General Conference
Member delegate: Lynne Gilbert
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 Lynne Gilbert, a member of United Women in Faith at West Market Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is the webmaster for the Western North Carolina United Women in Faith as well as their Legacy Liaison. She served on the United Women in Faith Board of Directors for eight years.
Lynne is also the treasurer for the Western North Carolina Board of Pension and Health Benefits, on staff for the Northern Piedmont District, one of the registration coordinators for General Conference, and a General Conference delegate.
How long have you been a member of United Women in Faith?
Since 1981. So, 43 years.
What called you to be a General Conference delegate?
I felt called to offer myself as willing to serve as a delegate to be one of the faithful voices working for a future United Methodist Church that is open and inclusive of ALL in the ministry and leadership of the church. I am a lifelong United Methodist, and I have a deep love for the church that has nurtured and formed me in so many ways along my journey of faith. I believe we are on our way to becoming a better church, and I feel called to do everything that I can to help that to happen.
How has being a part of United Women in Faith helped in your role as delegate?
United Women in Faith has provided me a wide range of educational and leadership opportunities that inform who I am today as a member of The United Methodist Church. My leadership opportunities in United Women in Faith are very connected to my knowledge of the polity of The United Methodist Church, and those experiences are helpful in being an informed delegate. Those leadership opportunities have also given me connection and friendship with so many other delegates and other United Methodists from across the country and even around the world. Those connections and friendships form a supportive community working together toward the better church that we hope to become. I am blessed to be part of that supportive community.
What are your hopes for the church?
My hopes are that we can move forward with a fresh new spirit, new energy, and renewed focus on sharing the love of Christ in our communities and our world while embracing ALL of God’s children into the full life and ministry of the church. I hope we can first accomplish regionalization of the church to facilitate ministry and decision-making adaptations in our own contexts here in the United States and around the world.
Want to hear more from Lynne? Check out her presentation to her local church on the deeply rooted people of God and the continuing United Methodist Church.
