If not now…when?  If not me…who?

National Seminar of United Methodist Women / August 4, 2003

 

Are Called to Be a Prophet?

 

How would you describe yourself?  Ordinary, normal, common?  Or a prophet? 

            That was the question posed by Genie Bank, Women’s Division president, as she spoke at Sunday worship. 

            “Prophets are people that are truth-telling, future-seeing, outspoken people found in scriptures, and maybe some churches,” said Ms. Bank. “You wouldn’t introduce yourself with that word or include it in a description of who you are.”

            Yet Ms. Bank stated that she didn’t see any women in the room as ordinary because they were chosen to be at National Seminar and work for social justice.

            She recalled an ordinary woman – Joanne – who first attended National Seminar 22 years ago.  She returned with enthusiasm -- committed to working for peace.  Since then, she’s traveled several times to Vieques, Puerto Rico protesting militarization there, and organized a protest against a Ku Klux Klan march in her town.

            What empowers people like Joanne to go beyond the ordinary?

            “You first have to have a strong faith in God,” she said.  “God has spoken through the years to those ears and hearts and minds that were open.”

            Those people then listened to God and spoke the truth, according to Ms. Bank.

            Today, charity in Christianity is important – feeding the hungry, housing and clothing the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned.

            But working to change the systems that keep people poor, uncared for, or uneducated is also part of our Christian responsibility.  It’s about truth-telling and action.

            “God is calling us to action, and we need to listen,” said Ms. Bank.  “We need to move beyond the comfortable feeling of giving toward the painful, bumpy road of justice.”

(The entire speech will be available at http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/nationalseminar )

 

Letter-Writing:  An Advocacy Technique We Can All Do

The issues lifted up last night are not just part of our history, they are part of our reality!  Continue the historical social justice work.  Stop by the letter-writing table on the second floor of Laskey Library.  Information, postcards, and blank papers are available so that you can write letters about:

• Patriot Act II
• Sweatshops

Take home copies and information and get others involved.

 

History

 

United Methodist Women inherited a proud heritage of working on mission as social justice.  History night enabled seminar participants to experience this.  Participants stopped at four stations on their historical journey:

·        racial justice,

·        women’s rights as human rights,

·        economic and environmental justice, and

·        women organized for mission –the struggles, triumphs of faith, and milestones of victories.

For a copy of the history script, contact Glory Dharmarj, Women’s Division, 777 United Nations Plaza, 8^th floor, New York, NY 10017.  Phone: 212-682-3633.

 

Panel Discussion Elicits Personal Stories

Yesterday’s personal stories of three journeys in faith of United Methodist Women showed participants how “ordinary” women can be called to do extraordinary things.

Andris Salter, facilitator for the discussion, involved participants with three questions:

·        How have you been involved in your community and world?

·        Why did you become involved in social justice and volunteer work?  What motivated you?

·        How has your involvement in your volunteerism/social justice impacted you, your family, your community and your church?

Lois Dauway, assistant general secretary of United Methodist Women, encourages women to sponsor a panel discussion:

 “You will discover a ‘richness’ when you provide the opportunity for ‘ordinary women’ to share their faith journey and their experiences with social justice.”

 

Ideas for creating a safe environment:

·        Let the audience know that panelists take a risk sharing stories, and they need to be upheld in prayer.

·        Unless otherwise stated, covenant together that whatever is shared is kept within the community (example: what you say in the room stays in the room).

·        Respect the person’s story and experience.  You do not need to re-interpret it, because every experience is different. Listen to one another.

 

Announcements

Sign up at the registration desk in Laskey Library for the talent show.  Rehearsal is Tuesday at 1:30 in the auditorium.

If you have dark or black clothes, wear them tomorrow if you signed up to stand with “Women in Black” at their noon peace vigil.  If you didn’t bring these clothes, come anyway!