Faith Talks: Celebrating Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a time to mark the progress that women have made while mapping plans to ensure continued progress. And this year was quite special. United Women in Faith is celebrating its 157th birthday, and this Faith Talks segment honors the many women who came before us in those who continue to lead the way. We hope you’ll listen, learn and reflect on the women who inspire you today and every day.

In this episode of Faith Talks, Jennifer R. Farmer hosts Sally Vonner, United Women in Faith’s own general secretary and CEO, and Megan Hale, Executive for the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner, to discuss Women’s History Month and their experiences as women in leadership.

About the Guests

Sally Vonner oversees the implementation of the organization’s vision, mission, and strategic plan to positively impact the lives of women, children, and youth around the world. She collaborates with United Women in Faith’s senior executives from the Offices of the General Secretary, Connectional, Finance and Asset Management, Operations, and Transformation on day-to-day operations.

Vonner has served in many areas of The United Methodist Church — leading women’s retreats, as a jurisdictional conference delegate or alternate for three quadrennia, and in immigration assistance and reform, community development, and dismantling racism initiatives at jurisdiction and conference levels.

Vonner is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology with an M.Div. and Women’s Studies certification. She graduated from East Texas State University with a B.S. degree in Biology. She serves on the board of the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, TN.

Deaconess Megan Hale (she/her) serves as an Executive for the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner, administered by United Women in Faith. In this role, she works with those discerning the deaconess/home missioner relationship, oversees the application and candidacy process, and connects with more than 278 active and 118 retired deaconess/home missioners across the United States and 20 Africa Region deaconess/home missioners who are currently administered by United Women in Faith.

The Office of Deaconess was first established in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1888, and every predecessor denomination to what is today the United Methodist Church had a deaconess movement. The Order of Deaconess and Home Missioner was officially recognized as a lay order of the UMC at the 2016 General Conference, affirming the covenant community that had been active for decades and supporting its continued growth.

Fulfilling one of the deaconess/home missioner mandates of building global community, Megan connects with deaconesses from the Philippines, creating online educational events to share experiences and inspiration across the diaconate. As a deaconess, she is also a member of DIAKONIA of the Americas and Caribbean (DOTAC) and DIAKONIA World Federation, where she recently participated in the first-ever DIAKONIA assembly in Africa. At this assembly, Megan helped coordinate the consecration service for 15 Africa Region Deaconess/Home Missioners and the official launch of the Africa Region Deaconess/Home Missioner Movement. Megan currently serves on the DOTAC Communications Committee and served on the DIAKONIA Social Justice Committee from 2021-2025.

Megan was consecrated as a deaconess in 2014 at the United Methodist Women’s Assembly in Louisville, KY. She earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry – Social Justice Advocacy from Drew Theological Seminary in 2023. Prior to her current role, she served as a public-school educator and as Reconciling Ministries Coordinator for the legacy Central Texas Conference. Megan also serves on the national board of the Methodist Federation for Social Action as Program Council co-convener, on the Racial Audit Implementation Team, and on the steering committee for the New York chapter of MFSA.