Take action: Vote at annual conference

United Women in Faith members can put love into action this spring by voting at your United Methodist annual conferences. 

by Tara Barnes

The church needs your voice and your vision.  Here are some ways to make that happen. 

Be your church’s lay member. 

Does your local church or charge need a lay member to represent it at annual conference? Be that member! Reach out to your pastor or lay leader today and let them know you’re willing to serve.

Serve as lay equalization. 

Does your district need lay equalization members? Be that member! Or support the participation of a fellow member of United Women in Faith. Perhaps your local, district, or conference United Women in Faith can offer scholarships to help. Contact your district superintendent’s office for more information and to volunteer.

Fill your seat. 

All United Women in Faith conference presidents are voting members of their annual conference. Many conferences also invite our board members to vote, and even more offer lay equalization to our district presidents. Some conferences even offer seats to former presidents, executive board members, and Mission u deans. 

If you serve in an annual conference leadership role or on an annual conference committee, you may already have voting status. Check ¶33 of the Book of Discipline and your conference’s standing rules!

To learn more about United Women in Faith members as lay equalization voters and what’s at stake this year, check out our post “Toward More Structural, Gender, and Racial Equity” here on the blog or in the March/April 2025 issue of response. You can also join the Influence: UMC space on United Women in Faith Digital. 

Let’s make our voices heard!

Tara Barnes is director of denominational relations for United Women in Faith. Reach out to her with any questions at tbarnes@uwfaith.org. 

Cover photo by the Michigan Conference.