United Women In Faith

Steven Odhiambo of the Kenya-Ethiopia Conference is consecrated as a home missioner by retired United Methodist Bishop Joaquina F. Nhanala during the Africa Region Deaconess/Home Missioner consecration service on July 9 at the Lutheran Uhuru Hostel and Conference Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. The ceremony marked the first time a United Methodist deaconess/home missioner consecration was held on African soil. Photo courtesy of Laurel Akin.

Diaconal vision for Africa becomes reality

For the first time, a United Methodist deaconess/home missioner consecration is held on African soil, as 15 candidates are consecrated for service.

General Agencies

Members of the United Women in Faith Program Advisory Group celebrate the announcement of Assembly 2026, scheduled for May 15-17, 2026, in Indianapolis. Board and program advisory group members met in person March 6-9 at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn., the organization’s first in-person meeting since early 2020. Pictured in the foreground are board member Marilyn Sanchez Reid of the Western Jurisdiction and Vice President Heidi Careaga of the North Central Jurisdiction. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s group plans assembly, calls for justice

United Women in Faith kicked off plans for Assembly 2026 in Indianapolis and heard the call to act now for racial justice.

Human Rights

The Rev. Calvin Hill, a Navajo holy man and pastor at First United Methodist Church in Newcastle, Wyo., puts cedar ashes on Doug Tzan, assistant dean at Wesley Theological Seminary, in a calling your name ceremony Sept. 11 during the 10th Historical Convocation at Bozeman United Methodist Church in Bozeman, Mont. The convocation featured a detailed report on The United Methodist Church’s involvement with U.S. boarding schools for Native American children. Photo by the Rev. Jeremy Smith.

Spotlighting UMC’s role in Indigenous boarding schools

A report on The United Methodist Church’s involvement with U.S. boarding schools for Native American children was presented at the 10th Historical Convocation. Remembrance and reconciliation is the goal of the initial research, but more work is planned.

General Agencies

Sally Vonner, United Women in Faith top executive, and Bethany Amey Sutton, secretary of the group’s Executive Board, join hands on stage at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on April 29. Photo by Corbin Payne.

Vonner reflects on first year on job

Sally Vonner has visited more than 2,000 women in her first year as top executive of United Women in Faith. Vonner took the helm of UWF on July 29, 2023, and since then has attended in-person meetings, worship services and Zoom calls to get a feel for the mood of United Methodist women.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now