Dear RENEW Network Friend, 

Matthew, Chapter 2, begins by telling us “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about….”  John, Chapter 3, tells us why Jesus came into this world, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Acts, Chapter 3, shares the result of His coming, “Those who accepted his (Peter’s) message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” 

And, the story continues….  Just recently, in my personal family, a young couple accepted Jesus as their Savior, turned away from drugs and are moving toward being a Christ-centered, rather than a dysfunctional family.  Praise God! 

It is Christmas—not a secular Holiday—let the Church rejoice! 

As we look to 2006, it is imperative that we remain prayerful and hopeful regarding the future for United Methodist Women, the Women’s Division and Women’s Ministries within The United Methodist Church.   

The forum for discussion between the Women’s Division and the RENEW Network took place on September 21, 2005, and was the high point of the Call for Reform of the Women’s Division, first issued in December 2001.   

Shortly after the forum, the Women’s Division Board of Directors met and RENEW sent two press representatives.  At the board meeting the Women’s Division showed clips from the forum that only included presentations by Women’s Division panel members.  No respondents were shown, or heard.  To the Division’s credit, it was understood each director would receive a complete DVD.   

While our press representatives were well-received, when they questioned Dr. Jan Love about a future conversation on Women’s Division terms, her reply was, “Probably not in this type of setting again.”  We are disappointed. 

Since the exchange, I have written to Dr. Love both about the forum and about several issues that recently came to our attention.  I received a reply that failed to answer the specific concerns my letter enumerated, and inferred that any failure to have unity was the fault of RENEW for continuing to “attack” and raise questions.  Are sincere grassroots Christian women not to voice their well-documented concerns at all? 

Sadly, several actions on the part of the Women’s Division have reminded us of the critical need for change, which we trust will yet be forthcoming. 

• Just prior to the fall Women’s Division board meeting, we received a call from a pastor who discovered that Tibetan Buddhist were holding services at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday at 11:00 a.m., and at other times.  The center is owned by the Women’s Division and thousands of dollars pour into its maintenance.  According to financial records, Scarritt-Bennett received $943,525.91 in 2004 from the Women’s Division. The pastor wrote a letter to his bishop and I wrote to Jan Love, just as the Women’s Division board meeting began.  I asked about the Buddhist at Scarritt, and about the need for a policy change.  I heard nothing from Jan, but action must have been taken, for the Buddhist announced they were relocating.  Still, the policies allowing such a tenant in the first place need to be changed, and the basic questions submitted to Dr. Love need to be answered by the Women’s Division.
   

• At the Fall Women’s Division Board meeting, our press representatives were shocked by controversial speaker Leah Wise, director of the Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network.  She spouted the politics of alienation and class warfare as she probed the racial injustices she saw revealed by Katrina.  Her presentation showed a strong anti-South regional bias and a stronger anti-American, anti-free market, pro-socialist attitude.  Who invited Leah Wise to address the Section of Christian Social Responsibility at the WD meeting? 
   
• An astonishing revelation came when the Women’s Division web site announced that Emily Sailers of Indigo Girls, along with her father, Don E. Sailers, were scheduled to lead morning Bible Study at the UMW 2005 Assembly in May.  It is widely known that the Indigo Girls, Emily and her music partner Amy Ray, are a lesbian icon musical duo.  (Leslie Zweben is Emily’s “life partner.”) Reviews identify Emily and Amy as in the forefront of social justice issues like gay rights, environmental protection and opposing war.  I told Jan that the boldness of asking Emily and Don to lead the Bible Study for the Assembly rivals the inviting of Barbara Lundblad as Bible Study leader at the last UMW Assembly. No response to this in her recent letter.

I sincerely hope, after Jan’s expressed desire for openness, that the Women’s Division will not hearken back to the arrogant spirit exemplified by Teressa Hoover, then Deputy General Secretary, when she stated in a 1989 Time Magazine interview, “you don’t change focus just because constituencies give you trouble.  We’ve taken as much of a beating in the past and never retreated.”  It would be grievously unfortunate if the Division were to return to being totally unresponsive to legitimate questions. 

We hope this early read is not the final one.  Our prayers are still for reform, renewal and revitalization of the Women’s Division and United Methodist Women.  We long for the day when proclaiming the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ is the heart of the mission thrust of the Women’s Division and, thus, of United Methodist Women.   

Here at the end of 2005, and the beginning of 2006, we need your continued prayers and financial support if we are to move into the New Year prepared to continue to produce supplemental program resources, to review UMW resources produced by the Women’s Division, to send press representatives to important meetings (including the 2006 UMW Assembly in May) and to promote revitalization at the local level.  Thank you for the support you have given in the past—thank you for your continued participation in this network for evangelical women.   

The women of the UMC shall continue to pray, watch and see.  They have taken and will continue to take decisive action when necessary.  This will be done with love and respect—and with resolve and integrity.  May God guide the process and grant the outcome He desires.  

In Jesus Christ Our Savior,
L. Faye Short
President 

P.S.  Use the enclosed card to send for your DVD or VHS Video of the Women’s Division/RENEW Network Forum with accompanying guide.  Cost: $15 + $5 postage.  You will also want to request a copy of the reports from the Women’s Division Fall Board of Directors Meeting, $3 + postage.  Send request to: RENEW Network, P.O. Box 889, Cornelia, GA, 30531, or call 707/778-4812, or e-mail renew1a@hemc.net.  As you look to the New Year, consider obtaining RENEW’s “Inspiring Models for Effective Women’s Ministry” resource, or hosting an “Inspiring Models” event in 2006.