Assembly Concludes with Spirit-filled Worship

by Audrey Stanton-Smith

On the final morning gathering of United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2026, nearly 3,000 worshipped, shared communion, and celebrated a weekend of learning, sharing, and spiritual growth in Indianapolis, Indiana.

*From left, Bishops Sandra Steiner Ball, Sharma D. Lewis Logan, Tracy Smith Malone, Sandra Kay Olewine and Debra Wallace-Padgett bless the elements of Holy Communion.*

“I hope you have felt the transforming power of the Holy Spirit as she has been working to inspire you with vision of what abundant life looks like for all people and all of creation,” said the Rev. Stephanie Arnold, general secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.

Drawing from Matthew 5:13-16, Arnold talked about bringing out the flavors of the divine to help people experience the goodness of God, especially in a suffering world.

*The Rev. Stephanie York Arnold gives the sermon during closing worship.*

“If you need convincing of this suffering, consider the hatred and fear that is running rampant as neighbor is eyeing neighbor, wondering, ‘do you belong in my neighborhood?’ ‘Do you talk like me and think like me and vote like me?’ Shootings in schools, on our streets, and even on Capitol Hill,” Arnold said.

“Violence is rampant. Wars are being waged in Iran, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, leadership overthrown in Venezuela, and struggles in Yemen, Sudan, and Syria. Social media dominates our culture, generating what we think about and needlessly damaging our children’s lives. AI can create any image someone wants and tell us it is real. And, disturbingly, recently in the United States the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was severely restricted making it legal to once again racially gerrymander, diluting the voting power of minority citizens.

“Who are we becoming? And for the last couple of years rights have been rolled back for women’s healthcare choices and some who call themselves followers of Jesus are claiming women should not work outside of the home and give up their right to vote, acquiescing to the leadership of their husband. Friends, the proposed SAVE Act legislation in the United States will limit the ability of women who have changed their name when they got married to even gain access to vote.

“What is happening? Clearly the world is not yet the Beloved Community, and we are tasked with the call to bring God’s kin-dom here on earth by shining God’s light and sharing our saltiness.”

Sharing Stories

Arnold shared stories using the society-changing, “salty” examples of Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Frances Willard, Susan B. Anthony, Jane Addams, Ellen Gates Starr, Alma Matthews, and Dr. Louise Branscomb.

“When I look over this body of loving, courageous, faithful, resilient women, I can’t help but wonder how might the world change if we all chose to shine our light,” Arnold said. “I see an abundance of women who come from a long line of powerful women who knew how to do their part to move the societal needle towards the good of all. Can you imagine the light we could shine if we all agreed to shine it in a way that creates abundant life for all people?”

United Methodist Leaders

Sunday’s service also welcomed United Methodist general secretaries and leaders, who recognized the historical and ongoing work of United Methodist women.

*From left, Board Vice President Heidi Careaga, Secretary Melba McCallum, President Jana Jones, and CEO and General Secretary Sally Vonner wave goodbye after the final communion service at Assembly.*

“We are part of The United Methodist Church, a worldwide church of 10 million who are loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” CEO and General Secretary Sally Vonner said. “With new doors open to all God’s children, the ratification of regionalization, and the passage of constitutional amendments, I believe the church’s best days are yet to come!

Sunday’s worship service concluded with communion, administered by ecumenical guests and United Methodist bishops. Afterwards, Vonner and board members celebrated the weekend’s success.

*Cathy Blackwood (right) of the Arkansas Conference serves Holy Communion during closing worship.*

“Friends, what a joy it has been to be together these past few days — from our start in the Soul Care Retreat to the powerful preaching, to this morning’s transformational communion service, we have been blessed to be together,” Vonner said.

United Women in Faith President Jana Jones celebrated that more than $300,000 had been raised during the weekend, and she noted that all would be leaving with a “renewed sense of purpose and a clear charge.”

Julia Paradine Rice, board treasurer, said, “We took action and committed ourselves to continue the work forward. We had fun with our sisters and cared for our souls.”

“I have to tell you, friends, what has moved us most this weekend is you — to see your faces and hear your voices, to give you hugs, handshakes, and high-fives,” said Governance Chair Mikele Haskins-Delmore.

Faces and Voices

Among those faces this weekend was Linda Cockett, a member of Torrington United Methodist Church in Torrington, Wyoming, one of about 40 women from the multi-state Mountain Sky Conference. This is Cockett’s second Assembly. After attending the 2022 Assembly in Orlando, Florida, she said she knew she had to come to Indianapolis.

“When you have this many women gathered and excited about their faith and excited about the mission, it just breeds excitement in you,” Crockett said.

And some of that excitement comes from the music.

*A woman sings during the final communion service.*

“The music was amazing!” said Gail Simpson of the Pacific Northwest Conference as she left the Sunday worship space with friends and family.

Katherine Parker, a global missionary serving in Nepal and a member of the California-Nevada Conference, agreed.

“I loved the combination of traditional hymns, experiential music, choruses, and participatory music,” Parker said. “It was a nice balance.”

Simpson’s granddaughter, 14-year-old Katelyn Moore, said workshops were her favorite part of Assembly 2026.

“Especially the Creative Art in Motion workshop on Friday,” said Moore, who attended with her mother, MegAnn Moore, and her grandmother, Gail Simpson. “I liked how inclusive it was.”

LaNella Smith, a former president of the North Carolina Conference’s United Women in Faith and member of New Creation United Methodist Church in Durham, has attended Assembly at least five times before. She said she already is taking lessons from the Friday workshop led by Andrea James, director of The National Council For Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls.

“It was just awesome to hear the stuff that she is doing, but also her understanding that what she does is not necessarily what we need to do — that we need to spend time to find out what our issues are, because a lot of times we try to duplicate what somebody else is doing,” Smith said. “Her point was what happens here may not be the issue there. So, it was a great workshop.”

*Following the final communion service, women take photos of themselves and their friends.*

Scarlett Farr, who was ordained a deaconess on Friday, said this was her first Assembly. A member of St. Elmo United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the Holston Conference, she first learned about the deaconess vocation while attending the Upper Room’s Academy of Spiritual Formation. That led her to explore more of the work of United Women in Faith.

“I am absolutely very much connected to something that has been happening that I had no idea was happening around me. This is life-giving to me,” Farr said.

Judi Kenaston, chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table and an onstage participant in Sunday’s worship service, said she appreciated hearing from Saturday’s keynote speakers, Stacey and Carolyn Abrams.

“It was obvious that Stacey Abrams was influenced by the faith that she learned from her mother,” Kenaston said. “It was a joy for them to share together how the United Women in Faith have grounded them.”

Brenda Brown, a former Women’s Division vice president and member of Union Grove United Methodist Church in Broadway, North Carolina, has attended multiple Assemblies.

“Assembly is great,” she said. “It’s educational; it’s networking; it’s seeing old friends and getting reacquainted. It’s all of that and more.” If you would like to experience the next United Women in Faith Assembly, mark the date. Assembly 2030 has been scheduled for May 17-19 in Richmond, Virginia, leaders announced Saturday.

Audrey Stanton-Smith is editor of response magazine.