mission

Agreed to Differ, Resolved to Love, United to Serve

CWU in Virginia Shares the Common Goals of the National Movement

2024 NEW VISION, MISSION AND CORE VALUES

VISION

Women of Faith cultivating Love, Hope and Peace for all Creation.

MISSION

Church Women United is an inclusive ecumenical Christian women's movement,
celebrating unity in diversity and empowering women to work towards a world of peace and justice.

CORE VALUES
FAITH

We are visible witnesses to God's love and draw upon the power of the Spirit.

SERVICE

We serve our neighbors near and far for the common good.

EDUCATION

We enlighten ourselves to grow and share with others through engagement

across cultures.

ADVOCACY

We act to empower women of all ages and to influence decision makers.

DIVERSITY

We welcome, respect and appreciate others and their God-given gifts.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

We work for a fuller implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2024-2028 Priorities

THEME: Priorities of the Heart

Introduction: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

With the above scripture in mind, we are focused on priorities of the heart. Since we should be “living a loving, faith-filled, purpose-driven life… [with] God leading the way,”
we should be concerned that every person is afforded the opportunity to have basic human needs met. Therefore, priorities for the 2024-2028 Quadrennial will focus on
Peace, Freedom, Education and Housing. These are the basics of human need that everyone should be able to access regardless of any differences we all may have.

From a constitutional perspective, there is a system of modern day slavery and involuntary servitude that has been a growing global concern for decades: the system of human trafficking.

The growing concern for our educational system is that all public schools are not equipped with the newest relevant curriculum standards and overall provisions for students.

Housing concerns are multifaceted with several of the greatest concerns including affordable housing, inflation/financing, and homelessness.
These priorities identify what the Bible states about the concerns and problems and offer a societal perspective. Also, each priority includes
action steps that can be used to address the concerns and provides resources for further reference.

Peace/Shalom/Salam -

Peace is defined as a tranquil state of mind whether among nations, within countries, at home or within self. To achieve peace, world leaders must balance the thirst for
power and territory wish versus the needs of the people. In a spiritual sense, peace brings comfort and strength amid distress. When our spirit is troubled,
Paul teaches: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Freedom and Justice - Human Trafficking

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” 4 Incarceration is the state of being confined in prison,
typically as punishment for a crime. Thousands of innocent people experience human trafficking which is a form of modern-day slavery, involuntary servitude and
labor trafficking.

Quality and Equity in Public Education

Although public education in the United States is available to most school-age children, the number of mandatory school years, laws setting mandatory
school attendance, and minimum and maximum age limits for required free education vary according to state and local laws. Moreover, Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competency varies greatly by state and local school systems. The U.S. is losing ground to other
industrialized nations as shown by students’ declining scores on tests and lack of mastery of essential skills.

Fair and Accessible Housing

Housing is a basic human right; just as every person needs sleep, food and water, all people need a safe place to live. The lack of stable, affordable
housing is the foundation of many of America’s social problems, including poverty, homelessness, and disparities in education and health care.
There is an eviction crisis in America that is intrinsically tied to housing insecurity because in many cases there are no laws to protect the tenant
from unscrupulous landlords. Foreclosures and evictions cause loss of money, possessions, and damages the social fabric of neighborhoods.

Church Women United in Virginia | 2024