President’s Message

An Annual Report of Faith, Hope, Resilience, and Love

2024 was a year of significant change for the North Georgia United Women in Faith (UWF), a period marked by church disaffiliation and conference redistricting. In response to these challenges, we chose the theme “Faith, Hope, Resilience, and Love” to guide us through this transformative period. Inspired by Hebrews 6:10—God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them—we were reminded that our efforts in serving God are never overlooked, even during times of change and uncertainty.

North Georgia UWF actively monitored legislative sessions at both the state and federal levels. Our focus included issues related to the criminalization of people of color, the school-to-prison pipeline, and climate justice. Members engaged by contacting representatives, sending letters, and advocating for actions that align with The United Methodist Church Social Principles, emphasizing their impact on God’s people and creation.

In March, we gathered at St. Paul UMC on Washington Street for a soul care retreat titled “Empowering and Uplifting Women Through Shared Faith and Fellowship”. Anchored by Psalm 46:10—Be still, and know that I am God—the retreat featured sacred spaces, yoga, music, prayer, lectio divina, meditation, reflective writing, and emotional release. These experiences were facilitated by a mix of clergy and lay including Chaplain Christine Lawrence, Columbia Drive UMC, Lahronda Welch Little, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer UMC, Conyers, and Deaconess Debora Constable, NG UWF Membership Nurture Outreach Coordinator. The retreat provided meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship.

In May, we joined Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The festivities included activities like games, crafts, karaoke, an obstacle course and of course, cake, cupcakes, and singing. Local UWF units supported this milestone by sponsoring children’s lunches, raising over $2,100.

What does it mean to answer the call to love one another? Sixty-nine UWF from North Georgia answered by registering for the 2024 Southeastern Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting held April 19-21 in Chattanooga, TN. The theme “Get Together” emphasized unity through faith-filled music, fellowship, and laughter. Keynote speaker Janet Wolf, an elder in The United Methodist Church, author, college and seminary professor, community mediator, and advocate for transformative justice, was a major highlight. The event also featured workshops that covered important topics such as caregiving, racial justice, and environmental sustainability. A special moment was the election of Stephanie Dressler, North Georgia UWF President from 2021-2024 to the UWF National Board of Directors.

In August, we collaborated with South Georgia UWF for a Social Action event at the Methodist Home for Children in Macon focusing on one of our quadrennial priorities, climate justice. Bishop Robin Dease graced us with greetings and offered a prayer which underscored the importance of faith-based communities in addressing environmental issues. Hannah Shultz, Program Director of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, presented statistics and facts on issues of environmental justice, climate change, and sustainability. The event concluded with hands-on demonstrations, resources, and insights into our role in promoting sustainability and just energy.

Our UWF breakfast, held each year during Annual Conference featured Tonya Miles, Chaplain, Clark Atlanta University. She shared a brief history of Clark Atlanta’s relationship with UWF, the needs of the students, and how we might mentor and support them. Newly consecrated Deaconess Esther Lloyd Stevenson also spoke during this gathering.

UWF remains deeply committed to the ongoing work of racial justice. To aid in better understanding our Charter for Racial Justice, we presented a discussion of the book White Fragility Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. The event titled “Kin-dom Living: Racial Justice is Divine Justice” was supported by Micah 6:8; the facilitators Kathy FitzJefferies, SEJ United Women in Faith Racial Justice Charter Support Team and Elaine Robinson Beattie, NG Associate Lay Leader led thoughtful conversations on dismantling systemic racism while validating lived experiences of people of color.

In July, Mission u hosted by Mountain Park UWF explored “The Kin-dom is Among You” (Luke 17:21), addressing how to bring communities closer to God’s kin-dom through personal transformation. The event offered both in-person and virtual classes.

Despite restructuring efforts, districts remained active in outreach and mission work by supporting UMCOR with flood buckets and hygiene kits, volunteering at food banks and clothes closets, feeding the hungry, tending to the unhoused, and contributing to initiatives like Augusta’s New Bethlehem Center Souper Bowl fundraiser.

We are proud of the outstanding work by the NG UWF Legacy Endowment team. In 2024, their efforts yielded a significant result, raising $30,206.26. This achievement was made possible through a combination of educational presentations, workshops, and regular newsletter updates, ultimately securing a future legacy of empowerment opportunities for women worldwide.

We concluded the year with 328 registrations for our Annual Meeting, held in October at Wesley Chapel UMC in McDonough, where Bishop Robin Dease was the speaker. The theme for this meeting was “Fostering Faith, Hope, Resilience, and Love Amidst Change,” inspired by Hebrews 6:10: God isn’t unjust so that he forgets your efforts and the love you have shown for his name’s sake when you served and continue to serve God’s holy people. This gathering celebrated our collective achievements in mission work for women, children, and youth, our shared sisterhood, and our Christian fellowship.

The year ended on a high note as we worshiped in thanksgiving to God, who sustained us through a year of change while filling us with hope.