“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — Peter 4:10

Women’s Action Web (WAW) is a program that was established by the Office of Disciples Women in 2001 that enables a group of women to travel to various locations in the United States and Canada to learn about issues that adversely affect women. The program provides women with an immersive learning experience that raises awareness of various justice issues and inspires them to work towards change in their own community. While traveling, they engage in learning about what congregations are doing to address the needs of local people and participate through hands-on missions. Once the trip is completed, the women will work with the Office of Disciples Women, their region, and local congregations to engage others around the issue at hand. At the conclusion of their time, participants will:

• Achieve a developed awareness of common needs in the areas visited and their local community, as well as possible solutions.
• Acquire the necessary skills to identify needs in their local community that relate to the issue focus.
• Develop a working plan to connect their region and/or congregation to existing programs and services.
• Be able to create a ministry where none exists in their local context.

Criteria for Participants 

Criteria for participants may vary based on the focus of the trip, but in general, participants should:

• Be self-aware and able to manage oneself in a group setting.
• Demonstrate cultural competence, practicing respect and value for practices and experiences that may differ from one’s own.
• Open to learning, willing to study, physically able to participate.
• Connected to Disciples Women structures, ministries, and activities in their Region, congregation, etc. 
• Able and committed to plan and lead a similar experience in their Region.
• Diverse in age, ethnicity, economics, and geographic area. 
• Affirm, abide by, and promote anti-racist/pro-reconciling practices in ministry as outlined by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.
• Ability to comply with ID, documentation, health, and government regulations that may vary by location.

WAW 2024: Caminantes Experience on the US-Mexico Border

April 28-May 3, 2024 (dates may shift +/- a few days)

Join Disciples Women in Tucson, Arizona, as we explore women’s issues at the southern border. In partnership with First Christian Church Tucson (DOC) and Comunidad Limen Christian Church (DOC), this group will act as participant observers, immersing themselves in the daily lives of individuals and families being hosted at Comunidad Limen. Participants will use the “see-judge-act method of analysis to reflect on the realities of border communities and to put our faith values into transformative social action”. During their time on the US-Mexico border, the group can expect to learn about the general landscape of this issue, the disparities that affect women, as well as engage in theological inquiry and critique around the doctrine of discovery and border militarization. Participants will go between the US and Mexican sides of the border for a hands on immersion experience as they hear stories of the Caminantes (translated to hikers or walkers in english) that sojourn to cross the southern border.

The application is now closed. Please stay tuned for updates about this amazing experience!

*There are many ways to help fund your WAW experience, including but not limited to private fundraising (individual donor solicitation from family and friends, GoFundMe, etc.), regional support, congregational support, and grants such as the Disciples Women’s Endowment Fund.*

 Incomplete Applications will not be considered. Submission of application does not guarantee participation.

*This trip requires a valid US Passport that expires at least 6 months after the dates of travel or valid government picture ID, such as drivers license, and birth certificate.

*This trip requires participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully vaccinated is defined as having the initial two inoculations and at least one booster.