Report of the President
to the
Women’s Division
October 17, 2003
All of my life I’ve lived in the Northern part of the United States. What does that mean? Well, to me it suggests several things: You seldom get all the leaves raked before the first snowfall; you have more warm weather clothes than other clothes because winter is much longer than summer; you hope you don’t have to turn on your furnace before October first, and your local Dairy Queen closes after Labor Day.
Living in the North also means that there are really two seasons of the year—winter and construction season. As much as we hate to see winter come, we welcome it in a way because that means the end to construction on the highways.
You see, getting around in the summer is always a challenge—one that must be overcome. Getting there is never easy, even though you always do reach your destination. Think of all the signs you encounter in a construction zone, or on any road, for that matter: “Be Prepared to Stop.” “Lane Shift Ahead.” “Reduced Speed Ahead.” “Stay in Your Lane.” “Do Not Pass When Opposing Traffic is Present.” “Merge.” Usually you’ll be warned with those signs that tell you that roadwork is ahead. Then, they’ll be signs that will tell you how many miles the construction will last. And when you’ve finally made it through the 2 or 5 or 10 miles, you’ll be thanked for your cooperation.
You might ask, “What does all this have to do with the Women’s Division?” Well, friends, we are in the midst of a construction zone—right here, right now. That makes some in this room nervous.
But if we examine our past, we’ll see that this is really nothing new. We have changed names and structure many times during our history, yet we have continued to tell the story of mission and worked for justice for all of God’s children.
Next year United Methodist Women in local units, districts, and conferences will be celebrating 135 years in mission. This gives us the opportunity to study our history, and see how it has made us what we are today.
Margaret Mead concluded after a lifetime of observing very diverse cultures around the world this thought: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
That same insight can be said of United Methodist Women and its predecessor organizations. Eight women founded the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. They heard of the needs of women and children in India. Fifty women founded the Woman’s Home Missionary Society. They were eyewitnesses to the conditions that kept women and children oppressed in their society. Both of these small groups of women believed that they were being called by God to organize and participate in mission as they understood it. Those women prayed, studied, raised funds, and took action at a time in our country when women were not in leadership roles. Those women, though few in numbers, were committed to the teachings of Christ. We see the organization that we know today far different than those early missionary societies, but we see that same dedication and commitment to mission.
Our foremothers started programs and movements that we continue today. It’s interesting to see how some began and evolved into what we know now.
(I’m indebted to Maxine West who has provided me with many of these statistics.)
The early missionary societies were concerned with leadership development. They provided opportunities for women to receive skills training and to develop their God given talents and gifts. Deaconesses established training schools to prepare women for missionary employment and other church related vocations. Bible women training in countries outside the United States prepared nationals to work among their own people.
Hand in hand with leadership training were the educational programs of the societies. We need to remember that most of the women were non-professional women, and had little knowledge of the business world. But, they raised funds and built buildings—schools, homes, residences, and hospitals. They believed that education was the way to a better life for women, and consequently, a better life for their families. That motivated them to focus on education for women and girls here in the United States and many places around the world. Between 1869-1939, the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society alone had commissioned and deployed sixteen hundred missionaries to work on four continents and in 17 countries. They established over one thousand schools with more than three thousand trained teachers and 68,000 students. These schools and colleges were founded on Christian principles. Courses in Theology, Bible study, and religious education were offered. In addition, the missionary societies established 20 hospitals. All of these institutions provided opportunities for employment of women—as teachers, principals, superintendents and administrators.
Of course, the success of societies was based, on a large part, by their ability to raise money. The women in the early societies were great fundraisers. They used story telling to communicate the needs of women and children. And they knew how to network with other groups to raise funds and promote the mission programs. Many of the leaders had means to support the work also, and were generous givers. This became a successful motivator for others to give. In addition, they were good property managers. They purchased land, erected buildings and maintained these properties, which was an uncommon practice in the early years of the 19th century.
Another hallmark of the organization we know today as United Methodist Women is the work on racial justice and equality for all people. No organization in the Methodist Church family has done more for race relations than United Methodist Women and the predecessor organizations.
When the Central Jurisdiction was created by General Conference in 1939, the women created the five Regional Schools of Christian Mission so that the black women could be included. The five regional schools crossed jurisdictional lines.
It was at the Sixth National Seminar in 1947 that word was sent forth calling for a Charter of Racial Policies and a gathering of data on National, state, and local laws related to race and color. Recommendations concerning the call for the Charter and the data on “laws related to race and color” were sent to the Woman’s Division where they were adopted and referred to the new committee for implementation—the Committee on Racial Practices.
Of course, mission education has a prominent place in our history. This education took place in a number of ways through the members of guilds and societies, with children and youth and in the total church. Much of this education was emphasized through schools, interest groups and study resources. Schools of Christian Service were outstanding events. These schools were offered for delving into the approved studies, and, were, as they are today, unrivaled in developing leadership. The name of the schools was changed to Schools of Christian Mission in 1965, and they continue to be a major reason why women of the United Methodist Church are known to be so up-to-date, knowledgeable, capable, and committed.
We could go on and on, looking at the history of United Methodist Women and all its predecessor organizations. And next year, as we celebrate more than a century in mission, we’ll become even more aware and more proud of all that has been accomplished in the name of Christ.
By studying our past, then, we realize that all through those 135 years, there have been changes. There have been detours, mergers, and times when we’ve had to reduce our speed. The road called Women’s Division has always been under construction. We have always worked to find creative ways to tell the mission story. We have always worked to become Christ’s hands here on earth as we participate in justice ministries. We have always worked to help people find their voices. And we have always had committed directors and staff who have prayed, worked, loved, and had a passion for mission. And, friends, we have always had staff who retired.
As I was preparing for this meeting, I thought about those of the Women’s Division staff that we would honor here this weekend. Then I thought of all those we’ve said goodbye to since we began together in 2000. Long-time personnel are gone and with their departure much history of the organization. That so many had to leave at the same time is unfortunate and not easy to deal with. Valued women, dedicated to the Division and the Organization of United Methodist Women, are gone. All of us are getting used to new people in new positions and we’re getting used to new positions with new names.
This summer we’ve seen signs that told us to merge and signs that said “reduce speed ahead.” We’ve even had to shift lanes. All sections of the Division have been affected—especially the Section of Membership and Organizational Development. Yet what has happened?
Has progress been slowed? Have things gone undone? Have our ministries to women, children and youth suffered? Or have we made it through the construction arriving at our destination?
The Regional Schools of Christian Mission were a success even in the midst of staff preparing to retire. Study leaders were certified, conference leadership received training, and the church, once again, realized the tremendous gifts the schools are to the denomination. Thousands of women, subsequently, expanded their concepts of mission as they attended their conference schools. And now they will tell those in their local churches the mission story.
National Seminar was held the first week in August. This quadrennial event with such a rich history, challenged the 225 women present to ask the questions: “If not now, when? If not me, who?” Some familiar faces were absent from that event due to staff retirements, yet the women in attendance from each of the conferences left with what was for some a new sense of what it means to be a justice seeker. Of particular note was the enthusiastic group of young women present. They laughed, cried, and worked together and leaned how they can make a difference in society. The format of National Seminar has changed over the years, but it remains one of the best events sponsored by the Women’s Division.
And our meeting in August for the Committees on National and International Ministries with Women, Children and Youth showed no evidence that we had been slowed by construction. It was particularly exciting to me to listen to the stories of our regional missionaries who reported on their experiences at the Conference Schools of Christian Mission all across the country. Throughout the summer, local women had their concepts of mission expanded by being in the presence of these dedicated individuals. Both of these committees worked hard that weekend and the evidence of that work will be presented at this meeting when we vote on their recommendations. I urge you to use your Mission Opportunities book often to interpret the work of the Women’s Division.
We’re here at this meeting, prepared to participate in our Sections, prepared to vote in the plenaries, and prepared to continue the work that is before us. The staff of Women’s Division, many with new responsibilities, is to be commended for preparing us for this meeting.
Of course the retirement of our Deputy General Secretary is on many of your minds. Since the beginning of the quadrennium, and during the resignations and retirements of long time staff, one thing was constant. Joyce Sohl. Soon she’ll, too, be gone. Is this a challenge for us in the Women’s Division? Yes! Will we overcome it? Definitely!
We will make it through this new construction zone—we always have.
A few weeks ago I was traveling to Indiana for a conference meeting. Naturally, I encountered many construction zones. I was met by a sign that I hadn’t seen before. The road I was traveling was near completion—the surface was finished—the center lines were just being added. Every hundred feet or so there was a sign that read: “No Edge Lines.” I’d never seen that particular sign before, and it got me to thinking. First, I wondered about the wisdom in such a sign. Wouldn’t a driver be aware of the side of the road? It was pretty obvious to me. But, then, I suppose in the dark there is some comfort in knowing where the edge of the road is. If there were lines, the driver would have that line to relate to, and be confident that she or he was on the road.
Well, I am convinced that the Women’s Division is on the road. I’m confident because of our history—and confident because we have those edge lines. We need to be reminded that our direction has been given to us, first by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and secondly, by the Discipline of the United Methodist Church. We’ve heard it before, but we need to hear it again. The 2000 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church states:
The Women’s Division shall be actively engaged in fulfilling the mission of Christ and the Church and shall interpret the purpose of United Methodist Women. With continuing awareness of the concerns and responsibilities of the Church in today’s world, the Women’s Division shall be an advocate for the oppressed and dispossessed with special attention to the needs of women and children; shall work to build a supportive community among women; and shall engage in activities that foster growth in the Christian faith, mission education, and Christian social involvement throughout the organization.
And so, we continue the journey that was begun almost 135 years ago. Those small groups of committed women, motivated by the gospel, gave their time, skills and resources to the movement that today is United Methodist Women. And from the time of those women, to the million members of today, we still hear God calling us to participate in God’s mission. We have seen that there are no limits to what committed and dedicated Christian women can do with God’s help! Let us continue, then, undeterred—confident of the road we are on, and the One who accompanies us on our journey.