The first European Women's Synod, held in Gmunden, Austria, demanded women's full participation in decision-making processes in religious and secular institutions. They asked for access to all church ministries- including the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, "We give priority to opposing the systematic exclusion of women from positions of authority in church and society", delegates said.

More than 1000 women from 45 countries attended the first Ecumenical European Women's Assembly, under the title "Women's power changing the 21st century ". From 21 to 28 July 1996 they dealt with many issues, including politics, economics, spirituality and personal development. "The synod wants to confront church, political, economic and cultural leaders with the interests of women on a regional, national and European level", an executive committee member said.

Poverty in eastern and western Europe was one of the main subjects. A participant from Belarus told the assembly she earned less than $80 a month. "Women seem to be the losers of the economic and political backlash people are experiencing in Europe at the moment", another speaker declared. The delegates urged the separation of state and religion. They condemned fanaticism in every religion and urged that sexual violence in armed conflicts should be recognised as a reason for seeking political asylum.

An international platform called WOW (Women's Ordination Worldwide) was launched during the synod. Delegates said the theme of women's ordination was "not a theological question, but purely a question of power". A woman priest from the Church of England, Katharina Rummens, was quoted as saying that, although women in her church had gained access to the priesthood, they were still subjected to sexist discrimination. Professor Eva Kreisky, a political scientist in Vienna, told delegates that the Roman Catholic Church's "women-excluding structure" offered a model for male-dominated organisations that formed the political activites of the state.

Anne-Kathrin Koppetsch, Gmunden Austria