Pre-Conference Workbook - North Carolina Conference of The ...

North Carolina
United Methodist Women
The year 2012 was a year of change and transition for United Methodist Women. UMW had
major structural changes coming out of the 2012 General Conference and our conference
transitioned from 12 to 8 districts. As we considered all of our changes in 2012, we reflected on
the changes that our predecessors faced 40 years ago in 1972 when we were becoming the
United Methodist Church and the women were becoming United Methodist Women. We heard
anew the words of previous conference president Mildred Fry found in the 1972 Journal. She
wrote: "As we follow the General Conference directive to organize ONE new inclusive
organization with a new name, we do so with confidence that with God's love to sustain us,
United Methodist Women will continue the endless line of splendor that is our heritage."
And so we did continue the wonderful mission work and mission education that is our strong
heritage. We studied our social action issues of domestic violence, poverty and immigration and
took appropriate actions, i.e., writing our congressmen and helping out our local agencies
addressing these issues. We continued, with joy, to make dresses for the little girls in Haiti and
to make health, school and layette kits. These kits were delivered to various ministries
throughout the conference. We hosted our Spiritual Enrichment Retreat in May at Edenton Street
UMC with wonderful leadership from Dr. Christine Harman. In July, we hosted our annual
School of Christian Mission where our members studied immigration in the bible, poverty and
Haiti. Many attendees were certified to teach the mission studies in the districts and/or local
churches.
UMW hosted 4 conference wide events in 2012; Spiritual Enrichment Retreat, School of
Christian Mission, Mother-Child Retreat and Annual Meeting. One of our strongest events is our
Mother-Child Retreat held annually in September at Camp Don Lee. A total of 271 mothers,
children and UMW staff attended this event. It is a weekend of spiritual reflection and a
weekend for Moms to spend quality and fun time with their little ones. Our Annual Meeting is a
business session where we adopt our budget, elect officers and celebrate our work. It was a
challenging meeting as we were getting accustomed to our new district names yet the meeting
was being hosted by the "old" Goldsboro District. At our 2012 Annual Meeting, we dedicated
our Book of Reports to Bishop Alfred Gwinn, Jr. for his outstanding support of United Methodist
Women.
In 2012, the North Carolina Conference UMW remitted $419,325 in Mission Giving to National
UMW. We give thanks for all that God will be able to do thru UMW with the money given. We
give thanks that our local members make mission possible by their prayers, their giving and their
desire to put their faith, hope and love into action.
LaNella Smith
Conference President
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