FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2026
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) has opened registration for Do No Harm, a virtual conference designed to equip individuals and the Church for the urgent work of preventing sexual harm and fostering trauma-informed care. GCSRW is especially excited to announce that Ashley Judd and Rachael Denhollander will headline the event, alongside an experienced slate of advocates, mental health practitioners, scholars, and church leaders.
Scheduled for November 12–14, 2026, Do No Harm marks a historic step forward in the denomination's ongoing commitment to preventing sexual harassment and abuse and strengthening trauma-informed response and care. For the first time since the initial conference in 2006, Do No Harm will be fully online, expanding accessibility and engagement across our worldwide connection. GCSRW will also use proceeds from the virtual event to support in-person, contextual versions of Do No Harm in regions outside the United States.
Living Out a Commitment to Survivors
The 2026 symposium serves as an important response to the 2024 General Conference apology to victims and survivors of sexual misconduct, which included a pledge to provide healing resources and develop trauma-informed responses to complaints of sexual misconduct.
“The General Conference statement made the strong, essential point that an apology is worthless without a commitment to doing the work of repair and transformation,” reflected Rev. Dr. Tyler Schwaller, GCSRW’s director of sexual ethics. “Do No Harm is an opportunity to unlearn ideas and behaviors that have contributed to further harm and to learn frameworks and practices that build trust and create conditions for care and healing.”
Keynote speakers, Ashley Judd—actor, humanitarian, New York Times bestselling author—and Rachael Denhollander—attorney, author, advocate, and educator—are leading voices in telling the truth about sexual harm and advocating for accountability and change. Each has spoken publicly about the role of faith to empower and uplift, as well as the church’s capacity either to hurt or heal.
“Ashley and Rachael were among the first women to speak out in high-profile cases of sexual harassment and abuse, and it is an amazing opportunity for us to learn from their courage, experience, and expertise,” Schwaller remarked.
New Two-Track Format: Professional Development & Public Witness
Historically a professional development gathering for individuals serving in roles designated by their annual conference, the 2026 iteration of Do No Harm will expand its reach through a dual-track offering:
- Nov. 12–13 (Thursday/Friday) — Professional Development: oriented toward professionals whose roles include the work of prevention, response, and/or training (e.g., episcopal leaders, cabinet members, response teams, boundaries and ethics trainers, chancellors, Boards of Ordained Ministry).
- Nov. 14 (Saturday) — Public Witness: oriented toward a general audience and centered around themes of truth-telling, healing, empowerment, and solidarity.
Registration for both portions of the event is open to all. To ensure that the Saturday public witness is accessible to as many people as possible, GCSRW is using a sliding-scale registration model, guaranteeing that financial barriers do not prevent participation in this vital witness and work.
GCSRW is grateful to each of The United Methodist Church’s general agencies for their support and collaboration and invites United Methodists everywhere, along with all people of faith committed to stopping the harms of sexual harassment and abuse, to join this important opportunity to learn and cultivate trauma-informed responses to harm.
Visit gcsrw.org/do-no-harm to register.
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]