July-August Response

July-August 1999

"New Directions in Membership"

"Bible Study: Apocalyptic Members" by J. Ann Craig

Turn the maps in your house upside down. Where is your membership in United Methodist Women? Are you a member of the most powerful country in the world? Or are you a member of the kingdom of Jesus Christ who reversed the centers of power so that the hungry, the unclothed, and the oppressed were members of the kingdom of God. This Bible Study will take you through the search and journey for these answers.

"Growing in Mission and Numbers" by Ressie Mae Bass and Yvette Moore

The UMW membership campaign is alive and well, with more than 587 new units organized since the six-year effort kicked off in 1996! Read about this campaign and the new consultative groups that will continue to help the organization grow!

"A New Tool for Conferences" by Ressie Mae Bass and Yvette Moore

A key component of UMW's six-year membership campaign is the volunteer consultant program, a plan that makes available specially trained volunteers to help conferences jump-start outreach to ever-expanding groups of women around the country. Read about this program and the conferences that are making it work.

"Mission is Fun for Topeka District Teens" by Denise Anderson and Caroline Bigham

Written by a teen woman and adult advisor, this article talks about how this group started, their goals, and their mission work.

"Retirement Communities: A Creative Fellowship" by Yvette Moore

Five of the newly organized district units of UMW are in retirement communities. The connection was natural--answering the call to be in mission is a lifetime commitment. This article looks at the stories of some of these units.

"Distinctively Different: A Workplace Unit"

This article looks at the workplace unit at the Interchurch Center in New York City, home of the General Board of Global Ministries.

"O, For a Thousand Tongues!" by Mary Beth Coudal

After dancing to upbeat music and dining on spicy Brazilian food at a restaurant outside of Orlando, Fla., one member of the Brazilian district unit of United Methodist Women in Kissimmee testifies to her spiritual journey. Involved in mission and with a strong spiritual grounding, units from many cultures are witnessing in their faith and action, and making statements that reverberate around the world. This article looks at Brazilian-American, Korean-American, Vietnamese-American, Haitian-American, Filipina-American, and Chinese-American United Methodist Women units.

"On-Time Mission in the Dakotas" by Colleen Henjum McKirdy

Meeting women in today's busy world can be a challenge for United Methodist Women's organizations. this article looks at the traditional and non-traditional ways that the Dakotas Conference is meeting this challenge. Their goal: encourage more active involvement and go about the buisiness of mission!

"Book Clubs: A Hot Ticket To New Members" by Joyce Hamlin

With women's reading groups or book clubs on the upswing these days, the Reading Program can be a great way to attract new members. This article looks at organizing around the Reading Program.

"Signs of Change" by Connie Walsh

This article explores the United Methodist Women Deaf Ministry Unit of the Western North Carolina Conference. It looks at the ministry being met; the women's organization for mission and outreach; and the ways in which the deaf community is sitll excluded in the community and church.

"Profiles in United Methodist Women"

This series of articles tells the story of a diverse population of United Methodist Women members; their involvement in the organization; their struggles; and their history.

"Forum: Young United Methodist Women Speak" by Kelly C. Martini

Based on a round-table discussion with teen and college/university women, this article explores the search, needs, identity, and the perceptions of Generation X and Y. Read about the thoughts of these young women and learn how the Church can be mission and ministry with and to them.

"Mother, Daughter Team Up for Youth Study" by Susie Wallace

This article profiles the stories of the mother-daughter team who has taught the youth study in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference for the past two years.

"United Methodist first WCC 'youth' president" by Frances S. Smith

It took 50 years, but the World Council of Churches finally elected a youth (under 30) as one of its eight presidents. She's a United Methodist pastor from Bison, Kansas, and this article looks at her story.

"In Solidarity: End of the Decade" by Denise Stovall

This article explores United Methodist Women's renewed commitments to enter the new millenium "in solidarity with women," which happened in Harare, Zimbabwe last November.

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