In 2019, United Methodist Women celebrated its 150th anniversary. If the past 150 years have taught us anything, it’s that women organized for mission are essential for the church to be the church God calls it to be. God is still looking for women committed to improving lives of women, children, youth and neighbors finding hard times and being pushed aside. As United Methodist delegates from around the world prepare to meet this May at General Conference, God is calling women to organize for mission for such a time as this.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church requires every local church, district, conference and jurisdiction to have an organization of United Methodist Women. It also requires a national organization to, among other duties, interpret United Methodist Women’s role in fulfilling the church’s mission; recommend programs and policies; develop mission theology; provide resources; secure funds; support regional missionaries, national mission institutions and deaconesses and home missioners; and express the concerns of women organized for mission (¶1903). One way in which United Methodist Women fulfills its Purpose is by bringing petitions to the General Conference that prioritize women, children and youth.

In 2020 United Methodist Women will be bringing four new pieces of legislation to be included in the church’s Book of Resolutions, on observing Children’s Sabbath, protecting the girl child, protecting voting rights, and the status of women and realizing full human rights. The current titles of the legislation are “Children’s Sabbath,” “The Girl Child,” “The Status of Women,” and “Voting Rights Protections in the United States.” You can read the complete text at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/gc2020.

All delegates and legislation at General Conference are first assigned to committees before coming before the full conference. At the 2020 General Conference, 862 delegates will be assigned to 14 committees, with likely more than 1,000 petitions divided among the committees. Petitions that pass in committee come to the full body for a vote. As the May conference gets underway, United Methodist Women will keep members updated on the status of its legislation on its website and social media, and you’ll be able to track legislation at www.umcgc.org.

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This episode originally appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.

Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.