Report to the Church 2015 | Page 67

FORUM ON CIVIL DISCOURSE UNITED NATIONS The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, in partnership with the Diocese of Pennsylvania and historic Christ Church in Philadelphia, convened an October 2014 churchwide forum on “Civil Discourse: Finding Common Ground for the Greater Good.” Featuring two panels, one on civil discourse and faith and the other on civil discourse in politics and policy, the 90minute forum was webcast live to the wider Church, and made available on demand afterward, receiving more than 1,700 views. In addition to the Presiding Bishop, panelists included noted members of the news media, religious leaders from a variety of faith traditions, academic leaders, and noted advocates for civil discourse in politics and policy. Representing the voice of The Episcopal Church at the United Nations, the Domestic and Foriegn Missionary Society in 2014 obtained official consultative status in the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This important designation allows us more closely to link the voices of Episcopalians and Anglicans around the world to UN deliberations on issues such as global poverty and hunger, peace and conflict, the rights and wellbeing of women and girls, human trafficking, youth and young adults, and indigenous concerns. In turn, we work to connect Episcopalians in our Church to those voices and debates. For example, in response to a resolution of the 2012 General Convention, we supported the global with 16 days of guest THE DOMESTIC AND FORIEGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OBTAINED OFFICIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS IN THE UN’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, IN 2014. 67