United Methodist clergypersons are invited to add your names to the 59 original signers. United Methodist laypersons are invited to register your agreement by signing the accompanying laity statement. We encourage you to email your friends and colleagues, inviting them to sign. For those who do not have email, we welcome printed signatures as well. At the top of this web site is a "signature form" that may be downloaded and printed for sharing in Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and churches. You may also download and printout the full texts of the clergy letter and laity statement.

News from the North Georgia Annual Conference (6/17/2011)

Today, at the North Georgia Annual Conference, a resolution entitled Building Vital Women's Ministry in the Local Church, was defeated.   The resolution, submitted by RENEW President Liza Kittle, would have empowered  local churches in the conference to offer supplemental women's ministry programs to the women of the church, in addition to United Methodist Women.  

Although this was a difficult defeat for women's ministry, it will not curtail us from moving forward in advocating for other women's ministry options for women.   People are always asking me why is it necessary to have conference approval when many local churches are doing these programs anyway.  Having conference approval would enable women's ministry programs to reach out to a much broader network of women within North Georgia.  Conference communications would be a vital tool in advertising upcoming events, sharing ministry resources, and connecting women in ministry. Pastors and distric superintendents would also feel encouraged to promote women's ministry in their churches and districts.

I am posting the resolution to our website at the request of RENEW supporters.  While some of the tactics used during the debate have been called into question, we continue to be hopeful for the future of women's ministry within our conference.  Many faithful women serve UMW at the local level and it is not the intent of RENEW to denigrate their service or ministry.  We are only advocating for a variety of options for women in order to help build vital congregations within the United Methodist Church. 


Read the RESOLUTION HERE.

Women's Division Board Votes to Separate From GBGM (4/10/2011)
At their Spring Board of Directors Meeting held in Stamford, CT. April 7-10, the governing body of United Methodist Women voted to structurally separate from their missional home at the General Board of Global Ministries. Read the full story HERE.

UMW Membership Continues to Plummet (3/16/2011)
Read Liza Kittle's new article in Good News Magazine March-April Issue about the continued decline in UMW membership. Her research is based on financial data from the General Council on Finance and Administration. Membership has now dropped below 600,000.  When will the church recognize the need for other women's ministry programs in the UMC.  Article HERE

Where Do UMW Dollars Really Go? (3/17/2011)
Read our new report on the 2011 budget of the Women's Division.  A look at how mission dollars from United Methodist Women are spent.  Article HERE

 
          
               "Blessings from B.J."
           A New Devotional Series
We are proud to introduce a new contributor to the RENEW Network.  Rev. B.J. Funk is the Associate Pastor at Central UMC in Fitzgerald, Georgia.  Writing has been a passion of B.J.'s since she was a teenager. She feels compelled to write "in moments of hurt from life, in moments of joy, or in moments of gratitude". Recognizing that writing is a precious gift from God, B.J. feels a divine sense of His pleasure when she sits down to write.  The author of three books, B.J. is also a regular contributor to Good News Magazine and the Christian Adovcate.  A Bible study teacher and popular retreat speaker, B.J. shares her life experiences and heart through the lens of God's faithfulness.  We welcome her to RENEW and pray her words will bless your walk with Christ.

     A Remedy That Works
     Joyous Worship
     Finding Rest in The Sanctuary
     Showered With Love
     It Will All Be Okay
 

2010-2011 WINTER NEWSLETTER
Read the latest on important changes for RENEW and the Call to Action report HERE.

RENEW Columns in Good News Magazine

The May/June 2011 column "Let the Restructuring Begin" is HERE.
The March/April 2011 column "Staggering UMW Membership Loss" is HERE.
The January/February 2011 column "Vital Women's Ministry=Vital Church" is HERE.
The November/December 2011 column "The Altar of Everything" is HERE.

New Resourse! A Commitment Service for Your Women's Group (PDF HERE)