What does an appeal in the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC) Report and one in The Diocesan Times have in common? A shout out to men, that’s what. 
In the November 2022 issue of The Diocesan Times, Mary Stone, the President of the Canadian Mothers’ Union entitled her column on Gender-based Violence (GBV), Calling All Men: “So, instead of mostly women championing activism against gender-based violence . . . we need men to step up and speak out . . . men in leadership roles who will assume responsibility and take action to help mitigate gender-based violence (mostly committed by men)”, so said Mary.
What did we hear about GBV and men from MCC Commissioner Chair, Mike MacDonald, on Thursday, March 30, with the release of the MCC Report? “Women have been carrying, through community-based organizations, the burden of protecting women almost exclusively for far too long. Men who are leaders in society have to call it out for what it is – it’s an epidemic.” Thank you to the MCC Commissioners for being so forthright about the public health emergency and human rights issue of GBV! It is an epidemic, as the Anglican Church Women Diocesan Board has been repeatedly saying in columns about gender-based violence in The Diocesan Times.
The Anglican Communion Office has noted that tackling the deep injustices of gender inequality is part of “our Anglican mission”. Let’s put both this part of our Anglican mission and men together (along with women) to address gender-based violence. How? By coming on board the soon-to-be-established Anglicans Powering Potential (APP), the new entity evolving from the Anglican Church Women Diocesan Board. With the gender inclusive/gender expansive APP, we can honour the legacy of the Board and its over decade of focus on raising awareness of GBV, by having men and women work together in a meaningful way to “disrupt traditional norms and expressions of masculinity” (MCC Report, 2023).
Our Primate, the Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, offers the following message: “Pay attention. Pay attention to the smallest ways that people degrade others based on their gender.” That is a starting point – maybe a small one, but significant nonetheless. We can do this. Anglicans in our Diocese can be leaders in this long overdue gender cultural shift. Anglicans can work with diocesan and community partners to heighten awareness, change the conversation, and make a difference. The Mass Casualty Commission Report is firm and clear that it is “time for men to start acknowledging the realities of gender-based violence and do their part.”
So, men, send along an e-mail to [email protected] to express your interest in engaging with Anglicans Powering Potential (APP) with its social transformation focus of seeking to transform unjust structures of society, challenging violence of every kind, and pursuing peace and reconciliation.
