txconfumw

February 6, 2024April 1, 2024 txconfumw Spring Retreat

Register now for 2024 Spring Event

Save the date and make plans to join us Saturday, March 2nd, via Zoom from 9 am – 1:30 pm. for the Texas Conference United Women in Faith Spring Event.

Our theme this year is Get Together, and we are lucky to have Rev. Janet Wolf bring our keynote message.

Following the conference news items and Rev. Wolf’s message, we will hold three workshops in separate breakout rooms.

Get together to serve – Wesley Community Center will share their programs and how ladies can volunteer.
Get together to worship – Rev. Neomi Fletcher will lead
Get together to advocate – Texas Impact will share ways to engage our communities this election season.

Each workshop will be repeated once, so you can choose to attend TWO of these workshops. Each session will be 45 minutes long with a 15 minute break in between.

Speakers

Rev. Wolf is an elder in The United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor of rural and urban congregations. She is a college and seminary professor, community mediator, learner, and partner for transformative justice. In July 2012, she was appointed to work with Marian Wright Edelman and the Children’s Defense Fund on nonviolent direct-action organizing to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline, work that includes the organization’s Freedom Schools and the annual Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry. She is the author of “To See and To Be Seen,” a chapter in I Was in Prison: United Methodist Perspectives on Prison Ministry, edited by James M. Shopshire Sr., et al., and numerous other writings. She is the author of the book, Practicing Resurrection: The Gospel of Mark and Radical Discipleship.

Rev. Neomi Fletcher holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology – Emory University with a concentration in Theology and Ethics. While at Candler, Neomi served on the Candler Community and Diversity Committee working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the school.

February 6, 2024March 16, 2026 txconfumw Districts, Southeast

Southeast District Gathers in Winnie

On January 20, 2024, Winnie-Stowell United Women in Faith hosted the first gathering of the new Southeast District. Twenty-five women from Santa Fe to Beaumont braved freezing temperatures to hear Kandy Lawson, 2023 president of South District, outline issues facing the newly reconstituted district.

Several conference officers—President Theresa Graham, Vice-President Stacie Hawkins, Treasurer Kathy Aubin, and Program Resources Chair Debra Wroblewski—joined the group also.

Rev. Jared Grosse, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Winnie-Stowell, officiated a communion service and blessed the lunch that concluded the gathering. Fortified with hearty soups and salads, attendees returned home with inspiration for the coming year.

February 6, 2024 txconfumw Legislative Event

2024 Legislative Event is a Wrap

A New and Serious Response was the theme of this year’s Texas Legislative Event (TLE). The event provides annual training and information on statewide public policy issues and pending legislation to educate and equip women to do justice by putting their faith, hope and love in action to fulfill the purpose of the United Women in Faith. The event is organized by the United Women in Faith and their advocacy partner, Texas Impact.

Attendees were presented with an election year overview of the legislative priorities for 2023-2024 and their impact on the March 6^th primary elections. The overview was followed by issue briefings on reproductive policy, climate justice, public school vouchers, gun violence, immigration, voter education resources and civic engagement. An inspirational worship service was led by Rev. Cheryl Smith, she urged us to be witnesses as we advocate for justice. The keynote speakers, Rev. Sharon Austin, Director of Connectional and Justice Ministries in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and Sally Vonner, General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of United Women in Faith both spoke with the same engaging and prevailing theme, our God is a justice seeker and He seeks to make things just for all people in due time.

We shared our legislative priorities on Tuesday morning with visits to our representatives and senators offices at the Capitol. We concluded our time together with encouragement to return home ready to advocate on behalf of women, children, youth and the marginalized by putting faith, hope and love into action.

Dorothy Ringer Sumner
Social Action Coordinator

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 txconfumw Jurisdiction Quadrennial, South Central Jurisdiction

Scholarships available for St. Louis Jurisdictional Meeting

On June 21-23, 2024, United Women in Faith members from across the South Central Jurisdiction will meet in St. Louis, Missouri. Early bird registration for the event is open until November 30. Registering early not only saves money, but it also ensures that you get the workshops and Ubuntu activity of your choosing. Click here to get started.

Scholarships are available for first time attendees, youth, young adult, or newly retired women from the Texas Conference. The scholarships will cover the cost of registration up to $300.

If you would like to apply for a scholarship, download the application, which includes a 200-word essay on why you want to attend and why you should receive the scholarship, and send it to Kathy Aubin, 1621 Prairie Mark Lane, Houston, TX 77077, or email it to khaubin@earthlink.net or thrgram@yahoo.com. Deadline for submitting your scholarship application is November 27.

scholarship-application download scholarship application

What is the South Central Jursidiction?

The South Central Jurisdiction encompasses twelve conference, including the Texas Conference. Its role is to implement the election process for the United Women in Faith’s national board of directors, and it’s also responsible for hosting special programs. The jurisdiction meets as a body every four years.

November 10, 2023November 14, 2023 txconfumw Central North, Districts, Fall Meeting, Southeast, Southwest

Fall 2023 Brings District Events

United Women in Faith from across the Texas Conference met for district meetings in October and November, in some cases for the last time and in some cases for the first time, as the current nine districts will be merged into five districts on January 1.

South/Southeast District

On Saturday, November 4, South District United Women in Faith held a fall meeting, including representatives from the Southeast District. This was their first in-person gathering since 2019, and attendees delighted in meeting face to face. Deer Park United Women in Faith hosted, providing light breakfast to begin the day and brown bag lunches to end it.

South District President Kandy Lawson of Seabrook was the keynote speaker, elaborating on the theme, “Into a New Season.” She closed by inviting her audience to assemble feminine hygiene kits, the hands-On project for 2024.

Conference Treasurer Kathy Aubin filled in for district treasurer, explaining the 2024 budget and leading the mission candle-burning ceremony. The morning concluded with communion service led by Rev. John R. Black, senior pastor of Deer Park United Methodist Church, and Debbie Talley, Deer Park choir accompanist.

Southwest District

Southwest District United Women In Faith held its Fall celebration on Saturday, November 4^th, 2023 at Newman Chapel United Methodist Church in Kendleton, Texas. The theme was “Inspire” based on the scripture Isaiah 43:18-19. The special guest speaker was Prophetess Sharon Y. Allen of Kendleton.

Installation of officers for the incoming year was done by Carolyn Milby, secretary of the Texas Conference. Luncheon catered by Michael Phoenix “Made a Tea Cake Services” It was enjoyed by all.

Special games were presented including Biblical questions and a super fun icebreaker Bingo. Special door prizes were also available to everyone. Although attendance for the celebration was not as full as it has been in the past, those who were there heard a powerful message from the speaker and enjoyed a nutritious and filling lunch. The event was enjoyed by all who were there.

Central North District

The Central North District met for the last time at Klein United Methodist Church in Spring on October 21st. President Florence Snyder led the meeting and the singing. Women enjoyed the breakfast provided by the Klein women.

Jane Clark, district treasurer, led the Mission Candle burning ceremony, and during the meeting a vote was taken to close our bank account as the Central North District will merge with the Southwest District in the new year. Suzie Worsham reminded us that the November election was coming up quickly and encouraged everyone to get ready to vote.

Linda Elms was the keynote speaker, and she reminded us that while our goals may seem hard and sometimes far away, our foremothers did great things in a time when it wasn’t easy for women to do many things. Yet they persevered.

October 27, 2023 txconfumw Uncategorized

Helping Campus Ministries

During the 2023 Fall Annual Meeting, Rev Tabitha Rankin, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University spoke about the mission of the United Methodist Church’s campus ministries. She suggested that congregations and units could support those ministries in a number of ways, including:

Offering Prayer
Providing Meals
Making Donations
Stocking Food Pantries
Filling in Clothing Closets
Partnering for Mission and Outreach
Acting as Mentors
Volunteering

For more information, contact Rev Rankin.

October 27, 2023 txconfumw Uncategorized

Special Recognition for Valerie Adame

At the 2023 Fall Annual Meeting President Theresa Graham presented Valerie Adame with a Special Mission Recognition pin. The honor highlighted all the work Valerie has done for the Conference over the years. Currently she serves as one of the Communications Coordinators, and handles all the event management and Zoom needs of the Conference. Registered for an event lately? That’s Valerie! Attended a Zoom Mission u? Valerie again!

Valerie has been a lifelong member of St Mark’s United Methodist Church in Baytown and a member of United Women in Faith for 24 years. She has served in several offices in her local unit and the South District since 2002. Valerie is currently serving on the nominations committee in South District. She has also served on the Texas Conference Committee on Native American Ministries since 2007. A lover of people and animals she has enjoyed a 30 year career owning her photography studio, from which she retired when her husband Herb Adame’s health began to decline in 2018. She now serves the many organizations she loves virtually in whatever ways possible. A true tom boy, she enjoys her mini farm, horses, dogs, rabbits & chickens along with her favorite prayer space, her organic vegetable garden.

October 24, 2023November 6, 2023 txconfumw Events, Fall Meeting, Uncategorized

2023 Annual Fall Meeting Takes Place at Lakeview

“We’re back!”

Those are the words heard many times during the 2023 Texas Conference Fall Annual Meeting. The two-day gathering, which took place Oct 6-7 at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, was the first face-to-face annual meeting since the pandemic.

Friday night members celebrated homecoming, with many in attendance wearing shirts from their favorite college and university. The speaker for the college-themed night was Rev Tabitha Rankin, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University. Rev Rankin brought us up to speed on all that is happening with college ministries inside the state of Texas and challenged us all to find a way to offer support.

The next morning began with a blessing of the Hands-On Mission Kits by Education and Interpretation Coordinator, Kathy Kraiza. After the welcome, greetings, and prayer calendar, Treasurer Kathy Aubin lit the mission candle in honor and memory of those lifted up by their units.

A special mission recognition was given to Valerie Adame, for her many years of work across the conference and the South District. If you’ve attended any event in the past several years that required registration or Zoom–which is just about every event–you can thank Valerie and her ability to navigate online technologies for making the experience so easy.

Vice-President Stacie Hawkins gave an update on the Legacy Fund, and then Bishop Harvey blessed us with a talk about all the good things happening within the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

During the business meeting that followed, Ella Aubin and Carren Rogers were elected and installed as the 2030 class of the Nominations Committee. Stephanie Pounds and Dorothy Ringer-Sumner were elected as nominees for the National Board of Directors, and Paulette Moore-Hall was elected as a nominee for the National Program Advisory Group. The 2024 budget was adopted and the pledge service completed.

After lunch Christine Riggle, Facilities Manager of the Mission Center of the Texas Annual Conference, thanked everyone in the Conference for their support of the Hands-On Mission Kits, and described the new Feminine Hygiene Kit that we will be making next year.

The event ended with a hymn, communion, grateful hearts for the chance to see each other again, and a promise to meet back again next year.

You can check out our album of pictures from the event here!

October 24, 2023 txconfumw Uncategorized

Trinity United Women in Faith Celebrate with Annual Worship Service

The United Women in Faith at Trinity United Methodist Church in Houston celebrate annually with a worship service. Members of the local unit and other church members participate in the service. This year the service was held on September 17. The 2023 theme was “Women Who Dare to Shift.”

A very inspirational and uplifting message was brought by the guest speaker for the day, Reverend Tabitha Mock Rankin. Reverend Rankin has served within the Texas Annual Conference for ten years. She is currently serving as the director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University.

The intergenerational praise dance team, The Anointed Angels, performed to “Shifting the Atmosphere”. The Women’s Chorale led the congregation in music. Our Texas Annual Conference president, Theresa Graham, was among the guests in attendance.