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txconfumw Annual Conference, Annual Luncheon, Events, hazel decker

2024 Annual Luncheon Brings Sisters Together from Across the Conference

On June 10, 2024, women from across the Texas Conference met to break bread–cheese bread to be exact–and fellowship with their sisters during the Texas Annual Conference. The Annual Luncheon was held in the Rose Garden Room of the Westchase Marriott, and more than 60 women attended.

President Theresa Graham welcomed all to the table, and Deb Wroblewski, Program Resource Officer, delivered the devotional.

President, Theresa Graham
Deb Wroblewski, Program Resource Officer

Carla Cardoza, President of the Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) in El Paso, stepped to the podium next to share the story of their school. LPI has a rich history of nurturing academic excellence and spiritual growth, and they are looking to partner with women from the Texas Conference. You can learn more about the great work being done by the Institute in this video. If you would like to contact Ms. Cardoza to discuss ways to collaborate, her email is c.cardoza@lpi-elpaso.org.

Carla Cardoza, President, Lydia Patterson Institute

Following that Theresa introduced the very-deserving recipient of the 2024 Hazel Decker Award, Stacie Hawkins. Stacie currently serves as the Vice-President of the Texas Conference and she recently served as a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. In addition, she has been nominated as President of the South Central Jurisdiction of United Women in Faith, with the election coming up at the end of June.

Stacie Hawkins, Hazel Decker Award Recipient with President, Theresa Graham

In her acceptance speech, Stacie spoke of her long association with United Women in Faith and how she was nurtured by the women at Windsor Village UMC.

Keynote speaker, Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley, who currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop, based her talk on Acts 10. She asked us to consider how Peter and Cornelius might have wanted to “other” each other, but instead, by working with people with whom they might not normally work, they became witnesses to the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley

Theresa closed the meeting by presenting Romonica with a Special Recognition Pin, and Romonica closed us all in prayer.

txconfumw Mission u

Mission u 2024

Make plans now to attend Mission u 2024 on July 12-13 via Zoom. Register today!

What is Mission u? Each year, United Women in Faith develops three justice-focused Biblical curricula for adults, youth, and children, all on a common theme. In 2024, our theme is The Kin-dom Is Among You: Drawing Closer to God and One Another, and the adult curriculum is entitled Welcome Home. The eight-part series was written by Neomi Fletcher who will be our Texas Conference Mission u leader this year.

Mission u will take place over two days, Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13. Each day will last from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and will include worship and study time. The event will be broadcast via Zoom. You can watch the Zoom at home, or you can make plans to watch it together with your unit! The registration fee is $20 per person whether you watch by yourself or with a group.

Register at https://na.eventscloud.com/801099. The cut-off date for registering is July 5, so make sure to register soon!

The Mission u book is not required to attend, but if you would like to purchase one, you can find it at https://uwfaithresources.org/prodlist.cfm?catID=2176.

You can download a flyer to post at your church.

mission-u-registration-flyer-2024Download

Questions? Contact us.

txconfumw Uncategorized

Memorial Drive United Women in Faith Featured in response Magazine

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.

txconfumw Uncategorized

Southeast District Meets at Windsor Village UMC

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.

txconfumw Uncategorized

Metro District meets to reinvigorate

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!

txconfumw Districts, Metro

Metro District Spring Gathering 2024

We are excited to announce a special gathering of the women of the Metro District taking place on May 4 from 2-4 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship, connection, and community building. We welcome all members and friends to join us for this special occasion. There will be engaging activities, meaningful conversations, and of course, refreshments to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to celebrate and strengthen our bonds.

Download a flyer here and invite your friends!

txconfumw Annual Conference, Annual Luncheon, Guest Speakers

Tickets now available for 2024 United Women in Faith luncheon

The Texas Annual Conference will be here before you know it and that means that the United Women in Faith Annual Luncheon is right around the corner. The luncheon will take place on Monday, June 10, at noon at the Marriott Westchase. The cost of a ticket is $50. Click here to purchase tickets..

This year’s speaker is Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley. Ordained as an Elder in the Texas Annual Conference in 2010, she has served as an associate pastor, senior pastor and district superintendent. Currently, Malone-Wardley is working as Assistant to Bishop. 

Photo courtesy Texas Annual Conference

Malone-Wardley has also held posts as General Conference Delegate, member of the Strategic Mapping Team and the Board of Ordained Ministry in the TAC. In addition, she served on the nominations committee of the South Central Jurisdiction of the Black Methodist for Church Renewal and on the South Central Jurisdiction Mission Council.

United Women in Faith members are encouraged to invite their clergy to join us for the event.

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.

Register today

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.

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.

txconfumw Legislative Event

2024 Legislative Event is a Wrap

Texas Conference Attendees

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 6th 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