FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2026
Glenview, Ill — The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) has launched a new Monitoring Toolkit designed to support its mandate to serve as a monitor of the programmatic and administrative functions of The United Methodist Church.
The Monitoring Toolkit’s focus is centered around “A How-to Guide to Monitoring,” a comprehensive resource that outlines GCSRW’s mandate and purpose of monitoring, a timeline for the process, foundational definitions and guidance on what to monitor and how to do it. The Guide also includes best practices for gathering and sharing information, and training recommendations. In addition to the downloadable document, the Guide is available as a self-paced online training that mirrors the same content.
The Toolkit also includes editable sample worksheets and tracking documents that can be adapted to local and cultural settings. While GCSRW has developed these resources, implementation depends on the work of Annual Conference Commissions on the Status and Role of Women (AC COSROWs) and other volunteers. Monitoring practices outlined in the Toolkit may be used at Annual Conferences, Jurisdictional Conferences, General Conference, and in any setting where people gather and decisions are made.
“Monitoring is a process of observing behaviors, opportunities for participation, and the overall inclusiveness of gatherings to bring awareness to challenges and barriers that may prevent full and equal access,” said the Rev. Katrena King, director of monitoring and resource development for GCSRW. “It also includes providing feedback and recommendations to help resolve concerns as they arise. While monitoring is not a new concept, GCSRW has worked to provide greater clarity, streamlined processes and practical tools to make monitoring more accessible and user-friendly.”
King emphasized, “A key goal of this Toolkit is adaptability. Our aim is not for every region to monitor the same information in the same way, but to help identify and address the barriers present in their own contexts.”
To support the rollout of the Monitoring Toolkit, GCSRW will host two webinars, provide recordings of those sessions, and offer additional opportunities for conversation and training. The recently published article, “A Primer on Monitoring,” is also available as a starting point for individuals and groups beginning this work.
As this Toolkit is newly released, GCSRW welcomes feedback, questions, and ideas. Developing innovative ways to share information and balance data gathering with narrative storytelling remain key priorities. The agency believes the Toolkit is an asset for monitoring work at both programmatic and administrative levels throughout the United Methodist connection.
What’s Included in the Monitoring Toolkit
- “A How-to Guide to Monitoring” — a comprehensive PDF outlining the full monitoring process
- Editable Word documents — sample worksheets and tracking tools adaptable to local and cultural contexts
- Self-paced online training — covering the same material as the Guide
How to Get Involved
GCSRW invites individuals and conference leaders to participate in one of two upcoming webinar sessions: February 27 at 12 p.m. CT or April 14 at 6 p.m. CT. Recordings will be available following each session, and additional training opportunities may be offered upon request. Conferences without an AC COSROW are encouraged to contact GCSRW for support.
Register for the February 27 webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k1WjriHwRMCUIe3sx2UZIQ
Register for the April 14 webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SR_ncp2JT5Gf9O6T3Xjcug
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About the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. GCSRW helps the church recognize every person – clergy and lay, women and men, adults and children – as full and equal parts of God’s human family. They believe that a fully engaged and empowered membership is vital to The United Methodist Church’s mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Learn more at GCSRW.org.
Media contact:
Royya James
[email protected]