Blog
Women Begin Gathering for Assembly 2026
by Audrey Stanton-Smith
As hundreds of United Women in Faith members began gathering in Indianapolis Thursday for the weekend’s quadrennial Assembly, Missouri’s Rachel Bachenberg felt right at home.
“In the registration link, it only lets you say 10, but this is 12 for me,” she said, talking about how many Assemblies she has attended.
“Twelve is a holy number,” she said, laughing after checking in at the Indiana Convention Center. “So, it’s Biblical that I’m here.”
Though nearly 3,000 women are expected to arrive by the time Assembly officially begins Friday morning, Bachenberg was one of nearly 450 women who arrived early for Thursday’s Soul Care event.
Soul Care
Through song, story, guided meditation, table discussions, movement, and aromatherapy, Soul Care event participants explored techniques for self-care and spiritual rejuvenation, getting a taste of what they would do at a full United Women in Faith Soul Care Retreat.
In keeping with the Assembly theme of “Dream it! Believe it! Do it!”, participants were given a lavender scrub for relaxation (dream); a roller ball of peppermint, orange, and vanilla essential oils for mental clarity (believe); and ingredients for making their own room spray to energize for doing the work (do it), explained Jennifer McCallum, Soul Care event organizer.
Raggatha Rain Calentine, storyteller and member of the Executive Committee of the Native American International Caucus for The United Methodist Church, encouraged women to walk in balance with stones and seeds.
She shared a traditional story of a woman walking with two baskets — one weighed down with stones of grief, sorrow, shame, guilt, and fear, and the other basket for seeds, but it was empty. Troubled, the young mother in the story approached a wisdom-keeper for help and learned that she must name the stones, honor them, but then release them. Only then could she plant the seeds of dreams that would nourish the next generation.
“We name the stones and learn from them, but then we must let them go,” Calentine said. “And we plant those seeds and nourish them so that their roots go so deep into the earth that they begin to sprout and drink up the sunlight and grow. … None of this can happen if we do not walk in balance with the stones and the seeds.”
Weekend of Events
Outside of the Soul Care space, volunteers prepared for a weekend of workshops, townhall meetings, celebrations, networking, and guest speakers including United Methodist and social rights activist Stacey Abrams and her mother, longtime United Women in Faith member Rev. Carolyn Abrams, who are expected to speak on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, is expected to speak at the Legacy Banquet, a special dinner honoring contributors to United Women in Faith’s Legacy Endowment Fund.
Among Friday’s highlights will be the consecration of deaconesses and home missioners and a reception for international attendees. But Thursday, soon-to-be-consecrated Deaconess Tara Barnes was busy setting up the video lounge in the Experience Hall.
“Come and lounge and learn about our United Women in Faith programs from members and partners,” Barnes said, encouraging attendees to visit the Experience Hall, which features exhibits from United Methodist agencies and friends, a folk art auction, bookstore, and other vendors.
“The entire weekend is wonderful, but Thursday is one of my favorite days of Assembly,” said Operations Officer Deaconess Mollie James-Vickery. “I love seeing it all come together and seeing people I haven’t seen in person for four years.”
Contagious Enthusiasm
At the registration desk, which stayed busy, United Women in Faith volunteers Jeanie Park Estep and Mary Etta Yoho, longtime friends from Indiana, said the enthusiasm had been contagious.
“Everybody is so happy,” Estep said. “They’re all coming in smiling, even after hours of travel.”
“It’s different to be on this side of the registration table, but it’s wonderful,” Yoho added, noting she and Estep had attended multiple Assemblies together. “I’m really looking forward to the worship and the music. It’s always so good.”
Suzanne Hewitt, a former program advisory group member who traveled from Michigan with her 91-year-old mother, United Women in Faith member Clarice McKenzie, agreed.
“I’m looking forward to the worship, the singing and dancing,” Hewitt said, “and seeing all my friends, my old PAG friends, and everyone.”
Audrey Stanton-Smith is editor of response magazine.
