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Sep./Oct. response: Responsively Yours
‘Remember, God is with us.’
by Sally Vonner
Greetings and God’s blessings be upon you. Thank you for your continued prayers for United Women in Faith and me.
We have been busy for the last several months. As you will read in this issue, we had a fruitful General Conference in May. In addition, each of the five “Get Together” jurisdictional gatherings were a wonderful time of worship, fellowship, learning, loving, sharing meals, and taking care of business. I was honored to attend each one. If you didn’t get to attend, I hope you have heard firsthand reports from others who did and will be ready to attend in 2028.
General Secretary and CEO
United Women in Faith
The primary purpose of the jurisdictional meetings is the election of the board of directors for the next quadrennium. By now, I’m sure you have heard the results for all the jurisdictions and the national organization leadership team. I am so excited about the 2024-2028 officers with whom I began working in July. United Women in Faith, we are in good hands.
Another exciting experience was Mission u 2024. I hope you attended a Mission u event and enjoyed it as much as I did. To be in community studying “Welcome Home,” even though virtually, blessed my soul. Engaging with members and guests of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences was powerful and inspiring.
Personally, I attended my Jurisdictional Conference in Rogers, Arkansas. I had the honor of paying tribute to the first Black deputy general secretary, Theressa Hoover. I placed flowers on her gravesite in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I thanked her for bold, courageous leadership at a time in the church that was much like the transitions we now face. I promised to do my best in leading today.
As we enter this fall season, let’s keep showing up for our sisterhood, especially at our upcoming district and conference annual meeting celebrations. We have so much to celebrate and thank God for. I look forward to seeing some of you in person when I speak at your annual meeting celebrations.
Know that I am praying for you as we all live through the next stage of United Methodism and as many will experience district and conference boundary realignments and possibly unifications. Remember, God is with us. Keep the faith.
I am encouraged by recently reflecting on Hebrews 12:1-3 during night prayers with my covenant friend. To paraphrase, it encourages us to run the race with endurance and not give in to sin; rather, to keep our focus on Jesus. I plan to stay in the race with endurance, trusting Jesus to lead us past anything that will distract us from the vision laid before us for this quadrennium. I hope you’ll be running alongside me.
Thank you for your faithfulness, commitment, and love for United Women in Faith. Together we can impact more lives. May it be so.
SALLY VONNER
General Secretary and CEO
United Women in Faith
