A Seminar for Young Women
February 18-24, 2012
New York City
This seminar will bring Christian college/university/seminary women ages 18-30 from
Japan, Korea and the United States together to focus on violence against women.
We will explore gender-based violence and discrimination and the environment that
fosters violence, and we will discuss the international conventions and
resolutions established to end such violence. We will also consider how our faith
calls us to respond.
The seminar will be held at the Church Center for the United Nations, across
the street from the United Nations.
Participants will:
Engage in biblical reflection.
Explore opportunities for working in areas of social and economic justice—bridging church,
community and personal life.
Meet with international nongovernmental organizations, grass-roots organizers and experts.
Tour the United Nations.
Develop relationships with peers from other countries.
Expand leadership skills.
Costs
Participants are expected to raise 25,000 yen per person for this event. This will help cover
travel and housing costs. This money can be raised through each participant’s community of
support, including church, friends, relatives and organizations in which the participant is
involved. Additional expenses beyond the 25,000 yen are graciously underwritten by Wesley
Foundation. Need-based scholarships are available.
Housing
Participants will stay at the Women's Division related guesthouse in New York City's Greenwich Village. The guesthouse has comfortable double occupancy rooms and shared baths.
Seminar Program
The young women’s seminar will be facilitated
by the United Methodist Seminar Program.
The Seminar Program provides custom designed
educational seminars on social justice topics
from a perspective of faith.
The Seminar Program is sponsored and funded by United Methodist Women.
Things to Consider
The event will begin Saturday February 18 in the evening and conclude on
Friday February 24. We ask that participants be present and available for
the entirety of the event as sessions will build on one another.
Each person comes with her own distinct experiences, expectations and understandings of who God
is in her life. We hope that all participants will come with an open mind, open heart and an open
door to the experiences of our guest presenters and peers. A commitment to learning and listening is essential.
Further considerations:
1) All seminar activities will be conducted in English
2) Applications must be prepared and submitted in English.
3) For optimal comprehension, a TOEIC score of 500 or above is suggested.
4) Candidates between the ages of 18 and 30 are welcome to apply.
5) The application deadline is December 16, 2011. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview
in person, by telephone or by skype in early January.
For further information, please contact Kathy Burton-Lewis, Wesley Foundation Representative,
at info-eng@wesleyfoundationjp.com or 03-6247-4696.
About the Sponsoring Organizations
Wesley Foundation
The threefold purpose of the Wesley Center is stated in its cornerstone: “Faith, Hope and Love
in Action,” which was laid on April 22, 2010.
The vision is ecumenical and connectional in its scope, working with partners in Japan, Asia and
North America. The focus is to build awareness and provide leadership development in a community
setting in central Tokyo by working with
(1) women’s concerns for gender equality in society;
(2) youth concerns and networking within Japan, Asia and overseas; and
(3) migrant and refugee concerns.
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women is an organization of approximately 800,000 members whose purpose is
to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise nearly
$20 million each year for programs and projects serving women, children and youth in the United
States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
Scranton Center for Women’s Leadership
In 1885, The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
the United States sent Mrs. Mary F. Scranton as the first female missionary to Korea and
started Ewha Hakdang, the first school for girls in Korea. Education not only changed the
lives of Korean women, but it also transformed the entire nation. Continuing Ms. Scranton's
legacy, the Scranton Center plants seeds of hope and love in the lives of women around the world.
Together, we can create a world where all can experience power and freedom in the love God.
