Response to proposed "Good News/Renew Network's Petitions to General Conference" Regarding the Women's Division

The Good News/Renew Network, unofficial organizations of the denomination, are bringing several petitions to General Conference that are meant to undermine the work of United Methodist Women and the Women's Division. Below are the Petitions from Good News/Renew and the Women's Division's response to each petition so that United Methodist Women may speak to concerns of church members and constituency about the issues.

PETITION #1 from Good News/Renew: Women's Division Subject to Discipline

"Whereas in purpose and practice, the Women ’s Division and United Methodist Women share in the mission of The United Methodist Church (&120-124, 1317), and

Whereas the Women’s Division, in succeeding its para-church forerunners of the par (missions societies, associations, guilds, etc.,), and since the agreements of 1964, is now much more integrated into the structure of the Church under the General Board of Global Ministries, and

Whereas the Women’s Division receives the vast majority of its funding from women who are United Methodists and/or members of local United Methodist Women’s unit (&1318.4), all of whom share in the global mission of The United Methodist Church (&255.4), and

Whereas all church organizations of United Methodist Women are auxiliary to the General Board of Global Ministries (&1319.4a), and

Whereas the Women’s Division has demonstrated it is not subject to the provision of the Discipline requiring open meetings (&721) when it closed its National Gathering Teens and College/University Women (Young Woman, Rise Up!) in St. Charles, Illinois, December 28-31, 2000, and

Whereas the fact that this national gathering was a "training" event clearly does not qualify for any of the specific exceptions listed in &721 in which a meeting might be closed, and

Whereas the "great restraint" called for when closing a meeting in &721 was not used by the Women’s Division and shows the Women’s Division in this instance to be autonymous from the authority of the Discipline, and

Therefore be it resolved that the 2004 General Conference amend &1319 by ADDING the following words, "and subject to the provisions of the Discipline" and "the board’s."

The entire paragraph would read:

&1319, Authority…… 1. The Women’s Division shall have the authority to make its bylaws and to regulate its proceedings in harmony with the charter of the board and subject to the provisions of the Discipline, and with ~~it’s~~ the board’s approval, to develop and carry out the functions of the board as described in & 1302; to buy and sell property; to solicit and accept contributions, subject to annuity under the board’s regulations; and to appropriate its funds."

TALKING POINTS AGAINST PETITION #1

The Women’s Division and United Methodist Women are a part of the church -- The United Methodist Church. Action of the 1939 General Conference provided for one women’s group in each local church. "In every local church there shall be an organized unit of United Methodist Women." This kind of statement first appeared in a Methodist Discipline in 1940. It was referring to the Woman’s Society of Christian Service, one of the predecessor groups of United Methodist Women. (The Book of Discipline 2000, &255.4). This same general conference also provided for the unification into a single national organization of the six women’s groups of the three uniting denominations that merged to form The United Methodist Church.
The Women’s Division has been an integral structural and administrative entity within the mission board of the denomination since 1940. From 1940 until 1972, the division was a part of the Board of Missions and Church Extension. The Board of Missions was redesigned in 1972 and became the Board of Global Ministries. The present Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries was founded in 1968, when The Methodist and The Evangelical United Brethren Churches joined to become The United Methodist Church.
The Women’s Division authority, responsibilities, structure, and placement in the "mission agency" of the church have been determined by the General Conference, and set forth in &1317-1325 of The Book of Discipline.
The "Pledge to Mission," undesignated gifts given by members of the organization of United Methodist Women, is the primary source of funds for the mission program administered by the Women’s Division through the Board of Global Ministries (&1318.4).
As a structural part of the "mission agency" of the church, the division is governed by The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions of the denomination, and is accountable to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, United Methodist W omen members and most importantly to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paragraph 721 of The Book of Discipline, states that all meetings of councils, boards, agencies, commissions and committees of the Church shall be open. &1319.2 of The Book of Discipline states that the division shall meet annually at the time of the meeting of the board (Global Ministries) and at such other times as it shall deem necessary. In addition to the annual meeting, the division also meets in the spring calendar year. All meetings of the Women’s Division are open and press representatives are welcomed and often in attendance.
The National Gathering held in St. Charles, IL, December 28-31, 2000 for Teens and College/University Women, however, was not a Women’s Division meeting. This gathering was an invitation-only training event for young women on leadership skills and the Purpose of United Methodist Women. For this event, efforts to comply with the Safe Sanctuaries guidelines and policies as set forth in The Book of Resolutions were given top priority. To help reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth within the denomination, the Women’s Division has developed strict policies and procedures based on the General Conference resolution, "Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in the Church" (The Book of Resolutions, page 384). All adult leaders, staff, and chaperones involved in this event were asked to adhere to these policies, and were required to sign covenants and undergo a screening process in order to attend the gathering. The event was held in a "self-contained" location with no other groups on site during the time of the event.

PETITION #2 from Good News/Renew: Purpose of the Women's Division

"Whereas the mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ (&120-124), and

Whereas the Women’s Division has significant missional influence in the Church and bears a positive role in helping the whole Church fulfill its mission, and

Whereas the Women’s Division, in succeeding its para-church counterparts of the past, is fully incorporated within the structure of the Church (&1301-1311, 1317-25) and can work as a part of the whole Church in fulfilling the Church’s mission, and

Whereas local United Methodist Women’s units are significant agents of mission in carrying out the work of the Women’s Division, while the district, conference, and jurisdictional levels of United Methodist Women exist as connectional and supportive links, as well as agents of mission, all in fulfilling the mission of The United Methodist Church, and

Whereas it is important to clearly see the Women’s Division and United Methodist Women as partners within the whole Church in fulfilling the Church’s mission (although with their own special emphases), rather than as a separate organization pursuing its own agenda;

Therefore be it resolved that the 2004 General Conference amend 1317 by DELETING the first sentence and ADDING the following two sentences in it’s place;

"Purpose-The Women’s Division shall be actively engaged in helping fulfill the mission of the Church as stated in &120-124. The Women’s Division shall equip United Methodist Women by promoting the mission of the Church and the Purpose of United Methodist Women (&255.4, Article 3)."

The entire paragraph would read:

&1317. ~~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.~~

Purpose-The Women’s Division shall be actively engaged in helping fulfill the mission of the Church as stated in &120-124. The Women’s Division shall equip United Methodist Women by promoting the mission of the Church and the Purpose of United Methodist Women (&255.4, Article 3). 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."

TALKING POINTS AGAINST PETITION #2

&120-124 of The Book of Discipline addresses both the mission and ministry of the church. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. This is to be done by proclaiming the good news of God’s grace and thus seeking the fulfillment of God’s reign and realm in the world (&121). We carry out the mission of the church as we proclaim the gospel, seek, welcome and gather persons into the body of Christ; lead persons to commit their lives to God through baptism and profession of faith in Jesus Christ; nurture persons in Christian living through worship, the sacraments, spiritual disciplines, and other means of grace; send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel; and continue the mission of seeking, welcoming and gathering persons into the community of the body of Christ (¶122).
From the inception, more than one hundred thirty-three years ago, organized Methodist women have been at the heart of the denomination’s missionary movement including its total outreach ministries. Because women were denied membership into the ordained ministry of the Church, they sought other avenues to meet the combined evangelical, physical, and social needs of marginal people especially women and children, who could not be reached by male missionaries abroad and who were ignored by church and society here at home. They did this chiefly by establishing mission institutions staffed by women. As a structural part of the Board of Global Ministries, The Women’s Division/United Methodist Women continue to be vitally involved in the mission and outreach ministry of the church.
The proposed petition removes "Christ" from the purpose statement. This omission goes against our basic belief and principle. Christ’s mission is central to our Purpose and existence. The program of the Women’s Division is mission -- mission that affirms the wholeness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and our commitment to proclaiming that gospel in its many forms. As stated in ¶125, the heart of Christian Ministry is Christ’s ministry of outreaching love. Christian ministry is the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by a community of Christians that demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship.
Also included in the responsibilities of the Women’s Division are those formerly carried by the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of The Methodist Church, and the Women’s Society of World Service of The Evangelical United Brethren Church, the Women’s Society of Christian Service of The United Methodist Church, and those other groups of women organized for mission in the churches forming the United Methodists tradition (¶1319.3(a)). All of these organizations were official structures approved by the denomination’s general conferences.
Through the General Board of Global Ministries, the Women’s Division is participating in God’s mission. We see mission as a gift that God has given us that requires us to witness in both word and deed to God’s presence in the world. This understanding takes the form of service, presence, and advocacy. We take the passage from Luke 4:18ff as both model and mandate;

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
To fulfill this mandate, the division implements an interlocking program of mission education, social action, spiritual growth and financial support for mission at home and around the world. We provide educational avenues and materials on mission arenas and topics on current issues confronting today’s world; opportunities for leadership development for leaders and members of the organization; and opportunities to study, advocate, and respond to specific social issues affecting women and children. The division is committed to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and works passionately for justice for all God’s people.
United Methodist Women and the Women’s Division are partners in God’s mission in the world. As we exercise our gifts through participation in the global ministries of the church, we share in God’s mission around the world. The Purpose of the Women’s Division is found in ¶1317 of the Book of Discipline. This statement puts forth our mission and our only agenda. Convinced that the church is called to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of persons, the division creates opportunities for members of United Methodist Women to be advocates for the oppressed and dispossessed with special attention to the needs of women and children; to build supportive communities among women; and to engage in activities that foster growth in the Christian faith, mission education, and Christian social responsibility.
The Division exists to deepen its members’ spiritual life and their involvement and effective leadership in the total mission of the church. For the church to be obedient in the whole of its life and mission, it is essential that all participate in "the laos". This task belongs to the whole church, not just United Methodist Women.

PETITION #3 From Good News/Renew: WOMEN’S DIVISION MEMBERSHIP

Whereas the Women’s Division belongs to the whole United Methodist Church, and

Whereas the United Methodist Women’s Division has significant financial and policy influence throughout the national and global mission arms of the Church and therefore should be represented by some members elected by the global church, i.e. the General Conference, and

Whereas, currently, no members of the Women’s Division are elected by the General Conference (see ¶1324), and

Whereas, currently, 45 of the 50 members of the Women’s Division come from the jurisdictional level of United Methodist Women’s leadership from within the five jurisdictions of the United States only, and

Whereas, the other five members of the Women’s Division are elected by the Women ’s Division members themselves, which can lend to an appearance of institutional exclusion, and

Whereas, The General Commission on United Methodist Men currently draws five of their 39 members from either the central conferences outside the united States (¶23031,d) or outside the membership of United Methodist Men (¶2303.1.f);

Therefore be it resolved that the 2004 General Conference amend ¶1324 by ADDING the words "by nomination from the floor of General Conference" to and DELETING the words "by the Women's Division,"

The related portion of ¶1324 would read as follows:

¶1324. Membership – The Women’s Division shall be composed of fifty members as follows: forty shall be laywomen elected by the jurisdiction organizations of United Methodist Women at quadrennial meetings (¶533.4); five shall be the jurisdiction presidents of United Methodist Women; and five shall be elected by nominations from the floor of General Conference. ~~by the Women’s Division.~~ The president, general secretary, and treasurer if the board (¶1307) and the deputy general secretary, treasurer, and assistant general secretaries…"

TALKING POINTS AGAINST PETITION #3

The Women’s Division does not relate to the total church membership or to total church structures in the same manner as other general agencies. Rather the division relates directly to those women who have joined the organization of United Methodist Women and are committed its Purpose. United Methodist Women is a membership organization whose concerns encompass all women of the church, but its responsibilities are to its membership. The division does not represent all the women of The United Methodist Church.
Central conference women are organized according to their own bylaws and constitution and are self governing. The Women’s Division has no authority over these organizations. Therefore, representation of central conference women on Women’s Division is inappropriate.
No members (excluding bishops) of any general board or agency with programmatic responsibilities of The United Methodist Church are elected by General Conference. The nomination and election of membership to general boards and agencies of the denomination is carried out by the jurisdictional conference and the jurisdictional nominating committee, not General Conference.
United Methodist Women is a membership organization auxiliary to the Women’s Division /General Board of Global Ministries. Since the Women’s Division is representative of United Methodist Women, nominations from the floor of general conference would go against the meaning of representation of the membership.
The Women’s Division members are elected representatives of the organization of United Methodist Women, and are nominated and elected through the organizations according to provisions outlined in ¶1324 of The Book of Discipline. Actual elections take place at the jurisdiction quadrennial meetings. Of the fifty (50) Women’s Division directors, thirty (30) also serve as members of the Board of Global Ministries by provision of ¶705.3(a).
Like the General Board of Global Ministries, the General Commission on United Methodist Men is a general agency of the church and thus its membership is governed by ¶705.

PETITION #4 From Good News/Renew: WOMEN’S DIVISION FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

"Whereas in purpose and practice, the United Methodist Women’s Division and United Methodist Women share in the overall mission of the United Methodist Church (¶120-124,1317), and

Whereas the Women’s Division is integrated into the structure of the Church subordinate to the General Board of Global Ministries (¶1301-1325), and

Whereas the Women’s Division is accountable to the General Conference and is subject to the provisions of the Discipline, and

Whereas the General Board of Global Ministries is accountable to the General Council on Finance and Administration and

Whereas all church organizations of United Methodist Women are auxiliary to the General Board of Global Ministries through the Women’s Division (¶1319.4.a), and

Whereas the Women’s Division receives the vast majority of its funding from women who are United Methodists and/or members of local United Methodist Women’s units (¶1318.4), all of whom share in the global mission of The United Methodist Church (¶255.4), and

Whereas the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has stated "The United Methodist Women’s Division does not receive any general Church funds, so we do not approve its financing plans for its events" (this statement was made by GCFA following questions regarding accountability for funds spent by the Women ’s Division for a closed national gathering in December, 2000 – see ¶721 – Restrictions on Closed Meetings), and

Whereas it is outside the spirit and tradition of the Church to have no inherent financial accountability for any United Methodist board or agency, or any part of any board or agency, such as the Women’s Division, which has full authority to receive, appropriate, and disburse funds in the name of United Methodism (¶1318.4, 1319, 1319.4c,1323),

Therefore be it resolved that the 2004 General Conference amend ¶1323 by ADDING the following phrase "and the General Council on Finance and Administration " and the sentence "All funds received by the United Methodist Women’s Division shall be appropriated and disbursed subject to the provisions of the Discipline and the receipt, appropriation, disbursement, and reporting of all Women’s Division administered funds and assets shall be subject to fiscal review by the General Council on Finance and Administration."

The entire paragraph would read:

¶1323. Financial Relationship to the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Council on Finance and Administration – The funds for the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the Women’s Division shall be derived from annual voluntary pledges, offerings, gifts, devises, bequests, annuities, or money received through special emphases and meetings held in the interest of the division. All funds, except those designated for local purposes, shall be forwarded through the channels of finance of United Methodist Women to the treasurer of the division. All funds received by the United Methodist Women’s Division shall be appropriated and disbursed subject to the provisions of the Discipline and the receipt, appropriation, disbursement, and reporting of all Women’s Division administrated funds and assets shall be subject to fiscal review by the General Council on Finance and Administration. Undesignated funds received by the Women’s Division shall be allocated by the division, on recommendation of the appropriate section or committee, for the work of the several sections of the Women’s Division and to such other units of the General Board of Global Ministries as the division shall determine for the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the division. Funds appropriated for the work of the other units of the board may be given with specific designations and time limits, after which unspent funds are to be returned to the division."

"Therefore be it further resolved that the 2004 General Conference amend ¶806 by ADDING a new point 13, at the end of the paragraph that would read as follows:

¶806.13. The Women’s Division shall be subject to all provisions of this paragraph except ¶806.1 and ¶806.2, so that the council shall exercise fiscal oversight of the Women’s Division."

TALKING POINTS AGAINST PETITION #4

General Conference has given United Methodist Women at the local and national levels authority to secure and administer funds received through the channels of United Methodist Women members for the fulfillment of the Purpose (&1318.4 of The Book of Discipline). All funds received by the division are disbursed within the bounds that are clearly defined in the Book of Discipline and historically rooted (&1319.1, 1323).
As a general agency of the church, The Board of Global Ministries receives funds from World Service, the basic benevolence fund of the Church. World Service money comes from the giving of individual members of the church and provides support for boards and agencies of the denomination. Women’s Division receives no monies from World Service.
The Women’s Division manages an annual income of approximately nineteen million dollars which it receives from members of United Methodist Women. These "pledge-to-mission" dollars come to the division totally undesignated and are appropriated for national and international mission programs and activities in the U.S. and around the world. These gifts are the major source of funds for the total annual budget of the division, and are not general church funds.
As stewards of these gifts, the Women’s Division is accountable to both the giver of the financial resources and to the ultimate receiver/user of the funds. Its fiduciary responsibility regarding fund management and stewardship means that annual audits are conducted and regular financial reports are made to regulatory agencies including the General Conference and the General Council on Finance and Administration. The division also publishes annual program and financial reports that are available to members at all levels of the organization.
The General Council on Finance and Administration has fiscal responsibilities for holding and distributing World Service funds contributed by local churches to any general fund of the Church, as defined in &810.1. It shall only have authority to disburse monies contributed to any of these funds in a manner specifically authorized by &806 of The Book of Discipline.
In compliance with General Conference mandate, the Women’s Division does conduct audits annually, has established internal auditing functions, and submits financial reports to General Conference and the General Council on Finance and Administration.
Like our predecessors, United Methodist Women and Women’s Division, have dedicated our gifts and our services to ministries which help to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life for women and children. Our commitment is to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission it demands of us.

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