Mission Update

If Not Now, When?  If Not Me, Who?

"If Not Now, When?... If Not Me, Who?" Directors voted on this theme at the April board meeting and now plans are underway for the National Seminar, August 2-8, 2003 in Nashville, Tenn.

This quadrennial seminar will be an opportunity for United Methodist Women from diverse backgrounds to meet on common ground and explore God’s calling in their lives.

The theme is based on the scripture from Isaiah 6:8b, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

The seminar will be a time for women to explore this mandate more deeply as they

  • focus on Biblical mandates to respond to God’s plea for messengers.
  • become and empower today’s voices for leadership.
  • are inspired to be advocates for God’s people, acting out with faithful conviction and holy audacity.
  • analyze domestic and global issues currently affecting women, children and youth and positions of the Church, governments, and other organizational structures.
  • are equipped for ministries of justice and advocacy, which move people from poverty to abundance, war to peace, oppression to freedom, inequality to equality, and hurting to wholeness.
  • affirm each other’s response to God’s call.
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    In its planning, the Women’s Division emphasizes the inclusion of a diversity of age and racial-ethnic backgrounds, plus candidates from rural and inner city locations.

    Participants are chosen by the Conference Executive Committee. Potential participants should watch for information from their Conference Presidents beginning in the fall.

    The first National Seminars were held in 1939 and 1940 and were five weeks long. The seminars exemplified the organization’s commitment to global understanding and to full equality for persons without regard to race or gender. After the 1940s, the seminars become shorter term, non-credit experiences. They have developed with a greater orientation toward issue analysis and action guidelines, with actions being timely and specific.

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