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI
- Connections with local WICs and other groups working on women’s justice issues.
Nominating process and timeline for 2008
- Mid-April – close applications for current year; committee will consider the names as a group in relation to our priorities, follow up with interviews (by phone or in person), and will draw up a slate of names to be elected at the Spring Council meeting May 29-31, 2008.
- Spring council – Board presents slate to Council for approval
- Fall Council / Annual General Meeting– new members will attend their first meeting; any vacancies for 2009 will be announced.
To download a copy of the Personal Profile form in MSWord format, click here.
For more information , please contact our office at 416-929-5184 or by e-mail.
WICC's Network
The Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada established the Ecumenical Network for Women's Justice in April 2000. Now known simply as WICC's Network, it exists to connect and nurture women and men across Canada who are grounded in Christian faith and committed to justice for women in church and society. We invite you to join us as we work to free both church and society from racism, ageism, sexism and classism, and from teachings and practices that discriminate against women.
WICC's Network is made up of groups and individuals across Canada who are committed to working for gender justice in the church and in society. WICC helps to connect members of its network through Making Waves and invitations to participate in justice work and activities around events such as Women Doing Theology, Sisters in Spirit, the World March of Women and December 6.
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