August 19, 1999 -- More than 200 women gathered in Nashville, TN, on August 14-20 to look at timely social and global issues, and the action that they can take to address these issues.
United Methodist Women (UMW) from around the United States and from diverse backgrounds and age groups congregated at the Women’s Division National Seminar at Scarritt-Bennett Center. Together, the participants analyzed a variety of global issues affecting women, children and youth; looked at approaches to faith-based action and advocacy; studied Biblical mandates to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God"; and came up with concrete actions to accomplish their tasks.
"Justice work is prayer," said Traci West, the Bible Study leader to the large group, referring to the parable beginning Luke 18 that encourages justice-building work. "Hold on, persist, and place your faith in God, is the message." Ms. West is a professor at Drew Theological Seminary and author of Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence and Resistance Ethics."
"Justice work is prayer," said Traci West, the Bible Study leader, to the large group. She refered to the parable beginning in Luke 18 that encourages justice-building work. "Hold on, persist, and place your faith in God, is the message." Ms. West is a professor at Drew Theological Seminary and author of Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence and Resistance Ethics.
"United Methodist Women must be sold on social action as we move out into a world of violence, racism, and injustice. We must be compelled to ‘do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God,’" said Chris Keels, vice president of the Women’s Division and chairperson of the event, to the group.
Intertwining the Biblical studies and reflections into the rest of the seminar, participants attended one of 15 workshops that addressed national and global issues. Issues ranged from the impacts of welfare reform to the environment and children to hate crimes to ethics and access issues on the Internet. Participants chose the workshops that they wanted to attend, then came together in larger group settings to make connections between their issues, others, and their Biblical mandate.
Each afternoon participants attended skill building workshops that ranged from letter-writing campaigns to community organizing to working within the local church.
After attending almost a week of continuing education sessions, the women dispersed into the Nashville area to do hands-on advocacy and learning. Among many other events, they participated in conversations with different government officials and legislators; they attended a Jewish synagogue to discuss the impact of hate crimes and hate speech on groups of people; they went to a research center that analyzed media coverage and researched first amendment issues; and they dialogued with women in housing projects to discuss the impacts of welfare reform on their children.
Participants for this conference are part of the 1-million member United Methodist Women, the largest women’s organization within the United States and possibly the world. Conference and jurisdictional UMWs chose these participants to ensure an interest in faith-based advocacy and with a hope that participants will take home their learnings about the issues and advocacy options, then use them throughout the Church, community, and country.
The Women’s Division represents United Methodist Women, 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.
# # #