Dr. Kathleen Butler Gordon

11th Episcopal District NGO Liaison

11thdistrictngo@wms-amec.org

 Presiding Prelate - Bishop Frank M. Reid, III

Episcopal Supervisor - Mrs. Marlaa’ Hall-Reid

Episcopal WMS-AMEC President - Mrs. Laurastine D. Lemon

Bahamas and Florida

Focus

The Electrifying AND Empowering 11th Episcopal District AMEC are carrying the torch of Service, Unity, Hope, and Excellence because "Victory Starts Here” under the dynamic leadership of Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, Supervisor Marlaa' Hall Reid, and Mrs. Laurastine D. Lemon, Episcopal WMS President.

Advocacy: Initiatives

Florida and the Bahamas partnered with several organizations to continue to raise awareness on: Gender-Based Violence & Domestic Partner Violence through workshops, zoom sessions, open forums, and seminars. Voter Education, Public Education, Human-Sex and Drug Trafficking, and Ending Fistula, is a global mission project that impacts the lives of women and girls in Africa and Asia. 

Advocacy Projects

Advocacy Projects were launched centered on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which provided a framework for the mission. Our primary focus was to become aware of ALL 17 (SDGs) and increase our knowledge of each goal and discover how each conference would continue to use their voices and assets to promote advocacy projects that became goals and initiatives that would end in long-lasting “powerful,” Partnerships for the GOALS (SDG #17).

The six Conference Presidents focused on “Partnerships” within our communities, and they reached out to the State of Florida and the Bahama Islands that were impacted by the storms. Many of our local WMS - members, homes, and jobs were impacted by the storms that devastated our communities with flood water. Our local societies continued worldwide efforts to assist those states and selected countries that were desecrated by Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and devastating floods, fires, and unexpected storms. 

• Goal #1 Poverty  Goal #2 Hunger  Goal #3 Health  Goal #4 Quality Education 
• Goal #5 Gender Equality  Goal #6 Clean Water and Sanitation 
• Goal #7 Affordable and Clean Energy  Goal #8 Decent Work-Economic Growth 
• Goal #9 Energy Innovation-Infrastructure  Goal #10 Reduced Inequalities 
• Goal #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities  Goal #12 Responsible Consumption and Production 
• Goal #13 Climate Action  Goal #14 Life below Water  Goal #15 Life on Land 
• Goal #16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 
• Goal #17 PARTNERSHIPS for the Goals 

Action Plan

Conference presidents, area chairmen, and local presidents were the driving force involved with the local churches on the SDGs. The actions were through workshops, conferences, area projects, and community involvement. We partnered with community organizations and selected businesses that impacted our communities. We stayed in touch with our elected officials and congressional delegations to promote *CSW65 (Commission on the Status of Women), The Human Trafficking Accountability Act, the UN Strategies to End Fistula, and (GBV) Gender-Based Violence. (un.org). Our next stop is to Promote and attend the 34th Annual NGO Virtual Conference, October 20-21, 2023. 

I am grateful to the Reid and Lemon teams, the connectional and episcopal officers in the 11th, the Conference Presidents, Area Chairpersons, Local Presidents, and WMS members for sharing their knowledge and support of our initiatives. 

Much thanks and appreciation to the Reid & Lemon’s teams, the Connectional NGO Leadership Team, Conference Presidents, and WMS members for your knowledge, partnership, and support: Florida – Mary Silva  Central – Frances Howard  South – Ann McCurdy  West – Valerie Russ  East - Brenda Smith  Bahamas - Sharon Rolle. Florida and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas—we are stronger together! 

In His Service, 

Dr. Kathleen “Kat” Butler Gordon 

11th District, NGO Liaison 

Women’s Missionary Society of The African Methodist Episcopal Church