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Dear RENEW Network Friend,
The past two months have been two of the most
challenging we have faced in a while—this time has been very bittersweet.
The RENEW Network lost two very special
friends to cancer. Sidney Edwards of Georgetown, Texas went to be with
the Lord on April 13. Diane Knippers of Arlington, Virginia followed on
April 18. Sidney has been a member of the RENEW team for over ten years,
and Diane Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy,
has been a consultant to this network since its inception fifteen years
ago. We shall miss the wise counsel and faithful support of these dear
sisters in Christ. Please join us in praying for the families they leave
behind.
Following General Conference 2004, Good News
and RENEW determined a need to study the issues of unity and separation
that came out of General Conference. At the 2004 summer board meeting,
and again at the January 2005 board meeting, Good News affirmed its
commitment to this process. One component was an emphasis upon the
importance of engaging in Christian conversation with Bishops and boards
and agencies of the United Methodist Church. With this focus in mind, the
RENEW Network leadership team began discussing possible conversation with
the Women’s Division.
One of the first steps in approaching the new
leadership of the Women’s Division was to have our press representative,
Katy Kiser, request an interview with Dr. Janice Love, the new Deputy
General Secretary of the Women’s Division at the Fall 2004 Women’s
Division Board of Directors meeting. Dr. Love consented, but upon hearing
the questions, asked that they be submitted in writing for her written
response. We consented and felt positive about her willingness to engage
the issues in the questions.
Below is a catalog of what has occurred since
that time:
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In a letter dated March 7,
2005, I asked for the first time that the Women’s Division give
consideration to a face-to-face conversation. This request was also
mentioned in a letter to the Directors of the Women’s Division prior to
the spring Women’s Division meeting.
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While awaiting Dr. Love’s
response to our questions and to the invitation to conversation, I
received a copy of a letter, also dated March 7, that Dr. Love sent to
Bishop Lindsey Davis of North Georgia accusing RENEW of “working
diligently to close local units of United Methodist Women” in the North
Georgia Annual Conference. The letter also accused the women of the
RENEW Network of putting out information that contained “distortions and
misrepresentations” of the witness and work of the Women’s Division. No
specific examples were cited. These accusations were false, and I sent
a letter to Bishop Davis sharing the purpose of this network and
responding to Dr. Love’s charges. I sent Jan (as she prefers to be
called) a copy of my letter to Bishop Davis. Dr. Heidinger also sent a letter to Bishop Davis.
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Just after receiving a copy
of this letter to Bishop Davis, I received Jan’s acceptance to
conversation in behalf of the Women’s Division. At that time I e-mailed
her my appreciation for this acceptance, and also notified her of my
awareness of the letter to Bishop Davis, stating, “The content of your
letter makes our conversation more difficult—but clearly important.”
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Dr. Love’s response to the
questions asked in the fall of 2004 came in the form of an “Open Letter”
on March 28, 2005, just prior to the April 2005 Board of Directors
meeting. I responded by e-mail questioning the selection of “examples”
she had used which did not, in fact, relate to the issues at hand, or
communicate what she had interpreted from them. Jan’s “Open Letter” was
copied to GBGM Directors, Women’s Division Directors, Conference
Officers of UMW, District Presidents of UMW, the 2000-2004 Board of
Directors of the Women’s Division and the United Methodist Council of
Bishops. We, in turn, posted a short response to our web site, and then
issued our full response in an “Open Letter” on April 11, 2005. (Our
response is posted to our web site, and a link is provided to the
Women’s Division web site so you can read Dr. Love’s letter.)
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In Dr. Love’s inaugural
address at the Fall 2004 Women’s Division meeting, one topic she
mentioned was the division within the United Methodist Church. It was
disappointing to hear/read her references to “conservative political and
religious extremists” and to find conservative renewal groups described
as those who “complain,” “criticize” and “attack” Women’s Division
policies. While the overtures in Jan’s address did not seem
particularly addressed to renewal movements due to the use of negative
language about us, we felt there was a willingness on her part to engage
the critics of Women’s Division programs and policies in honest
conversation. (This address should be on the WD web site.) |
(The intention of the United Methodist Women
who comprise the RENEW Network, the primary source of questions
regarding Women’s Division policy, is to express concern about
specific, documented actions of the Women’s Division with which they
strongly disagree. The hope is that the Women’s Division will provide
substantive answers to their questions and be open to adjustments in
mission and ministry in behalf of United Methodist Women.)
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Dr. Love’s open letter
expressed openness to conversation that would hopefully be marked by
integrity and mutual respect. However, just after receiving the “Open
Letter,” we were provided with a copy of another communication piece,
sent out under the name of Kelly Martini, Executive Secretary for
Communications, Women’s Division, that appeared to have been mailed to
local UMW presidents—and possibly to others. This piece was marked by
everything but integrity and mutual respect. The title was misleading,
the statistics quoted were inflated, and words like “attack,”
“demanding,” and “distort” peppered the document. The questions
directed to Jan were identified as a “four-page letter to the Division,”
and, once again, the non-substantive “examples” used in the “Open
Letter” were referenced as valid allegations against RENEW.
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On April 14, Jim Heidinger
and I issued a press release about the “Open Letter” exchange and the
anticipated conversation between the RENEW Network and the Women’s
Division.
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On April 26, I prepared a
response to Kelly Martini’s communication piece, which was sent to Dr.
Love with a request that the Women’s Division send it to all who
received Ms. Martini’s mailing so that the air could be cleared and the
way could be paved for a open and honest conversation. This response
was also posted to our web site. |
That brings you up-to-date on issues relating
to the exchanges between RENEW and the Women’s Division. We see these
exchanges as good and God-directed. They have the potential of bringing
about the kind of honest conversation we have long needed. Our hope is
for reconciliation, reform and revitalization of the program and ministry
of United Methodist Women. Pray with us to that end.
Let me also remind you of the “Inspiring Models for Effective Women’s
Ministry” event planned for Lexington, Kentucky, May 21, 2005. This
event, “Jesus Calls Us,” will be a positive nurturing ministry planned for
the purpose of helping to inspire and revitalize local UMW and Women’s
Ministry groups. You may read about this meeting on our web site,
www.renewnetwork.org.
Your faithful prayers, active participation
in the renewal effort and financial support over the years have been
instrumental in bringing us to this place where the potential of reform
and revitalization are seemingly possible for the organization of United
Methodist Women. Please continue to stand with us with your prayers,
your action and your financial gifts. Keep praying, writing, calling
and communicating your valid concerns to your district and conference
officers and to the Women’s Division. Do so with respectful clarity and
firmness. We are here to assist you in any way possible.
Sincerely in Christ,
L. Faye Short
President
P.S. For your contribution of $10 or more this month, we will send you a
RENEW network lapel pin. Although our publishing date is later than
expected, we anticipate having our new program book, “Offering Jesus,”
available in time for the May 21 Lexington event.
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