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ISC Director Speaks at 2026 Women on the Water Conference

Matt Morse, Esq., Director of SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center, provides a virtual presentation highlighting SCI’s work to the attendees of the 2026 Women on the Water Conference.

by Matt Morse, Esq.

Director of SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center

Presenting at the 2026 Women on the Water (“WOW”) Conference in Baltimore, MD, was both an honor and a meaningful professional experience. When unexpected travel issues prevented me from presenting in person, the disruption became a fitting reminder of the unpredictability mariners and seafarers face every day. With the support of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, I joined the conference remotely to speak with women who represent the present and future of the maritime industry about the work of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI).

I opened my presentation with a simple visual exercise, displaying a banana, a carton of orange juice, a laptop, an item of clothing, and two small matchbox cars (“imagine these are much bigger,” I joked). I asked what these everyday objects shared in common: each had moved through global commerce by the hands of a mariner or seafarer. That connection provided a natural entry point into a broader conversation about SCI’s mission to care for those individuals—past, present, and future—including those in the audience.

We discussed how SCI meets mariners where they are—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—through ship visits, chaplaincy, legal advocacy, continuing mariner education, and crisis response. I focused particularly on SCI’s pastoral care, emphasizing that it is relational, confidential, and rooted in presence.

As I shared, “It is not our job to tell you what you should believe; it is our job to take what we believe and use it to help you.”

The thoughtful questions and reflections that followed demonstrated deep engagement. Hearing from participants who had been supported by SCI during their careers was especially meaningful. Overall, the experience reaffirmed the value of showing up—despite obstacles—to build relationships and advocate for those whose work too often goes unseen. SCI is grateful to have participated in this well-organized event and thanks Ms. Trisha Meier of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy for the opportunity.