Assembly Theologian Calls on Audience to Build an Abundant Life for All

by Audrey Stanton-Smith

United Women in Faith Assembly-goers on Friday celebrated the consecration of 22 deaconesses and home missioners, celebrated international mission, studied leadership and social justice issues through workshops and town halls, and heard powerful messages focused on a theme of abundance.

The Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, the event’s theologian in residence and the general secretary for The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women for The United Methodist Church, focused on the theme of abundance as she talked about the Good Shepherd as described in the Gospel of John.

“Jesus clearly cared about the daily, communal life of everyday folk, like a shepherd who cares for his sheep’s daily needs. He cared deeply that all people experience life fully — not just his disciples, not just Jews, not just men, not just adults, not just those who followed the right rules or had the means to provide for themselves. Jesus interacted with all types of people, regularly crossing boundaries that made others uncomfortable.

“I think if you want to know what abundant life means, consider what you need most to have a meaningful, full life,” Arnold said before listing basic needs.

“But I know that you and I both know that this is not the world we are currently living in today,” she said. “We are living in a terribly divided world that is being militarized more every day. The rich are getting richer. The poor are getting poorer. Those who look like me, have the citizenship I have, and the generational privileges I have are safe if we maintain the powers-that-be status quo, while those who push back against injustice, have more melanin in the skin, whose first language isn’t English, or who might be a citizen from another country have less and less security as some have deemed their lives less worthy of abundance.

“And amid all this, when people of faith should be the antidote to this suffering and evil, the Church has often grown impotent and Christians have often grown meaner,” Arnold said. “We are supposed to bring Good News, but so often I hear self-righteousness and trite sound bites from people espousing to know the Lord and it makes me not want to be associated with Christianity if what we have become is a puppet to the powerful. A soldier of the empire. A pawn in tyrant’s chess game.

“We are meant to be bearers of the light who dream a different way of being, a more abundant life for all, and we are meant to be the workers who build it!”

Follow Christ’s Example

She called on the congregation to follow Christ’s example, “to make sure life is experienced abundantly by all of creation — from the neighbor to your right and left, to the one on the other side of the city, the country, the world. Documented or undocumented. Black, white, and every color in between. Gay, straight, or undefined. Male, female, or nonbinary. Disabled or not disabled. Employed or unemployed. College-educated, trade-school taught, or high-school dropout. Democrat, Republican, or hasn’t voted at all. Abortion-rights advocate or gun-rights advocate.

“There are important differences in all those groups for sure — ones we need to respectfully and passionately converse about — but abundant life isn’t one of the things up for debate,” Arnold said.

Her message preceded the consecration of 22 deaconesses and home missioners, laity who have committed to a lifetime of love, justice, and service. (Stay tuned for an article about the consecration event.)

Theme of Abundance

The theme of abundance appeared throughout the day, beginning with the morning’s gathering in which representatives from each conference presented items from their area to create an abundance altar.

The Rev. Angel Armstrong of Trinity United Methodist Church in Indianapolis helped the audience to acknowledge that the host site stands on the lands of the Miami and the Potawatomi. She offered sage, sweetgrass, and baskets for the opening service’s abundance altar.

United Women in Faith General Secretary and CEO Sally Vonner announced that United Women in Faith gave a $2,000 contribution to the Miami Nation of Indiana Honor Fund, an Indigenous land tax program which endeavors to repair harm by sustaining the current community and culture.

Board of directors officers then presented a brief history of United Women in Faith, including the history of the organization’s Assembly. This is its 21st quadrennial event.

“Our foremothers have been dreaming it, believing it, and doing it for over 157 years,” National President Jana Jones announced.

“In 1942, when the city hosting our first Assembly wouldn’t allow our Black sisters to share the same hotel as our white sisters, we moved Assembly from St. Louis to Columbus, Ohio,” Governance Chair Mekele Haskins-Delmore said. “Today, Assembly is one of the largest and most diversely attended events of The United Methodist Church.”

Weekend Kick Off

Nearly 3,000 people gathered to kick off the weekend-long event with a worship celebration featuring interpretive dancers and worship music led by Chanda Rule, who wrote a special song for Assembly 2026, “Dream It, Believe It, Do It.”

“Sisters in faith who rise up and inspire. Leaders in love, lifting the world higher. Together we dream, believe, and do. United in faith, our promise renewed,” the congregation sang.

But several women who were expected to attend were unable to do so.

“As an international organization, we are sad that many women leaders were not able to attend this Assembly to share their stories, due to visa restrictions,” said Board member Katy Wrona, one of the event hosts.

Wrona helped the congregation welcome missionaries in attendance, including Finda Quiwa, United Women in Faith missionary for Sierra Leone; Jennifer Meneses, United Women in Faith project coordinator for the Philippines; Keziah Kargbo, team communicator for the Sierre Leone Country Team; Angelina Mbulo, United Women in Faith project coordinator from Mozambique; Quiteria Muhota, Women’s Desk coordinator for Mozambique; and Annie Solis, national president with the Peruvian Methodist Women’s Association.

Assembly 2026 will continue Saturday through Sunday. Read more here and watch for in-depth coverage in the September-October issue of response magazine.

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Audrey Stanton-Smith is editor of response magazine.