Directors Primed for Service
by YVETTE MOORE*
Stamford, Conn., Oct.8, 2007 – Women’s Division President Kyung Za Yim helped directors catch their second wind for end-of-quadrennium work by celebrating three years of action at their meeting Oct. 4-8 in Stamford, Conn.
Ms. Yim commended directors for their oversight of committees on national and international ministries with women, children and youth; creation of spiritual growth and mission education opportunities; advocacy for peace, immigrant rights, public education, and racial, economic and environmental justice.
“We have centered in our relationship with God through the various programs we have brought about,” Ms. Yim said, citing popular initiatives like the Resurrection Women spiritual growth retreats; conference and district leadership training opportunities; Bible Women training for international rural women; and Ubuntu Explorer Journeys facilitating United Methodist Women-member visits with international sisters affiliated with Mission Giving-supported programs.
Ms. Yim also applauded directors’ work on newly proposed General Conference resolutions on resisting hate, abolition of torture, rights for the girl child, human rights in Sudan and protecting children from mercury-containing drugs.
“You have spoken to the needs of our time when others in the church opted to stay silent on the issues,” Ms. Yim said.
Ms. Yim said the division still had much work to do to fulfill its purpose detailed in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which requires the division to:
- Be an advocate for the oppressed and dispossessed with special attention to the needs of women and children;
- Engage in activities that foster growth in the Christian faith, mission education and Christian social involvement;
- Interpret the purpose of United Methodist Women; and
- Build supportive community among women.
“We have provided mission opportunities and resources for women so that they grow spiritually and are led to participate in action for a just global society,” Ms. Yim said. “But there are still stones unturned, and those need to be identified and carefully listed as next steps for those of you who are returning next quadrennium to take the lead in turning those stones with the new team of directors.”