news
Volume 9 | Number 2 | 2016
From the General Secretary
Responsible Parenthood
and Women’s
Reproductive Health
by Harriett Jane Olson
Paul Jeffrey
Y
A procession of new deaconesses and home missioners leaves the plenary hall following their May 16
consecration at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Deaconesses and Home Missioners
Consecrated at General Conference
Twenty-six men and women are consecrated deaconesses and home
missioners from the floor of the United Methodist General Conference 2016.
by Tara Barnes
T
wenty-six
deaconesses and
home missioners
were consecrated
Monday, May 16, 2016,
on the plenary floor of
the United Methodist
General Conference.
The newly consecrated
deaconesses and
home missioners come
from across the United
States as well as the
Philippines. The service
was a culmination of
answering and discerning
a call to full-time
vocation in lay ministry.
“The deaconess
process has been
life-changing and lifefulfilling,” said newly
consecrated deaconess
Robin Ridenour. “The
most important part
about consecration is
that I am becoming part
of a family of men and
women doing the work of
love, justice and service.”
Deaconesses and
home missioners are
laywomen and laymen
called to be in a lifetime
relationship with The
United Methodist Church
in full-time vocation in
cutting-edge, servant
ministry. Nearly 200
women and men currently
serve as deaconesses
and home missioners
in the United States,
and 450 serve in the
Philippines. Around 50
individuals are presently
in a discernment process,
engaged in a time of
listening to God’s call
and fulfilling candidacy
requirements, including
taking theology classes.
“I’ve been in candidacy for about five
years but in formation
for this, as it turns out,
my entire life. I can’t wait
to see what God has
in store for me next!”
proclaimed Martha
Lundgren, a newly consecrated deaconess.
P
erforming the consecration were Bishop
Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Louisiana Conference; Bishop
Rosemarie Wenner, United
Methodist Church in Germany; and Bishop Pedro
Torio, Jr., Baguio Episcopal
Area in the Philippines.
Joining them were United
Methodist Women General
Secretary Harriett Olson,
United Methodist Women
President Yvette Richards,
Harris College President
Cristina Mañabat, Regional
Missionary and Deaconess
Emma Cantor, Deaconess
Clara Ester and Home Missioner Gary Locklear.
The Scripture focus
for the worship service
was Matthew 22:1-14, the
Parable of the Wedding
Banquet.
Ms. Harvey’s message, “Appropriate Attire
(Please turn to Page 2)
ou can’t talk
about women’s
health without
talking about women’s
reproductive health,
and you can’t support
healthy families without
talking about women’s
health. From our childhood and youth, as our
bodies are maturing,
through our 20s and
30s when the highest
rates of childbearing
occur, through menopause and beyond, our
reproductive system
is a key element in our
overall health. Women’s health is critical
for women and also for
the thriving of families
and communities.
Something so
important should not
be overlooked by the
church. United Methodist Women proposed
an updated form of a
resolution on Responsible Parenthood for
consideration by the
2016 General Conference. The updated
version incorporated
global realities that are
experienced by women around the world.
It addressed so-called
“child marriage” and
access to all forms
of birth control and
describes the call for
building a loving family
unit that is equipped to
nurture healthy children. This has been
the hallmark of the
Harriett Jane Olson
church’s call for access
to birth control since
at least 1964. All of
this was a part of the
resolution the General
Conference rejected.
It would be wonderful if birth control were
legal and accessible
all over the world. We
know this is not the
case in many places,
including parts of Latin
America where the Zika
virus presents significant risks to healthy
fetal development.
Women are being told
to avoid becoming
pregnant although birth
control is neither legal
nor generally available
in these areas. Such
warnings are not being
given equally to men.
Cultural issues in many
places put women in
an unfair position of
having more responsibility for avoiding conception while they lack
the relational power to
insist that their part(Please turn to Page 2)
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2016
United
Methodist
Women
news
(Continued from Page 1)
ners
use
protection.
This
was
addressed
by
the
Responsible
Parenthood
resolution
the
church
rejected.
The
ability
to
access
birth
control
is
also
an
issue
for
women
in
the
United
States,
as
more
and
more
people
superimpose
their
judgments
over
a
woman
and
her
doctor.
Think
about
employers
eliminating
birth
control
from
women’s
insurance
coverage
and
legislatures
closing
clinics
and
calling
contraceptives
“abortifactants”
regardless
of
their
medical
descriptions.
Think
about
how
the
ethical
or
religious
positions
of
hospitals
and
pharmacists
now
supersede
a
woman’s
ethical
or
religious
beliefs
when
it
comes
to
matters
concerning
her
personal
health.
The
same
can
be
said
about
abortion.
The
United
Methodist
Church
does
not
take
abortion
lightly.
We
consider
it
pastorally,
taking
account
of
“tragic
conflicts
of
life
with
life.”
This
position
is
elaborated
in
the
Social
Principles.
It
has
reached
its
current
form
through
more
than
50
years
of
reflection
and
amendment
since
1968
when
our
denomination
first
supported
the
American
Medical
Association’s
call
for
the
legalization
of
abortion
in
certain
circumstances.
Women’s
lives,
especially
poor
women’s
lives,
were
at
risk
then,
and
they
are
at
risk
now.
In
rejecting
the
Responsible
Parenthood
resolution,
the
church
is
suffering
from
a
failure
of
memory
of
those
days.
And
it
is
not
giving
ad-
equate
attention
to
the
real-life
testimonies
of
people
like
the
African
delegate
to
General
Conference
who
said
that
access
to
abortion
was
critically
needed
in
areas
of
conflict
where
rape
is
used
as
a
tool
of
war.
When
this
happens,
young
girls’
not-yet
mature
bodies
are
torn
apart
by
trying
to
carry
pregnancies
to
term.
And
upon
birth,
the
child
and
its
young
mother
are
rejected
by
the
community,
which
deems
them
both
part
of
the
enemy.
Women’s
lives
matter.
Children’s
lives
matter.
Healthy
families
are
something
that
is
worth
our
planning
and
our
efforts
and
our
fervent
prayer.
Without
resolutions
like
Responsible
Parenthood
to
elaborate
the
real-life
implications
of
our
Social
Principles
for
many
different
peoples
and
contexts,
we
can
lack
the
resources
to
understand
the
powerful
impact
of
the
Social
Principles.
The
resolutions
call
us
to
action
to
help
us
live
out
the
Social
Principles
and
to
work
for
the
changes
that
are
needed.
United
Methodist
Women
will
continue
to
work
for
women’s
health
throughout
the
life
cycle,
for
a
culture
of
respect
in
which
women’s
choices
are
honored,
for
access
to
procedures
driven
by
medical
necessity
rather
than
moral
or
ethical
positions
of
third
parties
and
for
healthy
families
in
which
children
are
welcomed,
loved
and
nurtured.
Harriett
Jane
Olson
is
general
secretary
and
CEO
of
United
Methodist
Women.
Deaconesses
and
Home
Missioners
Consecrated
Paul Jeffrey
From the General Secretary
New deaconesses and home missioners after their May 16
consecration at the 2016 United Methodist General
Conference in Portland, Oregon.
(Continued from Page 1)
Required,”
spoke
of
the
“one
size
fits
all”
garment
of
grace
we
all
must
wear
before
we
can
attend
God’s
banquet,
referring
to
the
parable
told
in
the
Scripture.
“This
parable,
like
all
of
Jesus’
parables,
is
another
one
of
those
stories
of
reversal,
when
the
world’s
values
are
turned
upside
down,”
Ms.
Harvey
said.
“When
entering
into
the
story,
we
are
challenged
to
come
as
we
are
but
not
stay
that
way.
“We
have
each
been
personally
invited
to
this
banquet.
We
have
been
invited
and
[are]
expected
to
do
something
that
even
the
world
might
not
be
expecting.
Will
we
honor
the
host
by
taking
the
gracelined
garment
off
that
rack
and
put
it
on?”
At
three
stations,
the
bishops,
United
Methodist
Women
and
deaconess
representatives
consecrated
the
women
and
men
to
a
lifetime
of
Christ-like
service
under
the
authority
of
the
church.
The
new
deaconesses
and
home
missioners
received
their
scarf
and
their
mandate.
“The
robe
is
ready
for
you,”
said
Ms.
Harvey.
“There
is
one
here
for
each
of
you.
So
let’s
put
it
on
and
dance;
because
there’s
a
party
going
on.”
Tara
Barnes
is
editor
of
response
magazine,
the
official
magazine
of
United
Methodist
Women.
New
Deaconesses
and
Home
Missioners
Logan
Alley
Berwyn Heights, Maryland
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Employment
specialist,
FACETS,
employment
focused
case
management
services
to
families
in
housing
crisis.
Roberta
Boyd
Bragan
Enfield, Connecticut
New England Conference
Photojournalist
focusing
on
stories
about
the
human
condition
with
an
emphasis
on
highlighting
injustices
and
the
potential
solutions
to
such
injustices.
Brenda
Brown
Spring Lake, North Carolina
North Carolina Conference
Public
affairs
and
community
relations
specialist,
Social
Security
Administration,
working
with
seniors,
people
needing
assistance
and
the
homeless.
Deborah
Lynn
Byrd
Old Hickory, Tennessee
Tennessee Conference
Church
coordinator,
Andrew
Price
Memorial
United
Methodist
Church,
overseeing
office
food
program,
community
garden
and
day
ministry
for
those
living
without
homes.
Melissa
Iutzi
Calvillo
Dallas City, Illinois
Great Rivers Conference
Maternal
and
child
health
registered
nurse
and
program
coordinator,
Lee
County
Health
Department.
Melanie
Dewey
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Conference
Community
engagement
coordinator,
Centenary
United
Methodist
Church.
René
Grant
Clarkesville, Georgia
North Georgia Conference
Administrative
assistant,
Ebenezer
United
Methodist
Church.
Kim
Devon
Harris
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Minnesota Conference
Assistant
teacher,
Kids
&
Co.
Child
Care
Center.
Maria
Rose
McCall
Dommerich
Hase
Phoenix, Arizona
Ruth
Pierre
Desert Southwest Conference
Speech-language
pathologist,
Scottsdale
School
District.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Florida Conference
Nursing
assistant,
Signature
Health
Care
of
Waterford.
Amanda
Howe
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Robin
Ridenour
San Francisco, California
New England Conference
Resource
development
officer,
Barnstable
County
Resource
Development
Office.
Choong-Hee
Lee
Rye, New York
Greater New Jersey Conference
Director
of
family
ministry,
Korean
Community
Church.
California Nevada Conference
Registered
nurse
anesthetist,
Kaiser
Permanente,
and
clinical
coordinator
for
student
nurse
anesthetists.
Helen
Ryde
Jamie
Lynn
Marie
LeJeune
Weaverville, North Carolina
Western North Carolina Conference
Southeastern
Jurisdiction
regional
organizer
for
Reconciling
Ministries
Network.
Martha
Louise
Lundgren
Bastrop, Texas
Rio Texas Conference
Children’s
and
outreach
director
at
First
United
Methodist
Church
of
Bastrop.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Mississippi Conference
Missions
and
service
coordinator,
Court
Street
United
Methodist
Church.
Tucson, Arizona
Desert Southwest Conference
Client
Support
Manager,
Sunquest
Information
Systems,
and
chairperson,
health
and
wholeness
ministries,
St.
Mark’s
United
Methodist
Church.
Alethea
McGavaran
West Richland, Washington
Pacific Northwest Conference
Web
ministry,
Prosser
United
Methodist
Church.
Halina
Mui
North Arlington, New Jersey
Greater New Jersey Conference
Comptroller,
United
Methodist
Women
National
Office.
Jane
Ann
Murray
Mount Juliet, Tennesee
Tennessee Conference
Executive
of
Gallatin
C.A.R.E.S
(Christian
Association
for
the
Relief
of
Economic
Suffering).
John
David
Jessup
Peterson
Atlanta, Georgia
North Georgia Conference
Department
desktop
consultant,
Candler
School
of
Theology,
Emory
University.
Julie
Ann
Smith
Laura
Young
Lubbock, Texas
Texas Conference
South
Central
Jurisdiction
regional
organizer
for
Reconciling
Ministries
Network.
Linda
Mae
Young
Catawba, North Carolina
Western North Carolina Conference
Administrative
assistant,
St.
Paul
United
Methodist
Church.
Filipina
Deaconesses
April
Grace
Martinez
Tarlac Philippines Annual Conference,
Baguio Episcopal Area
Kaye
Celyn
Caigle
Pampango Philippines Annual Conference,
Manila Episcopal Area
Sheena
Camille
Calma
Northeast Philippines Annual Conference,
Baguio Episcopal Area
United
Methodist
Women
news
Spring/Summer
2016
|
3
General Conference 2016
United
Methodist
Women
at
General
Conference
Paul Jeffrey
United
Methodist
Women
called
the
church
to
the
next
phases
of
work
in
racial
and
climate
justice,
providing
new
language
and
outlining
next
steps
the
denomination
and
United
Methodist
Women
can
take.
Our
resolutions
help
bring
the
church’s
powerful
voice,
alongside
United
Methodist
Women,
to
the
critical
work
of
ending
mass
incarceration,
environmental
racism
and
criminalization
of
communities
of
color
and
toward
becoming
an
antiracist,
multicultural
society
with
our
Charter
for
Racial
Justice.
We
invite
the
church
to
our
Mission
u
events,
where
we
can
continue
to
learn
more
together
for
the
transformation
of
the
world.
Women
and
girls
were
left
behind
at
General
Conference.
Resolutions
on
the
girl
child
and
the
status
of
women
did
not
even
reach
the
floor.
Know
that
United
Methodist
Women
will
continue
to
work
to
address
the
needs
of
women
and
girls
down
the
street
and
around
the
world.
General
Conference
also
took
on
the
mantle
of
ensuring
abundant
health
for
all.
United
Methodist
Women
knows
abundant
health
for
all
includes
women’s
reproductive
health,
just
as
we
have
for
almost
150
years,
since
our
predecessors
sent
Dr.
Clara
Swain
to
India
to
serve
women
and
girls.
What
happens
when
women
organize
for
mission?
The
needs
of
women,
children
and
youth
get
on
the
table,
front
and
center.
In
the
21st
century,
United
Methodist
Women
brings
critical
work
to
the
church
and
world.
Now
we
are
moving
forward
into
our
next
150
years
of
turning
faith,
hope
and
love
into
action.
Mike DuBose
A
s
we
reflect
and
begin
to
report
on
General
Conference
2016,
we’d
like
to
share
some
of
what
happened
at
General
Conference
from
our
perspective
on
our
own
work.
We
have
much
to
celebrate!
The
church
was
reminded
of
the
important
work
of
laywomen
and
their
essential
leadership
as
United
Methodist
Women
celebrated
150
years
of
putting
faith,
hope
and
love
into
action.
General
Conference
voted
to
make
the
deaconess
and
home
missioner
community
an
order
of
the
church,
approving
a
mechanism
to
support
them
as
chaplains.
General
Conference
also
celebrated
the
60th
anniversary
of
full
clergy
rights
for
women—another
example
of
the
kind
of
change
that
happens
in
the
church
and
in
society
when
laywomen
organize
for
mission.
Paul Jeffrey
Mike DuBose
Clockwise from top left: Harriett Olson, CEO and
general secretary of United Methodist Women,
speaks at a May 9 orientation at the 2016 United
Methodist General Conference; Bishop John Yambasu
gives the sermon during morning worship May
19; the display for United Methodist Women in the
Exhibit Hall; Bishop Joaquina Filipe Nhanala leads
a service on the Status and Role of Women.
4
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Spring/Summer
2016
United
Methodist
Women
news
General Conference 2016
United
Methodist
Women
Day
at
General
Conference
United Methodist Women Celebrate 150th Anniversary in Plenary
by Yvette Moore
the
rally
to
oppose
the
poisoning
of
natural
waterways
and
public
water
delivery
systems
harming
communities
from
Flint,
Michigan,
to
Latin
America
to
Liberia.
Rose
Farhat
of
Liberia
spoke
at
the
rally,
calling
on
global
partners
like
United
Methodist
Women
to
help
pressure
Firestone
Rubber
to
repair
the
damage
it
has
done
to
streams
and
rivers
in
her
country.
“Firestone
dumped
waste
into
streams
and
rivers
where
poor
people
fish
and
get
drinking
water,”
Ms.
Farhat
said.
“There’s
extreme
poverty
in
this
community,
so
the
people
now
have
no
clear
water
source.
Firestone
promised
to
provide
a
water
treatment
plant
to
provide
clean
water,
but
that
has
not
happened.
Pressure
Firestone
to
build
those
water
treatment
plants.”
The
day
culminated
with
a
forward-looking
multimedia
plenary
celebration
that
shared
United
Methodist
Women’s
historic
beginnings
and
followed
a
continuum
of
mission
outreach,
answering
the
question,
“What
happens
when
women
organize
for
mission?”
“What
happens
when
women
organize
for
mission?
The
needs
of
women,
children,
and
youth—who
are
the
least
of
these
in
every
society—not
only
get
on
the
table,
they
are
placed
front
and
center
on
the
table,”
said
presenter
Yvette
Kim
Richards,
president
of
the
United
Methodist
Women
board.
Young
United
Methodist
Women
members
were
active
throughout
United
Methodist
Women
Day,
advocating
for
clean
water,
serving
as
volunteers
and
participants,
both
on
and
off
the
stage
and
behind
the
scenes
of
the
Paul Jeffrey
Perry Whidden
Above, leaders of United Methodist Women celebrate the organization’s 150th
birthday at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference. From left are:
Harriett Olson, Yvette Richards, Annabelle Bricker, Bethany Amey and Emma
Cantor. Left, Cristina Manabat of the Philippines (front) joins a United Meth­
odist Women’s rally for the right to clean water. Below left, United Methodist
Women’s comptroller and new deaconess Halina Mau rallies for environmen­
tal justice. Below center, Elmira Sellu, regional missionary for East and West
Africa, joins the justice brigade. Below right, Tara Barnes, the editor of
response, the magazine of United Methodist Women, holds a lantern during
a May 12 climate vigil outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference.
Paul Jeffrey
Mike DuBose
Paul Jeffrey
U
nited
Methodist
Women
members
from
across
the
Portland
area
gathered
at
General
Conference
to
mark
their
150th
anniversary
with
a
day
of
celebration,
advocacy,
and
recommitment
to
mission
with
women,
children
and
youth
on
May
16,
2016.
“United
Methodist
Women
Day”
opened
with
the
consecration
of
26
new
deaconesses
and
home
missioners,
a
lay
office
administered
by
United
Methodist
Women
and
dedicated
to
service
ministries
that
alleviate
suffering,
injustice
and
build
the
global
community
through
the
church.
Three
Filipina
deaconesses
were
also
consecrated.
These
helping
vocations
cover
a
broad
range
of
needs.
This
most
recent
class
of
deaconesses
and
home
missioners
includes
a
maternal-child
health
registered
nurse
who
works
with
low-income
families,
a
local
church
food
program
coordinator
and
a
photojournalist
who
reports
on
justice
issues
and
develops
materials
for
community
ministries
addressing
these
needs.
Also
newly
consecrated
as
a
home
missioner
was
John
David
Jessup
Petterson,
a
computer
technology
consultant
who
views
his
work
as
a
special
kind
of
chaplaincy.
“Computer
usage
can
be
one
of
the
biggest
drivers
of
emotional
and
spiritual
crises
in
both
secular
and
nonsecular
environments,”
he
explained.
The
morning
service
dedication
was
followed
by
a
noontime
rally
for
clean
water
as
a
human
right
across
the
street
from
the
conference
center.
Nearly
300
people
participated
in
plenary
celebration.
“Women
still
need
to
organize
for
mission
in
the
21st
century,”
said
Annabelle
Bricker,
a
young
United
Methodist
Women
member
who
participated
in
the
plenary
presentation.
“In
the
coming
quadrennium,
we
will
focus
our
mission
outreach
on
maternal
and
child
health,
ending
criminalization
of
communities
of
color,
income
inequality
and
climate
change.”
Yvette
Moore
is
director
of
communications
for
United
Methodist
Women.
United
Methodist
Women
news
Spring/Summer
2016
|
5
Youth gather in the new Sindyanna of Galilee Visitor Center, funded
partially from United Methodist Women International Ministries.
Excerpted by Carol Van Gorp
A
rab
and
Jewish
women
in
the
Holy
Land
create
handicrafts
and
promote
peace
through
Sindyanna
of
Galilee,
a
peace
building
and
fair
trade
company
in
Kafar
Kanna,
Galilee.
United
Methodist
Women
has
contributed
to
the
support
of
Sindyanna
for
several
years,
and
we
recently
heard
from
some
of
the
women
on
their
times
of
sharing
and
understanding
while
they
weave
and
work
side
by
side
in
the
warehouse
and
the
visitor
center.
Weaver
Rawiya
Hujirat,
in
the
weekly
class,
reported
that
she
met
Jewish
women
for
the
first
time
and
now
wants
to
learn
Hebrew.
Noga
Mano,
35,
a
marine
biologist
from
Avtalion
in
Galilee
and
a
threeyear
participant
in
the
weaving
course,
shared
her
own
experience:
I was looking for a
place to fill a vacant
morning by weaving, and
was enthusiastic to meet
Arab women. I never
felt any anxiety, even
in tense times, maybe
because it is a meeting
between women. The
meeting takes place on
a direct human basis,
we chatter, exchange
recipes and try to over­
come the difference of
language, which is the
main barrier between us.
There are tensions
between the two peo­
ples, this is no secret,
but we are all humans,
and can overcome
them. We speak a lot
about employment and
the mentality of the
large family. There is a
noticeable difference
between treatment of
women amongst the
two societies, and this
is expressed even in
the pricing of baskets.
And we talk about it.
We develop personal
relations. One of the
women hosted us during
Ramadan, and we plan
more meetings. It is fun
to weave, fun to meet
and I will be glad when
more women join us.
Hadil
Hamze,
20,
has
been
a
warehouse
worker
for
more
than
a
year.
She
had
this
to
share:
I used to work in
a packaging plant in
Tiberia, but there was
a lot of friction between
Christian and Muslim
women, and I could not
go on working there.
In Sindyanna, I work
with Jewish women,
but there is no friction
at all. Both Arab and
Jewish women want
to be together with­
out any differences or
racism. Since I am here,
my Hebrew, which is
essential in order to
get around, has im­
proved very much.
Sindyanna sent
me to an olive tasting
course, and I learned
many new things I did
not know, although my
family also has some
olive trees, and we har­
vest them every year. In
Kafar, Kanna, there are
very few work opportu­
nities; and most employ­
ers exploit the workers
and pay them much less
than a minimum wage.
This damages the whole
society. Had they paid
the full minimum wage,
the whole village could
develop. A year ago, I
began studying busi­
ness administration in
the Open University, and
I continue to work. Most
of my friends study and
want to work because
one salary for a family
is not enough today,
[for] neither Jews nor
Arabs. Those who come
to the Center support
co­existence, fair trade,
decent employment to
Arab women and help­
ing small producers.
A
Prayer
for
Eve
on
Women’s
Day
and
Every
Day
by Mahima Chauhan
Dear Eve,
You are an ultimate creation of God and
a very special being.
You are not a rough draft
But a masterpiece of the Almighty created
in God’s own image.
But it breaks my heart
When people call you temptress, disloyal,
prone to temptation and evil, untrustworthy.
Even now, from the women in the corporate world
To the mothers living in poverty,
We, the modern­day Eves, are crying!
The serpent is still running in the gardens of our minds,
He is filling us with false beliefs: I am not good enough,
not pretty enough, not wise or strong enough.
Yet, to honor you, we affirm that
We are powerful,
We are empowered,
Limitless.
M
ahima
Chauhan,
from
India,
wrote
this
prayer
during
the
World
Student
Christian
Federation
in
Asia
Pacific
Regional
Women
Program’s
workshop
in
Bangladesh.
The
prayer
was
composed
for
International
Women’s
Day,
a
holiday
celebrated
on
March
8.
It
is
a
day
of
hope
and
courage,
and
it
is
a
celebration
for
women
who
fight
for
equality,
justice
and
peace.
The
day
is
also
a
time
to
call
for
change.
This
year,
the
women
of
the
World
Student
Christian
Federation
in
Asia
Pacific
boldly
expressed
the
struggle
for
hope
and
womanness
in
a
faith
response.
Courtesy of Carol Van Gorp.
Coutesy of Sindyanna
Partnership
Between
Jewish
and
Arab
Women
Through
Sindyanna
of
Galilee
Learn
more
about
the
handicrafts
created
at
Sindyanna
at
Sindyanna.com
Carol
Van
Gorp
is
the
International
Ministries
executive
for
United
Methodist
Women.
Regional Women Program participants share strategies
for empowerment.
6
|
Spring/Summer
2016
United
Methodist
Women
news
See
Something?
Say
Something!
program
on
human
trafficking
in
their
churches.
A
love
offering
was
taken,
and
a
generous
donation
was
made
to
each
of
the
organizations
represented
by
the
speakers.
Members
of
the
Board
of
Church
and
Society,
the
local
and
state
units
of
United
Methodist
Men
and
the
women
of
First
United
Methodist
Church
of
Pineville
(the
local
unit
of
United
Methodist
Women)
all
helped
to
make
this
a
truly
memorable
event.
As
United
Methodist
Women,
we
became
well-informed
about
our
world
and
how
we
can
make
it
a
better,
safer,
and
more
God-like
place
for
everyone.
Linda
Trouard
is
the
secretary
of
program
resources
at
Louisiana
Conference.
Program
Empowers
Women
in
Delhi
Priscilla Angumei
M
ore
than
150
United
Methodist
Women
from
the
Louisiana
Conference
gathered
at
the
First
United
Methodist
Church
of
Pineville
for
the
biannual
Social
Action
Program
on
March
5,
2016,
to
learn
about
the
topic
of
human
trafficking.
Many
women
came
to
a
deeper
understanding
of
human
trafficking.
Everyone
left
better
informed
about
this
scourge
on
our
society
and
how
it
can
affect
all
neighborhoods.
Louisiana
Conference
Social
Action
Chair
Melinda
Graham
started
planning
the
program
in
the
summer
of
2015.
She
contacted
speakers
from
all
levels
of
involvement—
from
an
assistant
United
States
attorney
for
the
Western
District
of
Louisiana,
Shreveport
Division,
to
the
heads
of
local
organizations
helping
those
who
escape
from
this
form
of
modern-day
slavery.
The
five
speakers
were
Assistant
U.S.
Attorney
Earl
Campbell,
who
is
also
the
human
trafficking
coordinator
for
the
Western
District
of
Louisiana;
Rusty
Havens
of
the
Louisiana
Advocacy
Lead
Team
for
the
International
Justice
Mission
(IJM),
who
connects
Louisiana
residents
with
campaigns
to
protect
the
world’s
poor
from
violence;
Sean
Cardin,
a
native
of
Cameron,
Louisiana,
and
survivor
of
human
trafficking;
Cassie
Hammett,
the
founder
and
director
of
Hub
Ministries;
and
Sue
Catchings,
chief
executive
officer
of
Health
Centers
in
Schools,
who
has
worked
through
Our
Lady
of
the
Lake
Hospital
in
Baton
Rouge.
Together,
they
addressed
the
different
issues
involved
in
hu-
man
trafficking,
including
the
sexual
exploitation
and
forced
(coerced)
labor
of
both
children
and
adults.
Ms.
Cardin
told
the
compelling
story
of
her
adolescence
and
life
on
the
streets.
She
has
organized
I
Am
Loved,
a
ministry
that
offers
assistance
to
women
who
are
prostitutes
in
the
Calcasieu
Parish
area.
Ms.
Hammett
shared
how
she
walks
with
those
in
poverty
through
a
proEarl Campbell, Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Western Louisi­
cess
of
hope,
friendship
ana District, heads up a task force dealing with human trafficking.
and
community.
Hub
Ministries
offers
a
place
to
belong
and
the
skills
Each
speaker
informed
nize
this
type
of
crime.
needed
for
self-sufficienthe
group
of
the
many
Ms.
Graham
and
her
cy,
bringing
people
value
ways
in
which
people
are
team
provided
everyone
and
worth.
And
finally,
trafficked
and
of
the
signs
with
a
booklet
containing
Ms.
Catchings
spoke
of
that
someone
is
involved
information
and
resourcsupporting
children
and
in
the
trafficking
induses.
Many
women
from
other
survivors
of
the
sex
try.
The
group
was
also
local
United
Methodist
slave
industry
through
given
material
and
inforWomen
circles
expressed
their
healing
and
recovery.
mation
on
how
to
recogan
interest
in
doing
a
Ella Sonawane
by Linda Trouard
Linda Trouard
Louisiana Learns About Human Trafficking
Women from villages near Delhi learn skills through the
Women’s Empowerment Programme.
N
eeraj
did
not
have
enough
money
to
pay
the
equivalent
of
$30
USD
a
year
for
her
annual
university
fees.
Thanks
to
the
Women’s
Empowerment
Programme
–
Disha,
a
free
school
in
Delhi,
India,
supported
by
the
International
Ministries
with
Women,
Children
and
Youth
of
United
Methodist
Women,
Neeraj
has
returned
to
school
and
is
now
teaching
candle
making
and
organizing
the
school’s
recycling
program.
Young
women
like
Neeraj
from
nearby
villages
succeed
in
the
school’s
women-led
programs,
learning
crafts
and
skills
to
generate
income.
The
objective
of
the
program,
founded
by
the
Women learn employment strategies through the Indian
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (ISPCK).
Indian
Society
for
Promoting
Christian
Knowledge
(ISPCK),
is
to
promote
gender
equality
at
home
and
in
society
at
large.
Like
Neeraj,
many
of
the
women
come
from
small
communities
where
one’s
caste,
religion
or
faith
had
limited
their
potential
for
advancement.
“By
meeting
and
working
together
each
day,
they
have
learned
to
work
as
one
community.
Women
can
live
with
dignity
and
pride
as
they
have
skills
which
will
help
them
earn
a
living,”
said
the
Reverend
Dr.
Ashish
Amos,
general
secretary
and
director
of
ISPCK.
This
story
was
compiled
from
a
report
by
the
ISPCK
for
United
Methodist
Women.
United
Methodist
Women
news
Spring/Summer
2016
|
7
A
Fresh
Wind
Blowing
A
s
United
Methodist
Women
looks
forward
to
its
150th
anniversary
in
2019,
the
organization
of
more
than
800,000
women
shows
no
signs
of
slowing
down.
This
was
evident
during
the
2016
Western
Jurisdiction
United
Methodist
Women’s
Quadrennial
Meeting
in
Salt
Lake
City,
Utah,
from
April
22
to
24.
The
three-day
event
was
held
at
the
Hilton
City
Center
Hotel
and
brought
together
more
than
300
women
from
the
eight
annual
conferences
of
the
Western
Jurisdiction
on
the
theme
of
“A
Fresh
Wind
Blowing.”
The
theme
helped
attendees
recognize
the
call
of
God
to
mission
and
ministry.
“United
Methodist
Women
was
called
to
catch
the
wind,
face
the
wind,
align
ourselves
with
the
spirit
of
God,”
said
Harriett
Jane
Olson,
general
secretary
of
United
Methodist
Women’s
National
Office,
at
the
opening
worship
service.
Ms.
Olson
emphasized
in
her
keynote
address
that
the
“spirit
of
God
needs
to
be
felt
and
seen”
as
United
Methodist
Women
continues
its
work
in
responsible
parenting,
racial
justice
and
climate
justice.
“It’s
time
to
be
alert,
to
see
where
it’s
blowing,”
she
said.
“UMW
—can
you
feel
the
wind?”
Delegates
to
the
quadrennial
meeting
elected
two
new
members
to
the
United
Methodist
Women
Board
of
Directors:
Estella
Wallace
of
the
Pacific
Northwest
Conference
and
Susan
Williams
of
the
Alaska
United
Methodist
Conference.
The
format
for
the
election
was
different
this
year
as
voting
happened
in
the
same
room
as
a
Bible
study
for
event
attendees.
Outgoing
Western
Jurisdiction
UMW
President
Margaret
Hotze
said
they
were
experimenting
with
a
new
format
this
year
for
elections,
as
well
as
offering
workshops.
Ten
workshops
were
offered
on
various
mission
topics,
including
immigration,
green
living,
maternal
and
child
health,
Native
American
ministries,
human
trafficking
and
working
for
a
fair
economy.
During
his
keynote
address,
The
Reverend
Paul
Jeffrey,
missionary
and
photojournalist
for
United
Methodist
Women’s
response
magazine,
posed
the
question,
“What’s
our
brand?”
He
shared
a
collage
of
photos
of
United
Methodist
Women
missions
around
the
world,
signifying
the
importance
of
the
orga-
United Methodist Women
musicians raised their
voices to praise God at the
Jurisdiction meeting.
nization’s
lasting
ministry.
“You
are
part
of
a
rather
feisty
brand,”
Mr.
Jeffrey
said.
“You
may
not
have
a
bouncy
logo
like
Google,
but
you
have
a
love
in
your
hearts.”
At
the
closing
of
the
quadrennial
meeting,
Yvette
Richards,
president
of
the
national
United
Methodist
Women
Board
of
Directors,
spoke
about
how
the
Western
Jurisdiction
has
been
in
mission
first-hand,
highlighting
its
13
national
mission
agencies.
These
include
the
United
Methodist
Committee
on
Relief
West
Depot,
the
Susannah
Wesley
Community
Center,
the
Nome
Community
Center
and
the
Mary
Elizabeth
Inn.
“You
and
I
were
made
to
catch
the
spirit,”
said
Bishop
Elaine
Stanovsky
of
the
Mountain
Sky
Episcopal
Area,
during
the
closing
worship
service.
“If
you’re
breathing
with
God,
nothing
is
impossible…God
gives
us
breath
to
speak
a
word
of
blessing.
May
our
words
carry
the
breath
of
life.”
According
to
Juliet
Maliksi,
Western
Jurisdiction
treasurer,
attendees
helped
raise
$6,290.87
for
gen-
eral
mission
giving
at
the
Saturday
night
banquet.
An
additional
$590.70
was
collected
for
the
Crossroads
Urban
Center
at
a
mini-piano
concert
with
the
Reverend
David
Merkel
of
the
Yellowstone
Conference.
The
outgoing
officers
for
the
Western
Jurisdiction
were
also
recognized.
The
new
officers
for
the
2016–20
quadrennium
are
President
Judi
Nibbelink,
Vice
President
Jo
Ann
Lawson,
Treasurer
Paula
Sadler,
Secretary
Alethea
McGavran
and
Chair
of
Nominations
Anita
Turner.
Nomination
Committee
members
are
Dixie
Jacky,
Jana
Jones,
Maxine
Wheeler
and
Barbara
Mitchell.
Charmaine
Robledo
is
the
director
of
communications,
Mountain
Sky
Area
of
The
United
Methodist
Church.
Murray
First
United
Methodist
Women
Layette
Project
by Nancy Doty
E
ach
year
there
are
many
mothers
who
cannot
provide
the
essential
clothing
and
baby
items
needed
to
care
for
their
newborn
babies
upon
leaving
the
local
hospital.
Some
do
not
even
have
a
blanket
to
wrap
their
baby
in
on
the
trip
home.
The
hospital’s
staff
said
the
number
of
women
and
babies
in
need
has
been
growing
significantly.
In
answer
to
this
developing
need,
the
Murray
First
United
Methodist
Women
in
Murray,
Kentucky
eagerly
accepted
this
outreach
project
and
since
1995,
have
been
packing
layettes
containing
essential
newborn
items.
The
United
Methodist
Women
decided
to
invite
Monica Bogle
by Charmaine Robledo
Charmaine Robledo
United Methodist Women at the Western Jurisdiction Meeting
Murray First United Methodist Women pack layettes for
delivery to the Murray­Calloway County Hospital.
fathers
to
get
involved
so
a
special
Father’s
Day
offering
was
taken.
It
has
since
evolved
into
an
annual
church-wide
communion
offering
in
October.
With
monies
from
the
United
Methodist
Women
budget,
the
church
communion
offering,
book
donations
from
the
Murray
First
Quilters,
baby
spoons
donated
from
the
Calloway
County
Homemakers,
and
donated
bottles
from
Kirksey
United
Methodist
Women,
the
Layette
Project
has
been
a
blessing
to
many
new
mothers
in
the
region.
The
hospital
staff
calls
when
their
supply
of
layettes
needs
renewing.
Tiffany
Clayton,
United
Methodist
Women
Layette
Project
mission
coordinator,
said,
“Since
October,
we
have
been
able
to
provide
twenty
girl
layettes
and
thirty
boy
layettes.”
She
noted
that
this
year,
“There
must
have
been
a
rush
on
boys.”
Clayton
points
out
that
each
layette
would
cost
a
new
mother
approximately
$30.
For
21
years,
this
United
Methodist
Women
circle
has
watched
the
Layette
Project
work
for
the
good
of
those
who
love
God
and
who
are
fitting
into
God’s
plan.
Nancy
Doty
is
United
Methodist
Women
communication
coordinator
at
Murray
First
United
Methodist
Church,
Murray,
Kentucky.
8 | Spring/Summer 2016
news
United Methodist Women News
is published quarterly
by United Methodist Women
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1501
New York, NY 10115.
United Methodist Women news
Mission Resources
Prayer Calendar 2017
$14
M3298
Program Date Book
2016-2017
$1.50
M3294 English
Editors
This small calen­
dar booklet helps
you to keep track
of relevant dates
for United Meth­
odist Women,
month by month.
24 pp.
Praveena Balasundaram
pbalasundaram@
unitedmethodistwomen.org
Mary Beth Coudal
[email protected]
Design Direction
Rae Grant
[email protected]
© United Methodist Women
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From United Methodist Women
News, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2016).
Used by permission.
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United Methodist Women
Mission Resources
1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30004.
Climate Justice:
Call to Hope and Action
Within this calendar you will find
daily lectionary readings, holidays
and special days, daily lists to focus
your prayers on mission projects,
advocacy issues and birthdays.
Program Book 2016-2017
A Call to Community
$10
M3294 English
M3295 Spanish
M3296 Korean
Submit stories and photos to
co-editors Tara Barnes and
Praveena Balasundaram at
emails or address listed above.
United Methodist Women
Mission Resources
1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Explore the teachings and people in
communities in the Old and New Testa­
ments every month through programs
that challenge participants to commu­
nity formation and faith­filled living.
$10
English (M3265)
Korean (M3266)
Spanish (M3267)
Pat Watkins
This study
invites you to
understand
climate justice,
which means
setting right our
relationships
with each other and the earth.
Climate injustice is the result of
climate change. The study will
challenge you to see what needs
to happen for climate justice to
become a reality in the world
today. The church needs to more
powerfully model a way of doing it
differently. This will entail not just
focusing on the environment, but
also asking hard questions re­
garding financial profit, a growing
economy, our independent way of
thinking and our understanding of
efficiency. 108 pp.
The Bible and
Human Sexuality
$10
English (M3272)
Korean (M3272)
Spanish (M3274)
Ellen Brubaker; Participants Guide
by M. Garlinda Burton
This study ex­
plores the Bible
and human
sexuality as two
essential compo­
nents of our
Christian faith.
The Bible is part
of the foundation of our faith.
Human sexuality is part of who we
are as human beings, created by
God and called good. The study
invites us to explore the complexi­
ty of the biblical text and our
varied understandings of it in light
of human sexuality. 156 pp.
International Ministries
Poster
M5290
United Methodist Women organize
for mission poster featuring
international ministries in action.
Free with shipping and handling.
United Methodist Women Mission Resources
www.umwmissionresources.org
Customer service: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Monday­Friday
Phone: 1­800­305­9857 (toll­free) Fax: 1­770­280­0061
E­mail: [email protected]
Mail: United Methodist Women Mission Resources
1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30004