News from National

Get ready for the Assembly 2026 photo scavenger hunt!

Assembly 2026 is almost here, and we want YOU in the spotlight! Whether you’re counting down the days, arriving on-site, or reflecting after the event, your photos and videos bring our sisterhood experience at Assembly to life! Download the free Photo Circle app and start uploading your photos today using the hashtags #UnstoppableUWFaith and #Assembly2026 . Next week, we’ll post instructions for the Dream It, Believe It, Do It scavenger hunt. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces!

This is to remind you that if you’re in the Alaska, Desert Southwest, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Iowa, Mountain Sky, New York, North Georgia, Oregon-Idaho, South Georgia, Pacific Northwest Conferences, you elect your delegates to the United Methodist General Conference NEXT MONTH.

Most of the deadlines for nominations and declarations of candidacy have passed, but don’t worry—all conferences must also take nominations from the floor of the conference.

Our article “Getting Women in the Room Where It Happens: Becoming a General Conference Delegate” shares more about what it means to be a delegate and why members of United Women in Faith should consider serving in this important role. Happy discerning!

General Conference updates

The General Commission on the General Conference met in mid-April and confirmed Minneapolis as the location for the 2028 worldwide meeting, with a possible secondary location, likely in Canada, for delegates unable to obtain U.S. visas.

The conference has been shortened from 10 to 8 days.

Paragraph 101 of The Book of Discipline states that the new General Book of Discipline, to be presented by the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the U.S., must be addressed and acted on within the first three days of the conference. Those same first days will also be used for orientation, meetings of the Standing Committee, and a meeting of the new (and one-time-only) U.S. Regional Committee, comprising all U.S. delegates, who will review all legislation directly related to the church in the United States and make recommendations to the full body. Then we’ll get to legislative committees and plenary.

You can read more about the commission’s meeting from our friends at United Methodist News.

General Conference delegates are elected at the annual conference. So … what is the annual conference? Check out “What Happens at Annual Conference” to learn more. Yes—we need your voice there too!

Looking ahead

As the upcoming elections remind us, General Conference 2028 isn’t that far away. Here is the general anticipated timeline to keep in mind:

Spring 2027: Most delegates elected.
July 2027: Petitions submission start date.
September 2027: Petition submission deadline.
February 2028: Delegates receive Advance Daily Christian Advocate.
May 2028: General Conference meets.

I will, of course, keep you updated on all things General Conference and how United Women in Faith can help inspire, influence, and impact the church’s future. Please let me know if you have any questions, and let me know if you are planning to run for delegate!

Blessings,

Tara Barnes
Director of denominational relations
United Women in Faith

Join Our New Isabella Thoburn Giving Circle

“No people can rise higher as a people than the point to which they educate their women.”
-Isabella Thoburn

Dear Sister in Faith,

God has blessed us to be a blessing to others. Since 1869, United Women in Faith has been powered by acts of love from women just like you.

Your support has enabled us to put love into action for women and children on the margins, spiritually grow and nurture women, equip bold leaders, provide love, justice, and service both at home and abroad, and carry out important social action and justice work. Thank you!

However, there is still more work to be done and more love to share. This year, we’ve seen the erasure of jobs, history, and benefits that limit access to needed safety nets, particularly impacting women, children, and other vulnerable groups. United Women in Faith will not be discouraged. We continue to advocate for justice, putting our hope and love in action, aligning with God’s call to be light for the vulnerable, just as one of our foremothers, Isabella Thoburn, did when she set sail for India. Your Mission Giving dollars support this work.

This bold tradition began in 1869, when eight women in Boston, moved by the plight of their sisters in India, acted. In six months, they raised enough money to send Isabella Thoburn and Dr. Clara Swain to India. Thoburn boldly launched a women’s education program that led to South Asia’s first Christian college for women. What began with six students in 1870 is now Isabella Thoburn College, with 3,500 women enrolled today.

As Thoburn said, “No people can rise higher as a people than the point to which they educate their women.”

We, at United Women in Faith, will carry that vision forward. Will you help us by joining our new Isabella Thoburn Giving Circle to support Mission Giving further? With a monthly gift of $25, you can help ensure the continuity of vital mission efforts around the world.

Thank you for all you do to put love in action for a better world. Remember, we are bold, courageous, and determined United Women in Faith. Together, we will accomplish mighty acts that future generations will recount. Please visit us online today and join the Isabella Thoburn Giving Circle at uwfaith.org/isabella.

In deepest gratitude,

Sally Vonner
General Secretary and CEO
United Women in Faith

Ways to Give
Online: uwfaith.org/isabella

By check:
United Women in Faith
Church Center for the United Nations
777 United Nations Plaza,
11th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Write “Isabella Thoburn”
in the memo line.  

Bible Study Series:
Embracing God’s Call

Led by Dr. Faye Wilson and Ellen Lipsey

5 Wednesdays: September 10, 17, and 24, and October 1 and 8

7 PM-8:30 PM ET | 4 PM-5:30 PM PT

Join United Women in Faith sisters and siblings for a special five-week Bible Study, Embracing God’s Call: A Bible Study on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

This study, written by the General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church, helps us ask: “What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean for me as a follower of Christ?”

Dr. Faye Wilson and Ellen Lipsey, dedicated members and leaders with United Women in Faith will facilitate the study.

This interactive series will take place on five consecutive Wednesdays. Registered participants should plan to attend all five sessions. Space is very limited. Pre-registration is required. Registration will automatically close when all available spaces are taken. Please do not register if you expect to miss two or more sessions. Sessions will not be recorded. There is no cost to participate. All are welcome.

About Dr. Faye Wilson: Faye Wilson is a writer, educator, and musician. As the director of GeeFaye Associates, a communications, education, and music consulting firm, she offers services in creating and editing documents. She teaches piano, including how to read notes and play by ear. For 21 years, she was a staff member with the General Board of Global Ministries (The United Methodist Church). Her work took her to all 50 states and 23 countries. Highlights of her work include writing books on 14 mission study themes and co-authoring the 2025 resource book for United Women in Faith, entitled “Carrying Our Faith Forward.” She also has led workshops at many Assemblies. In addition, she developed study materials to accompany the four-part video series, Vital Conversations – on race, justice, and human sexuality – produced by the General Commission on Religion and Race. Dr. Wilson has a B.A. degree in religion studies from Wilson College, a master of Theological Studies (Drew Theological School, Madison, NJ), a master’s in Journalism (New York University), and a Doctorate in Adult Education from Columbia University. She lives in Salisbury, Maryland, and is minister of music and arts for Mt. Zion UMC, Quantico. She is president of her local unit and treasurer for the Lower Shore District United Women in Faith (Peninsula-Delaware Conference). She is married to Arthur Mitchell, mom of three daughters, and has three granddaughters and four grandsons.

About Ellen Lipsey: Ellen Lipsey is a retired public school teacher from Texas. After teaching elementary grades for 31 years, she transitioned from the classroom to advocate for children and their families through the many opportunities provided by United Women in Faith. She has served in various leadership positions at each level of United Women in Faith, as well as in roles such as study leader, trainer, and dean of Mission u. As the past South Central Jurisdiction United Women in Faith President, she collaborated with the Racial Justice Charter Support team to focus Jurisdiction attention on the Charter for Racial Justice. Ellen currently serves as a member of the board of McCurdy Ministries, one of the United Women in Faith’s national mission institutions.

If you are unable to open the pre-registration link above, please copy and paste the following text into your browser window: surveymonkey.com/r/SZS9FHG

Did you know that any woman can become a United Women in Faith member, even without a local United Women in Faith unit in their church?

Sisters, if you haven’t already joined, we invite you to join! We’d love to have you as part of our community.

The United Women in Faith Video is accessible in two ways:

Don’t Miss Out on Assembly 2026!

Join thousands of women in Indianapolis, May 15-17, 2026, for an unforgettable weekend filled with powerful worship, transformative workshops, and a global sisterhood committed to justice and soul care. Secure your spot at United Women in Faith’s biggest event by taking advantage of early registration, beginning September 1st.

Find out more about Assembely 2026

Short Survey

At United Women in Faith, we want to connect you with transformative education like Mission u, leadership opportunities for women in your congregation and communities, and actionable ways to advocate for racial justice and climate justice. We first want to learn more about you and if you have a United Women in Faith group in your church. Please hit the camera icon on your phone and click on the QR code on the screen to answer this one-question survey, or click on the button below. Do you have a United Women in Faith group in your church? Enter your church’s contact details and hit submit.

Survey

Regionalization

What is regionalization? Regionalization allows United Methodists throughout our connection to best serve their unique communities as they share the love of God, make disciples, and transform the world.

National Resource Quick Links

Disaffiliation FAQs

As of today, just under 7,000 churches have disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church, with more expected to follow before the cutoff date of Dec. 31, 2023. This often-heartbreaking season will hopefully be coming to an end, but United Women in Faith members will still have questions and will be looking to you for answers.

You can share and access a regularly updated, frequently asked questions resource on United Women in Faith and Disaffiliation at tinyurl.com/UWFaithFAQs.

Please do reach out to me at any time if you have questions or need clarity. You can also contact membership@uwfaith.org.

Despite—or maybe even because of—this contentious season, now is the perfect time to invite women to United Women in Faith. This time of discernment has given us a body of people who have searched their hearts and souls and come out the other side with a new understanding of and commitment to being United Methodist and United Women in Faith. There’s a new energy and pride and rootedness.

Don’t miss this chance to let the women who need us know our doors are open.

New National Address

Due to recent issues with receiving mail at 475 Riverside Drive and potential postal fraud, United Women in Faith is using our alternate office address at the Church Center for the United Nations for regular mail. That address is:

United Women in Faith Church Center for the United Nations
777 United Nations Plaza,
11th Floor New York, NY 10017

Faith • Hope • Love in Action