Category Archives: Educate

Assembly 2026

May 15–17, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana

Keep up to date on the Assembly 2026 website.

Assembly 2026 is that moment—a once-every-four-year gathering of women committed to faith, empowerment, and making a difference. Picture a weekend that uplifts your soul, strengthens your faith, and brings you together with an unstoppable sisterhood.

What’s Assembly 2026 all about?

It’s a celebration of who we are and what we can achieve together. Assembly is our chance to unite, recharge, and deepen our faith.

What you can expect:
  • Inspiring Speakers: Hear from women leaders who will spark your passion and energize your purpose.
  • Powerful Worship: Experience moments of reflection, renewal, and connection in faith.
  • Workshops: Gain tools to create meaningful change in your life and community.
  • Sisterhood: Connect with women from around the world who share your commitment to justice and spiritual growth.
Save The Date!

Assembly is your chance to step away from the noise of daily life and dive into a weekend of learning, connecting, and recharging. Open your heart to renewal and inspiration!

As you get ready, reflect on these thoughtful prompts:
  • What are you most excited to experience at Assembly?
  • What lessons or experiences will you take back to your community?
  • How can we help strengthen your journey of faith?
Be Part of the Experience

This only happens once every four years. Don’t miss your chance to grow in faith, find inspiration, and take action!

Let’s come together to celebrate faith, empowerment, and sisterhood like never before. Will you join us?

Be ready to reserve your spot for Assembly 2026 and be part of something truly transformative!

Mission u

July 24 through 26, 2025
at Yakima Wesley, UMC

Mission u is a transformative educational program that encompasses both Bible-based curricula and events. All are welcome to engage with either or both components of Mission u.

Interested in deepening your faith in community? Gaining experience interpreting Scripture? Working toward healing for yourself, your community, and all of creation? Mission u is for you!

Each year, United Women in Faith develops three justice-focused Biblical curricula for adults, youth, and children, all on a common theme. In 2025, our theme is Practicing Hope Together. In 2026, our theme will be Experiencing Emmanuel. Our focus on developing three curricula around one common theme means that Mission u offers a unique opportunity for faith communities to create powerful intergenerational learning experiences.

Our 2025 Mission u offers the following curriculum available on National’s e-store. Digital copies are available at uwfaith.org/digital.

Save the dates of July 24-26, 2025. We will reserve a block of rooms; children and youth are welcome to join, and an age-appropriate curriculum will be provided.


Meet Some of the Mission u Session Leaders

Co-Study Leaders for the Youth Class
Deb Avery

Curriculum Theme” Communities of the Spirit…Living into Hope as Resurrection People”

I am blessed to serve with Gail Simpson as we journey with our Youth attending this Mission u. Over the past 40 years, I have been filled with transformational opportunities through my attendance at Mission u. I have participated as a student eager to learn more, registrar on multiple occasions, facilitating book and other resource sales, teacher assistant, assistant dean, and dean. Yet, I am still excited to be in this role of study leader for 2025! I hear people say, “the youth are the future of our church,” and I follow up by saying, “our youth are our church NOW!” Some highlights for me have been very special, like bringing 2 of my grandchildren to Mission u over the years and bringing other youth from my home church, Vancouver Heights UMC! It provides a unique opportunity for intergenerational transformation. I am retired from the vocation of Early Childhood Education, having spent 29 years supporting Head Start and ECEAP children and families. By the way, I was introduced to Head Start at a Mission u event in 1987 and proceeded to apply and was hired into a vocation that blessed me in many ways! I pray that our youth attending in 2025 will also be blessed and transformed.

Gail Simpson

At the UWF Annual Meeting in October, we talked about “feeling the nudge”.  When I was asked to co-teach the youth class at Mission u, I felt that nudge.  I accepted the invitation to co-teach with Deb Avery.  After reviewing the curriculum and participating in the training sessions, I am excited to be able to help facilitate the youth’s participation at Mission U.  I would like to see more youth become involved in church programs.  Hopefully, this can be a window for some to see their role in the church expanded. Participation may be different in this time and place.  As we accept youth into additional roles in the church, we will need to be open to new and creative ways of having them participate. 

I have been a member of many United Methodist churches, as our family moved multiple times. My husband was appointed to several churches in the Pacific NW Conference during his career.  I participated in the School of Missions as a young woman.  I have recently attended Mission u for the past 2 years.  I am a retired preschool special education teacher.  I also worked as an occupational therapist during my career.  Both professions allowed me to work with and care for various people and their needs.  I see co-teaching at Mission U as another chance to learn from and share ideas with others.