October 2026
United Women in Faith of West Ohio
October Inspirations
We believe love in action can change the world.
Contents:
From Your President — UWFaith Handbook
Let’s look at the United Women in Faith Handbook: 2025-2028. I hope you didn’t just say, "What is she talking about?" Well, this is a comprehensive guide with a wealth of information and resources essential to all members of this organization. You can use this handbook to learn about all the ways you can make an impact in your community, church, and world. You’ll find guidance on how to organize, grow, lead, and educate locally—in person or online. It is everything you wanted to know about UWFaith but were afraid to ask!
Here are the sections in the Handbook:
· The Work of United Women in Faith: resources that help inspire, influence, and impact us
· Giving: the whys of supporting our mission and vision financially
· Membership & Leadership in UWFaith: the flexible range of opportunities
· National Organization: the roles & responsibilities of the policy-making board of directors
· Leadership Skills: Tips, an assortment of information and suggestions to strengthen your leadership
· Funding the Mission: Financial policies and procedures for the treasurers
· Constitution & Bylaws: the official, primary, and go-to source for UWFaith policies and leadership responsibilities
· Forms: financial forms and membership organizing forms (temporarily unavailable on uwfaithresources.org)
· Glossary: a list that explains the terminology associated with us
· Brand guides & Logos: (temporarily unavailable on uwfaithresources.org)
· Websites featured in the Handbook
Now I ask you, why don’t you have this book? How to order the book:
For digital copies: https://uwfaith.mn.co/plans/1995910
For print copies: Please contact Andrew Cheu at acheu@uwfaith.org
Paula Nourse, Kinder6595@hotmail.com, 614-326-9062 (texting is good)
From Your Vice President
Hello, all Vice Presidents,
For those of you who could not attend my Zoom meeting held on Tuesday, September 8, I would like to share the following information:
Information about LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT can be found at www.naicumc.com (the Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus), which is an advocacy group for Native peoples, ministries, and communities within, as well as outside of, the United Methodist Church. To determine what Native tribes inhabited your particular land, go to native-land.cal.
The UWF Program Guide, “An Unfolding Welcome,” and Daily Prayer Guide “Welcomed & Welcoming” are both available on Amazon.com. They both run from January to December.
Speaker Opportunity: Rev. Abby Lightle, Director, Camp Wesley, would love the opportunity to share the good news of lives being transformed at Camp Wesley. The remodeled lodge would be a lovely place for a district gathering. Her email is alightle@wocumc.org.
Mission Dollars: Put a QR code on ALL your registration forms, etc., inviting people to make contributions to the Legacy Fund, our Mission Program, etc., after they pay the registration fee. People are more generous than we give them credit for. This is a suggestion from National UWF–and it worked at Assembly. They raised $189,560.69 at the Legacy Banquet, with total Assembly giving at $426,258!!!! Mission giving has increased 6% over 2025–we’re headed in the right direction.
Linda Bales Todd, who serves as Co-President of her local UWF unit at Grace UMC, indicated that they:
a. Meet year-round and lay out their program during their January meeting.
b. Every event has a coordinator, and they make plans for who will bring the food–therefore, all the work does not fall on one individual.
c. Their unit concentrates on EDUCATION and ADVOCACY.
My next National UWF VP meeting will be held November 9. I will update you on information shared. Till then, be safe, be happy, be blessed!
Carolyn Johnson, Vice President, cjohnson3253@yahoo.com
From Your Secretary
After a busy spring and summer with Assembly, Annual Conference, Mission u, and family vacation, I am looking forward to a quieter fall. However, my fall is quickly filling up with Annual Celebration, Hocking River Fall Meeting, church fellowship meal, and My Very Own Blanket project, book discussions, preparing for hand bell festival, and all the Christmas events at church and elsewhere. I am thankful that I am still able to participate and enjoy these activities.
Please take a few minutes to be quiet and reflect on your schedule and ability to participate in your activities. God is good all the time.
Janice Deal, Secretary, jdeal@ideal-services.com
Social Action — Get Out and Vote
I cannot tell you who to vote for or endorse a particular candidate. I can, however, encourage you to get out and vote and to learn where candidates stand on the United Women in Faith (UWFaith) social action priorities of Climate Justice and Ending Mass Incarceration and Criminalization of Communities of Color, with special attention to the needs of women, children, and youth.
Your Vote Matters, Including When Choosing Judges
When voting for judges, consider candidates who will apply the law impartially, follow the facts, and uphold the rule of law. Ohio deserves independent, thoughtful judges who make decisions based on the law rather than politics or special interests.
Judicial decisions can have a significant impact on environmental issues. Cases involving clean water, public lands, energy infrastructure, and utility rates can affect communities across the state, even when a case begins with one person's legal challenge. Courts may review permits issued by state agencies, challenges to new laws, or appeals involving major industrial projects. The judges who hear these cases can have a lasting impact on Ohio communities and the environment.
In even-numbered years, Ohio voters elect judges and justices to the Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio District Courts of Appeal, Ohio Courts of Common Pleas, and Ohio County Courts. In odd-numbered years, Ohio voters elect judges to Ohio Municipal Courts.
In 2026, voters in all 88 Ohio counties will elect judges for county courts of common pleas, courts of appeals, and statewide judicial offices, including two seats on the Ohio Supreme Court.
October 17–25: Week of Action Against School Pushout
October 17–25 is the National Week of Action Against School Pushout, an opportunity to raise awareness about policies and practices that can push students out of the classroom and into the juvenile justice system.
Two bills introduced in April 2025 were referred to committee and are unlikely to pass during the current session. However, UWFaith believes that increasing the number of congressional cosponsors is important to building support for the long-term work.
As UWFaith reminds us, “Fighting for a cause, regardless of the odds, means refusing to accept the unacceptable, and that in itself is a powerful victory.”
Your action: Contact your legislators and ask them to become co-sponsors of these bills. You can easily send a message through the UWFaith advocacy links below.
Punitive, Unfair, School-Based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma Act of 2025 (PUSHOUT Act) UWF Advocacy Action
Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act (H.R. 2739) UWF Advocacy Action
You can also read the full text and current status of any federal bill by visiting Congress.gov and searching by the bill number or topic.
Your voice matters. Your vote matters. And advocacy matters between elections, too.
Debra Stoner, Social Action, stonerde@gmail.com
Grove City UMC Backpack Program
Our licensed local pastor, Brandi Blackstone, saw a need in the area surrounding our church, Grove City United Methodist, or better known as the Purple Door Church. Too many of the students in the surrounding South-Western City School District were going without food outside of the school day. She asked for donations of non-perishable food to be placed in backpacks on a weekly basis. These would be delivered to schools for families. The process of recovering actual backpacks each week became cumbersome, so now the food is delivered in plastic bags. High school-aged volunteers are transported to our church via school transportation to fill the bags. Volunteers deliver the food each week. Recently, our local unit donated $500 to the program to purchase food, and the Thursday morning Bible study group makes periodic monetary donations, as do other groups in the church. This is just one of the many valuable services to the neighborhood provided by Pastor Brandi and the valuable volunteers.
Peg Addington, Olentangy River District, Grove City UM Church
Communication Info
In a few days, our Conference Annual Day will be here. Don’t miss getting to hear Sally Vonner at the Scioto Ridge UMC Hilliard on October 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Documents that are ready for your review prior to the meeting can be found on the website’s event page: https://www.westohiouwf.org/2026-annual-celebration
Check out the Advent Bible Study planned for four Sunday afternoons from November 29 – December 20 from 4:00 – 5:15 p.m. The study is The Christmas Letters: Celebrating Advent with Those Who Told the Story First. No registration necessary. The Zoom link will be on our website. Join one or all four sessions. Get your book in advance from Thriftbooks, Amazon, or World of Books.
Remember, this is the year of Influence in the Unstoppable Campaign to focus on Climate Justice and Ending Mass Incarceration and Criminalization of Communities of Color.
Carol Waugh, Communications Coordinator, carolwaugh6@gmail.com
National Mission Institutions
National Mission Institutions are community-based organizations and social service agencies that were almost exclusively founded by women in the 19th century to serve marginalized communities and populations across the United States. Today, United Women in Faith remains connected to these community centers, colleges, and residences, providing vital services in vulnerable communities. National Mission Institutions empower women, care for children, support seniors, educate youth, provide housing for domestic violence survivors, and offer residences for special needs children and youth. National Mission Institutions also advocate for the women, children, youth, and families in the communities they serve.
Learn more about the Mission Institutions in West Ohio—their histories, missions, and how you can serve and support the vital work they do:
National Events, News, & Resources
The National Office has many interesting events and gatherings such as Faith Talks, Voices of the Field, Podcasts, and Webinars. Go to the United Women in Faith website to find out more and to subscribe to their digital communications to stay up on the latest scoop by clicking here.
Important Information
Join us in celebrating all the ways we inspire, influence, and impact our churches and communities with our 2024 Annual Report. We will share the 2025 Annual Report once it is made available.
The United Women in Faith Board of Directors approved the organization's 2025 budget at its fall board meeting. Check out our report.
United Women in Faith continues to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. Read our statement.
We join our friends at the General Commission on Religion and Race to condemn false claims against migrants and call for action against racism and xenophobia. Read the full statement.
Support United Women in Faith
Please consider increasing your Pledge to Mission, both individually and from your local unit! Gifts to Mission make it possible for United Women in Faith to carry out its vital work to connect and nurture women through Christian formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence, and impact local and global communities.
Learn about All-Access Membership
All Access provides easy online availability to resources nationwide. Customize your experience and access more ways to put love in action. Because love in action can change the world. Learn more.
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