Deb’s Dispatch

As I write this article for our Winter Edition of “Sharing Line,” I am so filled with a sense of gratitude and belief that our Creator continues to call each of us and leads us into opportunities where we really need to be!

We are all blessed by the impact of our newest members of the Conference United Women in Faith leadership team, who have already begun to make a difference for all of us within our Pacific Northwest area and beyond.

I have been reading the book “Everyday Ubuntu…Living Better Together, the African Way” by Mungi Ngomane (granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu), which was recommended by Kathy Johnson, our program resources coordinator, and is on our 2026 Reading Program list in the Social Action category. It is a beautiful book inspired by the 14 lessons of the Rainbow Nation. Throughout this book of wisdom we experience lessons like: “See Yourself in Other People”; “Strength Lies in Unity”; “Put Yourself in the Shoes of Others”; “Choose to see a Wider Perspective”; “Have Dignity and Respect for Yourself and Others”; “Believe in the Good of Everyone”; “Choose Hope over optimism”; “Seek out Ways to Connect”; “The Power of Forgiveness”; “ Embrace our Diversity”; “Acknowledge Reality (however painful that may be)”; “Find the Humor in our Humanity”; “ Why Little Things Make a Big Difference” and “Learn to Listen so that You can Hear”.

The concepts of Ubuntu as described in this book, to me, are the very core of our vision, mission, and purpose of United Women in Faith and predecessor organizations for the past #156 years.

These concepts are already being explored through our coordinator for Social Action, Cecille Corsilles-Sy, as she supports us in understanding what it means to create “brave space” rather than “safe space” in our own discussions with each other.

Joan Hackett is creating connections as we explore a “new way” to share what it means to “be in mission” in our own local units and churches. You will read more about this in this edition…we are starting a Revolution!

I am always inspired by the ministry and mission of each of our district organizations, which continue to support connections not only with existing local units but also by creatively bridging connections among women without current local units!

I truly believe that we are all being called for such a time as this! I am eagerly looking forward to sharing with many of you as we “Dream it, Believe it, and Do it” at Assembly 2026 in Indianapolis in May! At the UMC Annual Conference, our United Women in Faith has offered to host an “ice-cream social” for all participants. Mark your calendars for our 2026 Mission u July 10-12…this year will be at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center. October 23-24, the SeaTac Missional District, United Women in Faith, will host our Conference Annual Gathering at Hope UMC in Bellevue.

We have so much to look forward to this year and beyond as we look to the future of a strong and relevant organization of Women, organized for mission and ministry with women, children, and youth!

Blessings on Each of You,

Deb Avery
PNW Conference President
United Women in Faith