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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.

You may remember when Memorial Drive United Women in Faith were featured on this website last year for their sewing prowess. For two hours each Monday afternoon, 25 to 30 Circle members meet to stuff and sew closed heart-shaped pillows and animals that have been cut out, washed and ironed, and sewn by other volunteers working from home. Others crochet and knit lap blankets, hats and scarves. The ladies turn out approximately 75 pieces a week.

The story was picked up by the national office, and now appears in the May/June 2024 issue of response magazine. Well done, Memorial Drive!

Do you have a subscription to response? If not, you can order a print subscription or a digital version on the national website. Would you like to submit an article to response? Send a message to the Conference Communication Coordinators, and we’ll be in touch.

Pink-shirted members of Windsor Village United Women in Faith hosted Southeast District’s Spring meeting on Saturday, April 13.

Acting Southeast District officers called the program “Love in Action,” and shared a list of volunteer activities suitable for Texas Annual Conference’s Ubuntu Day of Service on April 20. These ranged from supporting women’s shelters and food ministries to building programs such as Habitat for Humanity and Sleep in Heavenly Peace—they build beds!

Ron Parker, director of Baytown Meals on Wheels, spoke on the role of volunteers in his organization.

At the program’s conclusion, attendees sat down to enjoy box lunches and to celebrate a return to post-Pandemic in-person meetings.

The room at Trinity UMC was full of high expectations as the women of the Metro District met for the first time in person since the pandemic on May 4, 2024, to gather and regroup. Led in conversation by Conference President Theresa Graham, women from each unit represented gave a short description of the state of their unit and the activities they are involved in. (It was a lot!)

Tables of handouts and sign-up sheets for various activities were available, and Conference officers introduced themselves and gave quick reports on each of their areas. Delicious snacks were provided by United Women in Faith, Trinity UMC unit.

A three-person convening committee was formed to set the date for a future meeting where new officers will be solicited. Are you interested in serving as a Metro District officer? Contact Theresa and let her know!

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.

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.

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.”