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United Methodist Women and its predecessor groups have done immeasurable good through works of Christian love and service around the world - and still do. However over the years the RENEW Network (the women's program arm of the Good News organization) has observed and documented an underlying philosophy in many of the programs and policies of the Women's Division that fails to represent the theological and political/social views of the majority of United Methodist Women at the local level. A Positive Four-Step Plan - The Call for Reform of the Women's Division continues forward toward a positive goal--to see the women’s ministry of the church reformed, revitalized and Christ-honoring in every way. The Call for Reform entails the following objectives: (1) LIFT UP CHRIST AND MAKE SHARING THE GOSPEL OUR MISSION FOCUS: The Call for Reform seeks to: Reaffirm the Supremacy of Christ and the uniqueness of the Christian faith; Formulate a WD mission statement that promotes "making disciples of Jesus Christ"; Embrace the understanding that the Great Commission is given to men and women who are to work alongside each other for its fulfillment. (2) REFORM AND REORGANIZE WOMEN'S DIVISION: The Call for Reform seeks to: End the WD’s autonomy and formulate a structure with direct accountability to the whole church (including GCFA); Assure that evangelicals comprise at least 50% of the staff and elected directors of the Women's Division; Align WD’s spending patterns with revised WD/UMW standards; Assure that the Division adheres to the church's open meeting policy. (3) END UNBIBLICAL ADVOCACY: The Call for Reform seeks to: End the WD’s support for radical feminist theology and involvement with the Re-Imagining Community; Stop the WD’s advocacy efforts for acceptance of homosexual practice; Assure that all WD programs and policies are in line with biblical, UM theology and UM doctrinal standards; Reverse the WD's promotion of a pro-abortion position and withdraw the WD from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; End the WD’s extremist, partisan political and social advocacy; Seriously revamp the Women's Division's relationship with the United Nations by acting with discrimination regarding support for UN programs, or close down the UN office owned by the Division; (4) PROMOTE REAL CHOICE: The Call for Reform seeks to: Offer local choice for an alternative women's ministry, or UMW, or both; Discontinue Undesignated Pledge to Mission and put designated giving in its place. Not Asking Too Much This positive four-step Call for Reform program is reasonable and essential if the Women's Division is to exercise responsible oversight for the organization of United Methodist Women. This is not too much for the women of the United Methodist Church to ask or expect. These changes will restore the rich heritage of faithful witness and service to Christ and humanity exemplified by generations of United Methodist Women. These reforms will assure the revitalization of the faith of women who are now a part of UMW. They will provide a rich spiritual heritage for our daughters who follow us. We have a worthy objective. We are hearing from many United Methodists participating in this campaign through prayer, study and action. They are letting their concerns be know and, in many cases, are receiving responses from their district and conference officers and from the Women's Division. Sadly, those of us who are engaged in the call for reform sometimes are accused of trying to "criticize and destroy" the organization--even the whole church. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Healthy debate is essential for an organization to stay true to its mission and stay on track in its purpose. Our nation is founded on the principle of "balance of power." For too long local women have not had a forum for expressing their dissenting views and those in "power" have not had to be accountable to those that they are supposed to serve. Our call is biblically based and expressed in a context of respectful disagreement. Unfortunately, too often the debate has sunk to unfair and undocumented ad hominem attacks, which means "against the man." This takes place when attempts are made to discredit anyone who raises concerns--such as RENEW, Good News, and UMAction. However, all these organizations are comprised of grassroots United Methodists who are articulating documented issues of concern. It is easier to attack the bearer of bad news than to address fairly and openly the subject under discussion. Regardless of which side of the debate we are on, we need to stick to the subject of reform and accountability as it relates to specific programs, policies and spending patterns of the Women's Division. Women at the local level have the right to question the direction of the organization to which they belong, and which they support financially. They should be able to expect their elected representatives at the district and conference level to hear their concerns and share those concerns with the staff and directors of the Division. Others who care about women's ministries within the local church, i.e., pastors, laymen and administrative boards, should also be able to enter into this debate in support of the perspective of the local women. Furthermore, it would not be inappropriate for district superintendents and bishops to exercise spiritual oversight in matters that pertain to the spiritual life and discipleship of the women of the church. Let the call for debate continue. And let us press forward toward renewal knowing that what we seek is solidly biblical and solidly founded on the United Methodist Discipline. We are the mainstream and our Call for Reform is revitalizing and Christ-honoring. It will produce a strong organization for United Methodist women--one that God will be able to use for His purposes and for His people. Over the past several years a number of egregious actions have caused greater concern. Capping these actions were the decisions made at the October 2001 meeting of the Women's Division Board of Directors. Encouraged and informed by staff, the Directors of the Division voted unanimously to:
To date, RENEW and Good News have issued three press releases pertaining to the Call for Reform of the Women's Division. You may access those by clicking on the links below: RENEW has prepared a "Call for Reform" packet that contains four documents to aid participants in this campaign for reform. You may download these documents:
The Administrative Committee of the Women's Division has issued a statement in response to the RENEW/Good News Call for Reform. This statement only addresses issues from the Fall 2001 Women's Division meeting rather than responding to the documented concerns in "Our Basis for Concern." RENEW has issued a response to the Administrative Committee Statement.
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