United Women in Faith: response

From the March/April 2024 issue of response.

Native American United Methodists share their art and faith with the 2024 General Conference. From the March/April 2024 issue of response.

United Women in Faith brings four new petitions to General Conference and 11 resolution readoptions that call on the church to prioritize women, children, and youth.From the March/April 2024 issue of response.

What does it mean to step “faithfully forward”? Is it blindly moving ahead without planning or purpose? Of course not. Is it just expecting God to take over and do it all? No. We know that God doesn’t work that way. Well, the Bible tells us in Hebrew’s 11:1 (NIV), “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” And Philippians 3:14 reads, “I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Jesus Christ.”With that biblical guidance, I believe that to go “faithfully forward” is to prayerfully set a goal, work hard to reach it, and then have the faith to know that the Holy Spirit is right beside us every step of the way, guiding us to victory. However, it can still be a little scary. And often fear of the unknown or of the challenges we face can keep us from being able to see God’s promises.The path we plan to take to reach our goal can also change without notice and then we must adapt. That can be hard to do. We want everything in life to be a direct path. But often God takes us on a different journey. Yes, there are challenges to overcome. Are we going to see only the challenges or trust in God’s promises? Pointing out only the problems and roadblocks can derail us. But, moving forward with the knowledge of God’s presence and faith in God’s love and guidance can lead to success and glorious celebration. That’s why we chose the theme Faithfully Forward for the Day of Giving, March 23, 2024. We hope that you will join your United Women in Faith sisters around the world on that day in celebration as we step Faithfully Forward, uniting hearts and hands to create a brighter, more compassionate tomorrow for women, children, and youth.

On September 17, 2023, United Women in Faith and the Office of Economic and Environmental Justice joined the March to End Fossil Fuels.

Welcome to a new year and to a new look for response!

The United Methodist General Conference takes place April 2024 in Charlotte. United Women in Faith will be there.

Sally Vonner's responsively Yours column from the Jan/Feb 2024 issue of response.

Our digital platform provides an online space for resources and community.

Colorado women’s ministry with Native Americans features beadwork.

"… As you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40)

The season of Advent is not about waiting for the joy of Christ—it is about preparing for it.

One member's story of joining the 1869 Society.Read the story at https://uwfaith.org/news/latest-news/

Transformation and change do not happen without intention. The intention of the strategic plan was to establish priorities to maximize impact and engagement with members and create pathways for new women coming in the present and future.

United Women in Faith celebrates consecration and the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner.

With the help of United Women in Faith scholarhsips, nursing scholars embark upon inspiring and compassionate journeys.

Meet the new general secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith. Our response question-and-answer session with Sally Vonner covers topics including Scripture, social justice, discernment, inspiration, and the future of United Women in Faith.

As a member of United Women in Faith and a faithful Christian, I believe that giving is an important part of the ministries in which I participate. Part of ministry and faith is putting money in the places it will do what I cannot. United Women in Faith’s 154-year legacy began with eight bold women determined to change the world for the better. This organization stands ready not only to continue our legacy, but to forge courageous new paths. United Women in Faith will go wherever we are needed, without hesitation, because the needs are great but our power, our resolve, and our faith are even greater.Any great change begins with a single step, a decision. United Women in Faith has 88 National Mission Institutions around the United States. NMIs are community centers, colleges, and residences providing vital services in vulnerable communities—empowering women, caring for children, supporting seniors, educating youth, providing housing for domestic violence survivors, and offering residences for special needs children and youth. Many started with a single commitment, a dream, and then a plan to make it happen. NMIs are the working example today of what used to be a first step out in faith.My first decision each year is a budget. I review it each month or each payday or when planning a big purchase. I include savings and special set-asides to make sure I meet my financial commitments. What does your budget include? Where does United Women in Faith fit in your budget? My investment in the Legacy Endowment Fund is a big purchase that I incorporate into my budget. Planned gifts or a pledge for a major gift are big purchases. I can set aside a small amount each month to make a big gift at one time. Like any big purchase, a planned gift or a major gift adds to your life. It is a reminder to invest in the future. You decide what is important by where you put your gifts.Giving a major gift or committing to a pledged major gift feels good because giving provides a sense of meaning and purpose. It shows faith and commitment to this organization 150 years from now. Friends of Legacy gifts are gifts of $5,000 or more to the Legacy Endowment Fund and can be paid all at once or paid over a 3-to-5-year commitment. A pledge to the Legacy Endowment Fund is a gift to the future women of United Women in Faith.Your gift to the Legacy Endowment Fund is joined together with the generous gifts of others for the future work of United Women in Faith. Your mission giving combines to do the current work of United Women in Faith. When you make your pledge to mission or you give at your monthly meeting or you add an additional fundraiser for your unit’s pledge, you make a gift that reaches women, youth, and children today. You make the work of today possible with each dollar given in mission.I may not create an NMI in my lifetime. However, my pledge to the Legacy Endowment Fund and United Women in Faith is a foundation of a bigger goal, a bigger vision. My gift is my vision for a better world for women, youth, and children today and tomorrow. Our foremothers built their legacy as they built this organization. It is time to build ours. God loveth a cheerful giver.

Joy, Joy, Joy! I have joy down in my heart! This best describes how excited and honored I am to be the next General Secretary/CEO of United Women in Faith. The reality is still sinking in for me as I write my first Responsively Yours feature. By now you may have heard that I was elected by the board of directors to lead United Women in Faith into the amazing future God has for us. I am also joyful and grateful to know that my path has crossed with many of you already and that over the coming days and months, I will be blessed to meet and engage with many more of you. Like you, United Women in Faith and its predecessor organizations have inspired, influenced, and impacted me to be the woman I am today. My journey began almost 40 years ago and will continue for the rest of my life. I am proud to be a member of an organization that focuses on mission, spiritual growth, leadership development, and transformative education for women, children, and youth around the world with great heart and intention. We make an impact believing that love in action can change the world. I look forward to continuing the great work we have done over the years. I am grateful to my predecessor, Harriett Jane Olson, for her amazing leadership over the last 15 years. I will never forget her leading us into “A Fresh Wind Blowing,” the theme for the 2016 Jurisdiction Quadrennial meetings. We set forth with a charge from her and from you to lead us into new ways of reaching more women to join our sisterhood. Research and years of planning brought us to the rebranding of the organization we experienced first with a new name and logo in March 2022, and continues. As a 154-year-old organization of faithful women organized for mission on behalf of women, children, and youth, we are moving forward refreshing our programs, resources, message, and story, but not our mission focus. Over the century and with every generation of United Women in Faith there have been changes, adapting to address the needs and God’s calling for them in their day and looking ahead with grace to the future, to us in this present moment! The God who led them and gave them a vision for their day is the same God with us today. I have answered God’s call to lead at this time with faith, hope, and vision—a vision of growth in our membership, our mission giving, and reaching the Legacy Endowment Fund goal ($60 million) in the next four years. I have faith we can do it! Jesus said with faith nothing is impossible. Expect more on how we live out the vision in the coming months.I am ready to continue the good work begun. I pray and trust you are too. Together we can do great things for God. May it 
be so!

Something very special happens in Austin, Texas, the last weekend of January every year. For the last 35 years United Women in Faith have been coming together to learn about issues concerning women, children, and youth of Texas and how to address those issues to help bring about “the beloved community” that God intends for all of us.