General Conference
Member Delegate: Gail Douglas-Boykin
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. In our third member profile, meet Gail, another United Women in Faith member serving as General Conference delegate.
Deaconess Gail Douglas-Boykin is vice president of the Northeastern Jurisdiction United Women in Faith and the spiritual growth coordinator for her local unit at Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Gail served as a member of the national United Women in Faith Board of Directors from 2012-2020, for which she was the chair of the governance committee. She has also served as a conference communications coordinator, Limitless advisor, and local social action coordinator, treasurer, and membership, nurture, and outreach coordinator. In the United Methodist Church she is a Certified Lay Servant, district lay leader, and program coordinator for the New York Caucus of Black Methodists for Church Renewal as well as the organization’s national treasurer.
How long have you been a member of United Women in Faith?
I have been a member of United Women in Faith for 24 years.
What called you to be a General Conference delegate?
After a long period of discernment, I was called to be a General Conference delegate for the 2019 special session because I felt that my voice was needed at the table. I wanted to speak out against some of the hurtful things that were being said.
How has being a part of United Women in Faith helped in your role as delegate?
Being a part of United Women in Faith has helped me to be bold and courageous enough to speak up for that which I am passionate about and to call out against injustice wherever it occurs, even in the church.
What are your hopes for the church?
My hope for the church is that we would truly love all people as Jesus calls us to do and in doing so, help the church can be the example to the world of how to eliminate racism.
Check out Gail’s video for United Women in Faith speaking out against racism:
