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UMW Supporters Speak Out Against Resolution |
Building Vital Women's Ministry Defeated in North Georgia
A resolution submitted by RENEW that would have empowered women of the North Georgia Conferenc to pursue a variety of women's ministry options was defeated at their Annual Conference held in Athens, Ga. June 14-17.
While some churches do have vibrant women's ministry programs, there has been resistance in many (especially medium and small member churches) to start a program that is not under the direction of United Methodist Women. Currently, the Book of Discipline mandates that every local church shall have a unit of UMW.
Reaching women for Christ is a critical need in our local churches according to measurable indicators. Recent figures from the General Conference on Finance and Administration show a continued annual decline in membership of UMW in 2009, with a current level of 590,000 members (although the Women's Division continues to report membership "over 800,000"). This total represents less that 14% of total female membership in the UMC. Other women's ministries are needed to fill this gap. Read membership report HERE.
While the resolution was meant to encourage and equip women at the local level to pursue women's ministry as God leads them (IN ADDITION TO UMW), the debate became a defense of UMW. Several UMW members spoke against the resolution. Supporters of the resolution pointed out how other areas of the church, like United Methodist Men and college ministries incorporate other parachurch organizations into their programs with positive results. Several realities remain:
- Fruitful women's ministry programs are essential in building vital congregations. We are missing a wonderful opportunity to draw young women into a deeper spiritual walk with Christ through a variety of ministry options.
- The limitations placed on women in the local church by having only one officially recognized ministry is clearly contradictory to the inclusiveness and diversity the United Methodist Church upholds. No other group in the church is restricted in this manner.
- Without official acceptance of other women's ministry programs, publicity and networking through conference and church communications is lmpossible. Seeing only one option for women on conference and church websites doesn't give potential members many options for ministry.
What will it take? My heart broke for the women of the church last Friday when the resolution was defeated. Why is having other options for women something we can't embrace as a church? Why does it have to be one or the other?
RENEW is not out to destroy United Methodist Women. We applaud all the wonderful work done by women at the local level throughout the organization. It is the leadership of the Women's Division that has turned the historic legacy of our foremothers into a platform of feminist theology and partisan political activism. Reforming the Division and renewal of women's ministry have always been the dual mission focus of RENEW from its inception.
While disappointed with the outcome, brought home by reading on our North Georgia Annual Conference wrap-up, "Resolution on 'Building Vital Women's Ministry in the Local Church' was not approved", we at RENEW are not deterred. At General Conference 2012, the Women's Division will attempt to become its own separate agency, an action that could further make it difficult for women to pursue other avenues of ministry in the UMC. God has given RENEW a passion and a purpose for reaching women with a message of hope and healing through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are confident He will continue to guide and direct our path.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
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