Purpose

United Methodist Women and the Coronavirus

From an email sent by the UMW National Office:

As people of faith, our first commitment is to the health and safety of our members and the women, children and families we serve. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot, in good conscience, continue regular convenings….. It goes without saying that this is a situation none of us could have anticipated or imagined. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 has rightly inspired pause and fear. There is legitimate concern for our families, vulnerable community members, persons suffering from the illness, and the children and older people entrusted to our care. While we endure a season of behavior modification, we must hold fast to our faith, our calling and our mission to put faith, hope and love into action. Even as we look to the government for guidance, we want the broader community to look to us, and see in us, a beacon of light in these uncertain times. We will remain prayerful, vigilant and hopeful.

As United Methodist Women events are canceled or postponed, we will post the information that we know here on this website. As of March 18, these events are affected:

– South Central Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting, March 27-29 – postponed

– Rio Texas Leadership Team meeting, April 3-4 – postponed

– Crossroads District Spring Retreat, April 18 – canceled

– Hill Country District Day Apart, April 18 – postponed

– National Mission u training events, April 30-May 3 and May 27-30 – canceled

All national office staff of United Methodist Women are working remotely for now. If you need assistance, you can reach them via email. They will also be checking telephone voice mails and returning calls as soon as they can.

Our National Mission Institutions need our continued support more than ever. Many of them are front-line respondents to the COVID-19 crisis as people in our communities are impacted. The NMIs in the Rio Texas Conference are Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville, Holding Institute in Laredo, Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Southside Community Center in San Marcos, and Wesley Community Centers of Nueces County (in Corpus Christi and Robstown). Please pray for their ministries and contact them to see how your district and local United Methodist Women can help.

We encourage everyone to continue looking out for their neighbors, loved ones, and communities. Blessings to all