Member delegate: Jo Anne Hayden

Members of United Women in Faith put love into action every day to inspire, influence, and impact their churches and communities. Many of our members live out their faith by serving as leaders in The United Methodist Church.

Meet Jo Anne Hayden, a member of United Women in Faith at Anchor Park United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. She’s served in United Women in Faith leadership roles at the local, conference, jurisdiction and national levels, including as a member of the United Women in Faith Board of Directors for eight years.

She’s on her church’s staff-parish relations committee and church council, and she’s also the Alaska Conference lay leader and part of the conference’s professional ministries unit and nominations team. She’s also a delegate to General Conference for Alaska.

How long have you been a member of United Women in Faith? 

I’ve been a member of United Women in Faith for more than 50 years.

What called you to be a General Conference delegate? 

Being nominated by fellow conference laity was a call, and my years of experience in the church has offered continually increasing insight and understanding. I have been a part of the United Methodist Church my whole life; my care for it is deep.

How has being a part of United Women in Faith helped in your role as delegate? 

United Women in Faith has been an important network of connection for me and an opportunity for leadership development at all levels of the church, including the General Conference. The leadership skills I learned through participation in United Women in Faith opened up additional opportunities in the church as well.

What are your hopes for the church? 

I want the United Methodist Church to be a positive, helpful witness in today’s world. I want to continue being a connectional church, able to do more because we work together. I want us to be a church that shares God’s Love with those who don’t know of it.