Focus on Women, Children & Youth

From its beginning, United Women in Faith (UWF), formerly United Methodist Women (UMW), has focused on ministries with women, children, and youth.

In Practice

Below you may read about the mission work we are doing. If you would like to help in any of these please think of becoming a member by contacting us.

Racial justice is an ongoing focus of United Women in Faith’s mission work. United Women in Faith's (formerly United Methodist Women) Charter for Racial Justice was created and adopted by the Women’s Division in 1978 and successfully adopted by the whole denomination in 1980.

Is your Unit participating in the Charter Club for Racial Justice? To qualify, a local unit takes action and reports on a one-year period running from June 1 – May 31 each year. The report form should be submitted to the Austin District Mission Coordinator for Social Action, by June 10 of each year. The first year, a unit completes activities totaling four points from the list of examples, and each additional year reports an activity totaling two points.

It’s easy! Here are just a few examples.

• Present the Mission Study Haiti or Poverty.

• Participate as an instructor in a literacy program.

• Invite someone of another ethnic group who is not currently a member of United Methodist Women to attend a United Methodist Women’s meeting.

• Use a program from the Program Book for United Methodist Women with an emphasis on racial justice issues.

Below are some important resources to assist:

Download the UMW Racial Justice Manual 

Download the Racial Justice Fact Sheet

Racial Justice Timeline

Read the Charter for Racial Justice

Read the History of Racial Justice

Say “No” to Violence Against Women

Each year, United Women in Faith members and non-members prepare for faithful living and action by engaging in transformative educational experiences at Mission u events. These events are centered around Mission u curricula that are designed to motivate, inform, and enrich our commitment to global ministry.

Join us at Mission u as we explore the good news and what it means for our lives! Curricula are available for all ages so families are encouraged to attend together!

Mission u will take place in conference and local events across the country each summer.

Send a message of caring – and support mission at the same time

A “Thinking of You” card would lift the spirits of your neighbors.  “Thank You” cards would let your child’s teachers know how much you appreciate their work.  There are also Gift to Mission cards for Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Peace, In the Service of Christ, On Your Special Day, Christmas, and a new Baby.  A Gift in Memory would send your caring thoughts to someone experiencing the loss of a loved one.

Our district treasurer, Marilyn Cannon, has a number of Gift to Mission and Gift in Memory cards on hand and they want to get them in your hands so you can send a note of cheer or comfort to friends and family.  Each card is available for a minimum of $5, which becomes part of the total unrestricted Mission Giving of the Rio Texas Conference UMW.

Contact Marilyn Cannon to arrange for payment and pickup or shipping of the card(s) you want.  If you have the cards mailed to you, please add in at least a couple of dollars to cover the cost of postage.  Note that the cards you receive may feature designs different from the ones pictured here.

Let’s use this opportunity to strengthen the “creative, supportive fellowship” with which we are blessed every day.

District mission advocacy project:  Maternal Health Care 

Let’s use the power of hundreds of United Women in Faith members in the Capital District to work on efforts and legislation to lower the high rate of maternal mortality in Texas! 

Coordinator:  Whitney Thurman; 512-657-3855; wthurman@utexas.edu 

Resources

UMW Maternal Health One Pager

Eight Steps Narrowing Maternal Health Disparity