Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 19, 2002
Million-Member Women’s Organization Addressing Tough Issues in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Penn. -- Members of one million-member United Methodist Women will descend on Philadelphia, Penn., April 25-28 for their quadrennial meeting - one that historically challenges women to change unjust social systems, be aware of world issues, and live out their faith in the process.
Close to 10,000 participants will attend the United Methodist Women’s Assembly at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Among other things, the four-day event will include worship, Bible studies, famous speakers addressing issues and concerns of women and children, workshops on faith and social issues, interactive exhibits, and entertainment.
United Methodist Women is an organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
Speakers
In-line with recent controversial issues in Philadelphia – public education and childcare -- Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, will address the assembly on Friday. Her topic will be issues facing children today and how women can help.
Following the speech, 10,000 women will be writing letters to their Congressional members on a current issue that hinders the development of children.
On Saturday morning, Musimbi Kanyoro, general secretary for the World YWCA, and Michele Beg, the organization’s communications director, will look at racism, poverty, and education – issues affecting women worldwide. Celia Esparaza, director of United Community Centers in Fort Worth, Texas, will look at the plight of women in this country who are trying to get off public assistance, out of neighborhoods that lure youngsters into drugs and prostitution, and into a life of independence and empowerment. United Community Centers is just one of more than 100 United Methodist Women-supported institutions in the United States with programs and projects aimed at empowering women and protecting children. Neighborhood Center of Camden, United Methodist Neighborhood Services of Philadelphia, and Neighborhood House of Wilmington are local United Methodist Women-supported centers doing similar work.
Bible Studies and Worship
Each morning Bible Study leaders will link Biblical messages with challenges to women. On Friday, author and United Methodist clergy, Hea Sun Kim, will explore knowing God through children. By looking at children of Jesus’ time and children of today, she’ll explore the challenge to work for peace and justice for the sake of our children and as a mandate of the faith.
On Saturday, Barbara Lundblad, Lutheran minister, seminary professor, and regular speaker on "The Protestant Hour," will look at the subversive song of Rahab, the prostitute in the book of Joshua, and how her story has a modern-day message for women of faith.
Thursday evening, a gong will signal the beginning of the event, followed by a children’s musical with professional actors that introduces communion. Every morning, the 10,000 will gather for worship, singing led by musicians from New York, Kentucky and Sweden, and liturgical dance.
Workshops That Will Challenge
With more than 60 workshops on spirituality and faith, personal issues, social issues, and membership issues, participants have chosen areas in which they want to learn and be active. These workshops will meet on Friday and Saturday afternoon. In the spirituality and faith area, some topics include forgiveness, spiritual paths, dating in a Christian context, and parenting with one’s faith at the center. Personal issues deal with stress, aging, financial planning for women, self-esteem and more. Social issues deal with things like affecting social change with our money, public education, hate crimes, human rights of workers here and abroad, ending homelessness, environmental issues, and more. A sampling of the membership workshops will challenge inclusivity of generations and cultures, reaching out to new mothers, and reaching out to women in prison.
Hands-on Exhibit Area
Experiential learning undergirds the exhibit area. In one exhibit, participants will go to the local hospital, encounter a health issue, and suddenly be caught in the maze of the health care system because they don’t have insurance. In the education area, women will sit in a substandard classroom, take a standardized test that determines their future and makes no sense to them. Then, they will explore their own education and how the organization prepares them for action. The HIV/AIDS exhibit will be a timeline of the history of the disease, society’s response, and United Methodist Women’s response, followed by an area for reflection, remembering, and pictorial stories about programs and projects around the world to end the pandemic. The environment exhibit will demonstrate energy alternatives and easy steps to saving our environment and health. Participants will also be able to experience the life of a refugee, witness the lives of child soldiers, and be confronted with issues like racial profiling. Undergirding all the work of the organization will be exhibits on membership and spiritual growth.
Hands-on outreach will be integral to the exhibits area as women bring kits to fill the United Methodist relief agency’s depot to respond to problems and disasters around the world.
Evening Performances
On Friday night, Sisters’ Grace, featuring Beverly Lewis Hunter (piano), Prudence McDaniel (violoncello) and Marilyn Thronton Tribble (violin) will deliver a musical performance bridging the works of Mendelssohn, Schubert, Ellington, Garner, and African-American spirituals. These performers composed and recorded material for International Theatrical production, "O Fetichista," and have appeared throughout the New York Metropolitan area. Recording artist, Tish Hinojosa, will follow with multi-cultural music with social/political messages. Ms. Hinojosa has worked on behalf of the United Farmworkers of America, the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the National Association of Bilingual Education.
On Saturday Night, back from their tour of Asia, the United Methodist-sponsored Youth Mission Chorale 2001 will perform songs from around the world in different languages and share personal stories about their tour through Southeast Asia.
As space to allows, day registration will be available. The cost will be $35 each day, Thursday through Saturday, and $25 on Sunday.
Contact: Kelly C. Martini
Executive secretary for communications
Women’s Division, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
475 Riverside Drive, #1501
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-3729; FAX: (212) 870-3736
kmartini@gbgm-umc.org