The Southwest and Northeast Districts recently held their Spring meetings to great success. Check out these pictures from both events.
2025 Day of Giving – March 23
On March 23 of each we celebrate the birthday of United Women in Faith with a special Day of Giving offering. This year we plan to meet via Zoom to celebrate with a special Texas version of the event. Everyone is encouraged to wear their best western gear. Hats on, ladies!
Why March 23?
On this date in 1869, a group of eight intrepid women founded the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, the forerunner of United Women in Faith. Their vision was to create educational opportunities and provide health care to women in India. These founding women invited others to join their mission through their prayers and two pennies. Thus, a movement of faith and generosity in action was born.
The Legacy Endowment Fund
The Legacy Endowment Fund of United Women in Faith is a permanently invested endowment that supports the work of improving the lives of women, children, and youth at home and abroad.
Ways to Give
- Online
- By phone: 800-278-7771 (8 am – 5 pm EST, Mon-Fri and Sunday, March 23)
- Text: Text “FUTURE” to 20503
- By Check:
Make checks payable to:
United Women in Faith
Attn: Legacy
Church Center for the United Nations
777 United Nations Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(Write “Day of Giving” in the memo section)
Join Us in Giving for Generations to Come
- Become a Legacy Builder by pledging to make a monthly donation of $18.69 or more.
- Become a Friend of Legacy by making a gift of $5,000 or more. For more information, please contact Development at 800-278-7771.
- Join the 1869 Society by making a planned gift through a will bequest, gift of stock or securities, or donation of other non-cash assets.
- For more information about The Legacy Endowment Fund, visit: Legacy Fund | United Women in Faith, call 1-800-278-7771, or email legacy150@uwfaith.org.
Registration Open for 2025 Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat
You are invited to attend the Texas Conference Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat being held via Zoom on March 1.
The keynote speaker this year is Ilka Vega, a transfronteriza from El Paso / Cd. Juarez borderlands. She serves as the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith.
You’ll also be able to attend two workshops: Soul Care led by Abby Gutierrez and Discover the Divine Connection with Nature led by Paulette Moore-Hall.
Rev Soledad de La Cerda will lead the closing worship and Love Feast.
Agenda
| 7:30 am – 8:00 am | Morning Praise |
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Gathering Time |
| 9:00 am – 9:30 am | Opening Plenary |
| 9:30 am – 10:00 am | Keynote Address |
| 10:00 am – 10:10 am | Break |
| 10:10 am – 11:00 am | Workshops – 1st Session |
| 11:00 am – 11:15 am | Return to the main room |
| 11:15 am – 12:05 pm | Workshops – 2nd Session |
| 12:05 pm – 12:15 pm | Break |
| 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm | Closing Plenary |
Biographies
The keynote speaker this year is Ilka Vega, a transfronteriza from El Paso / Cd. Juarez borderlands. She serves the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. She holds a B.A in Sustainability, Culture, and Social Justice and a B.A. in Business from Southwestern University and a M.Sc. in Innovation, Human Development, and Sustainability from the University of Geneva. She is a graduate of Lydia Patterson Institute and has over 14 years of experience working on human rights and different advocacy issues including migration, climate and racial justice. She has worked as an educator and campaign organizer developing social and climate justice curriculum for faith-based audiences. She has also worked on mainstreaming sustainability policies and educational resources across different UN and international organizations including the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the 2050Today initiative in Geneva.
Abby Gutierrez has grown up in the United Methodist Church as a Pastor’s kid alongside strong, encouraging and empowering United Methodist Women, now known as United Women in Faith. The most influential of these women has been her mother, Minerva Briones, who through powerful examples always encouraged the growth of our organization in every church her father and family were appointed to. Abby has served as a Program Advisory Group Member representing the Rio Texas Conference United Women in Faith and is now a member of the Board of Directors. She is also a part of the Charter for Racial Justice Support Team where she supports Conference presidents in the South Central Jurisdiction in their ongoing Racial Justice work. She also served as the Chair for the Texas Legislative Event planning committee for 2024.
Abby, her husband Brian and daughters Hannah & Sarah, are members of La Trinidad United Methodist church in San Antonio, TX where she serves as Lay Leader.
Rev. Soledad de la Cerda holds graduate degrees in Theology and Divinity from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She was ordained as a Deacon in 2022. Balancing the responsibilities of being a devoted mother to five children with her role as Associate Pastor at CrossRoads UMC in Houston, Texas, Soledad also preaches as the assigned pastor at Beneke Memorial UMC on the first and third Sundays of each month.
Soledad embodies a deep commitment to both family and spiritual leadership. Born in Santiago, Chile, she encountered Christ while studying at university. She married on May 12, 1988, and is the mother of Claudia, Andres, Kevin, Dylan, and Annahi. After 33 years of marriage, she divorced in 2021.
Recently, she published her first book titled “La inclusión de las personas con discapacidad en la iglesia”, which was edited by AETH (Association for Hispanic Theological Education). The book, based on her experience as the mother of a child with disabilities, creates a moving and compelling narrative.
Paulette Moore-Hall is deeply committed to her faith and the mission ministry of United Women in Faith. She recently completed her 2020-2024 term as a member of The United Women in Faith Program Advisory Group and the United Women in Faith Legacy Endowment Fund Steering Committee. She has faithfully served in prior offices such as President and Treasurer of the Texas Conference United Women in Faith, and the former Central North District United Women in Faith. Also, Mission u study leader. She is the current president of the John Wesley Unit, United Women in Faith. In addition, she is the Chairperson for the 2025 United Women in Faith Texas Legislative Event and serves on the Board of the Spring Interfaith Council as Treasurer.
Paulette has a passion for serving ministries and is an active member of John Wesley Methodist Church in Houston, TX, ministries include Prayer Ministry Coordinator, Choir member, substitute Sunday school teacher, bible study facilitator and actively participates in her local unit mission projects and ministry outreach.
Food, Faith, Fellowship — and Fun!
Ask anyone who attended the 2024 Annual Meeting at Lakeview, and they’ll tell you that a great time was had by all.
Officers met on Friday morning to approve a budget to present to the membership, discuss the coming year’s events, and to get an update on all the work being done in the Conference.
In the evening attendees gathered at Bagley Hall and got to know each other by playing several fun games centered around food and the recipes that women brought from home. With bingo cards in hand and wearing our aprons, we tried to find someone who brought a soup recipe, someone with a salad recipe, and someone who cooks Sunday dinner on Saturday among other descriptions. Finding that person in the crowd was most of the fun. Prizes were awarded to the winners of the food word search and word scramble. (Most of us are still trying to figure out how they got the answers so quickly!)
All the fun was followed by an emboldened word from Rev Ellen Thornburg, Associate Pastor at Love UMC in Baytown. She encouraged us to remember that we can rely on Lady Wisdom from Proverbs as we move throughout our important work.
We ended the evening by watching the 25-minute film, Food Access Revolution in South L.A. Roy Choi’s Inspiring Journey, a look at food deserts in the Los Angeles area and how different people are trying to solve the problem.
Saturday’s session began with a blessing the hygiene kits that units assembled this year. At final count we donated 610 kits, $550 in miscellaneous supplies, and $1347 in cash donations to be used by the UMC Mission Center in Conroe for women in schools and shelters.
Greetings were brought by Stacie Hawkins, South Central Jurisdiction President, and Stephanie Pounds, National Board of Directors. The Prayer Calendar and devotion was given by Gwen Mason in English and by Ashley Mayho in Spanish. Treasurer Kathy Aubin lit the Mission Candle for 1 hour and 40 minutes representing the $1650.88 raised.
President Theresa Graham presented General Secretary Sally Vonner with a certificate for a Special Mission Recognition pin which was warmly received. After that Stacie Hawkins reported that the Legacy Fund has raised $40,806,698.00 so far and that the Texas Conference had contributed $205,783.06 of that.
Sally Vonner brought the keynote speech. She challenged us to help the organization reach 500,000 people in membership, generate $10+ million/year in revenue, and meet or exceed $60 million Legacy Endowment Fund 2014 goal.
After a short break, the business meeting began where we elected and installed new officers, adopted a 2025 budget, completed the pledge service, and took an offering.
Pledges for 2025 totaled $82,000:
- Metro District – $12,000
- Northeast District – $10,000
- Northwest District – $10,000
- Southeast District – $25,000
- Southwest District – $25,000
Lunch followed, and then we split into two workshops on Food and Faith led by Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Senior Pastor at Westbury UMC, and Rev. Jennifer Hodson, Pastor at Bryan Community Church.
Gathering one last time in Bagley Hall, Rev Colvin led us in Communion and the sending forth. We believe love in action can change the world–now it’s up to us to go home and do just that.
Living the Charter for Racial Justice
The Charter for Racial Justice is a crucial document adopted by the United Women in Faith (UWFaith) of the United Methodist Church. It was created to address and combat racism within the church and society. The charter emphasizes the belief that all people are God’s children and that racism is a rejection of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
The Texas Conference United Women in Faith actively supports and promotes this charter. We are committed to eliminating institutional racism, creating opportunities for honest discussions about racism, and working together to create a world where every person has a voice, rights and opportunity for an abundant life.
Please register to join us on October 12, 2024, 9:00 – noon, at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 7302 N. Main St, Houston, as we highlight examples of Living the Charter for Racial Justice.
Download this flyer and invite your friends.
Dorothy Ringer Sumner
Social Action
Food, Faith, and Fellowship Aprons
This year in concert with our Annual Meeting theme of Food, Faith, and Fellowship, we’ll be offering aprons for sale with the UWFaith logo embroidered on them.
The aprons are khaki in a 65/35 Cotton/polyester blend (so not much ironing needed). The cost is $25. Pre-order now, and you can pick yours up at Lakeview.
Important
- Orders must be placed by Sunday, September 15th, 2024.
- When paying, the site will ask you for a shipping address, so that we have a way to contact you. There WILL NOT be a shipping option. All aprons must be picked up by someone attending Fall Annual Meeting Lakeview.
- There will be no guarantee that any will be available at Fall Meeting if you have not pre-ordered.
Need to send a check? Order here.
General Secretary Sally Vonner to Keynote 2024 Fall Meeting
Registration is now open for the Texas Conference Fall Annual Meeting to take place at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center outside Palestine, TX on September 27-28. We are excited to announce that the General Secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith, Sally Vonner, will join us as our keynote speaker.
To show our appreciation for all that Sally has done during her first year as General Secretary, the Texas Conference will present her with a Special Mission Recognition Award. During the registration process, individuals are invited to contribute to purchasing the pin Sally will receive. Units can also contribute by contacting treasurer, Kathy Aubin.
Our theme this year is Food, Faith, and Fellowship. You are all invited to wear your best apron and bring a recipe to share during our Friday night fellowship time. Don’t have an apron? We’ll have some for sale with the UWFaith logo! Stay tuned for more details.
Rev. Ellen Thornburg, Associate Pastor at Love UMC, Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Senior Pastor at Westbury UMC, and Rev. Jennifer Hodson, Pastor at Bryan Community Church, round out our list of dynamic speakers and workshop leaders.
Schedule
Friday
- 3-5 pm Registration, Bagley Hall
- 5:30 pm Dinner, Sparling Cafeteria
- 7:00 pm Gather in Song, Bagley Hall
- Speaker – Rev. Ellen Thornburg
- Fellowship – Bring your recipes and aprons!
Saturday
- 7:30 am – Greet the Day
- 8:00 am – Breakfast, Sparling Cafeteria
- 8:15 am – Registration, Bagley Hall
- 8:45 am – Gather in Song, Bagley Hall
- Hands-on Mission Project Dedication
- Candle Burning Ceremony
- Presentation of Special Mission Recognition Pin – Sally Vonner
- Legacy Fund Report
- Keynote Speaker – Sally Vonner
- Business Meeting
- Election of Officers
- Recognition of Retiring Officers
- Adoption of 2025 Budget
- Pledge Service
- Offering
- 12 noon – Lunch, Sparling Cafeteria
- 1:15 pm – Workshops (choose one) – Rev. Jennifer Hodson and Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Bagley Hall
- 2:15 pm – Closing Plenary/Communion, Bagley Hall
- 2:30 pm – Depart
South Central Jurisdiction meets for 2024 Quadrennial
St. Louis was the place to be for the 2024 South Central Jurisdiction Quadrennial of United Women in Faith which took place on Jun 20-23. Over 300 women participated in the three-day event that spanned eleven conferences : Texas, North Texas, Central Texas, Northwest Texas, Rio Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Indian Missionary, Great Plains, Missouri, and Arkansas.
The scripture that guided the gathering was John 13:34, and the event opened with the scripture spoken and prayed in several of the languages spoken in the jurisdiction.
After a welcome message from Jurisdiction President, Ellen Lipsay, and a rousing chorus of We are Family, the group was addressed by United Women in Faith CEO and President, Sally Vonner, who reminded us that our ancestors lived through everything we have, but they kept the movement and mission moving forward, building hospitals and churches as they went–and they did it all with fewer communication avenues than we do.
Sally challenged us with the 2024-2029 Vision for Growth which aims to:
- Grow our membership beyond 500,000 members
- Generate $10+ million/year in revenue
- Meet and/or exceed the $60 million Legacy Endowment Fund goal from 2014
After attending workshops during the day, on Friday evening delegates were addressed by 18-year-old member Kaylen Svitak-Coleman, from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. She spoke to us about her work with the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) organization. Over 85% of Native Americans experience some sort of violence in their lives, and a majority of violent deaths of Native Americans are not logged in federal databases.
Kaylen was followed by Colette Pichon Battle of Taproot Earth in New Orleans who spoke on the 6 Pillars of Climate Justice
- Water
- Energy
- Land
- Labor
- Economy
- Democracy
Colette, a lawyer, reminded us that disaster laws are in place to protect property, and if you don’t have property (65% of African-Americans in New Orleans during Katrina rented their homes), there isn’t much help. She also warned of the increasing privatization of water resources, which often starts as a temporary solution after a disaster that ends up turning permanent.
On the second day of the event, members were treated to a live Voices from the Field with reports from Regional Missionaries from around the world, including Frieda Mwebe Mofya of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Grace Musuka of Zimbabwe. Elections were also held for members of the National Board of Directors. Women elected were:
- Kelly G Loeb, Missouri Conference
- Lynne Grandstaff, Central Texas Conference
- Patricia Dye, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
- Cynthia Harry, North Texas Conference
Cheryl Felder, New Mexico Conference, and Yolanda Faye Perry, Oklahoma Conference, were elected as alternatives.
Members also got to hear from four of the bishops from the Jurisdiction during Bishops Corner where they fielded a series of questions from former National United Women in Faith President, Dr. Yvette Richards.
Saturday night everyone, including Texas Conference delegates, attended a Sparkle Celebration, where new officers were feted, retiring officers were honored, and everybody got to dance the night away.
On Sunday morning, the final day of the event, a worship service was held led by the bishops. Bishop Delores Williamston gave the message followed by a Communion service for all.
Texas Conference Participates in Day of Ubuntu
The South Central Jurisdiction Quadrennial kicked off with a Day of Ubuntu across the St Louis area. One of the projects was at Epworth Residential, a United Women in Faith National Mission Institute. Epworth was founded in 1864 and continues to provides services, counseling, and housing to youth ages 11 through 18 who find themselves in the foster care today.
On arrival Epworth took members on a tour of their beautiful tree-shaded campus which includes dining and learning facilities, along with a a dorm and a pool.
The pool was the focus of the task for United Women in Faith that day. Two days later Epworth was hosting a rubber duck race as a fundraising effort, and UWFaith members attached numbered stickers to over 600 ducks! A good time was had by members from across the jurisdiction as we joined in fun and fellowship (there might have been a few verses of “Rubber Ducky” sung), and a few may have even joined in to adopt a duck with a chance to win!
Texas Conference President Theresa Graham’s group went to the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House. The community center is a multi-purpose, faith based community center in relationship with the United Methodist Church. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to move out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
Day of Ubuntu participants helped clean tables and chairs in five classrooms–and found enough time to sneak in a few snuggles, too!
Texas Conference 