From the Anglican Communion News Service:
Beth Adamson-Strauss. Beth Adamson, as she was known, a Methodist who worked for the US-based Episcopal Church, died on Sunday in hospital where she was receiving treatment for serious injuries caused by an accident two weeks earlier. For several years she had led the Episcopal Church’s campaigning on gender justice issues at the United Nations; and helped to organise delegations from both the US-based Church and the wider Anglican Communion to the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meetings in New York. …
The Ecumenical and Interreligious Deputy to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Margaret Rose, used to be Director for Women’s Ministries in the US-based Episcopal Church. She said: “Beth was instrumental in organising what was then called Anglican Women’s Empowerment. She has since continued that work through the Anglican Communion office, the UN Working Group on Girls and much more.
“But as important as her accomplishments, which were many, was Beth herself, whose generous spirit called out the best in every one she touched. . . Ned Strauss, Beth’s husband, wrote about ‘our Beth’ – and that is indeed who she was: a woman who consistently offered herself to others, that they – we – might be more whole.
“She carried and offered the ‘light of Christ’ to all, and experienced the world with joy and wonder. In the face of suffering or poverty or pain or injustice, Beth refused to give up hope and was instrumental in addressing systemic change in every possible way.
“She knew we were in it for the long haul and her legacy will be that none of us gives up the hope which propelled her and us to continue the struggle.”
In 2015, Adamson was given an Award for Global Service in recognition of her efforts on behalf of the Anglican Communion and the UNCSW.
Read more about Adamson’s work and further tributes at the Anglican Communion News Service.
Featured photo: Beth Adamson receives the Globas Service Award in April 2015. Photo: Carole Hughes. Via ACNS.