Pacific Northwest Conference of United Women in Faith

06/09/2026

JE4A Seed Funding Available
UWFaith invites applications from UWFaith-led initiatives and local environmental justice organizations by June 17, 2026. We strongly encourage applications from coalitions and partnerships between UWFaith and EJ groups.

Priority Project Areas
We prioritize proposals that address one or more of the following: reducing carbon emissions through sustainable transportation, promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, supporting fossil fuel non-proliferation and divestment, improving air quality and climate health, and educating and advocating for a just energy transition.

What Makes a Strong Application
Strong proposals will include clearly defined, measurable goals aligned with JE4A values; center equity and include directly impacted communities in leadership or decision-making; combine tangible outcomes with education and advocacy components; and provide a realistic, detailed budget with clear justification. Proposals should also integrate the Jemez Principles and the Principles of Environmental Justice.

Coalition applications between United Women in Faith groups and local environmental justice organizations, as well as BIPOC-led projects and those with a path to self-sustainability, are given priority consideration.
Deadline: June 17, 2026

https://uwfaith.org/blog/2026/2026-seed-funding-application/?mc_cid=aebeac4b6f&mc_eid=22160005df

Grace & Peace,
The Office of Economic and Environmental Justice
United Women in Faith

06/08/2026

Over the past few months, we have been preparing to sunset our online store, with a planned closure by the end of June. While this was not an easy decision, it allows us to thoughtfully wind down operations while continuing to serve our members with valuable resources as effectively as possible during this transition. We understand you may have questions about what this means for you, so we have created this FAQ with information and answers to common questions.

• Where can I purchase printed materials such as the Program Resource, Daily Prayer Guide, and Mission u curricula?

o All available print resources from 2025 or earlier are available at uwfaithresources.org until June 30, while supplies last.
o 2026 and future print resources are available on Amazon.
o Print resources will continue to be added to Amazon.

• Where can I find digital resources?
o All paid digital resources, Program Resource, Daily Prayer Guide, Mission u curricula, response magazine, will continue to be offered through uwfaith.org/digital.

• Where can I access free downloads such as brochures and posters?
o Free downloads previously on the e-store are now available on UWFaith Digital (uwfaith.org/digital). Log in or set up a free account, then look for “Free Resources” on the left sidebar.

• Where can I find Unstoppable and United Women in Faith merchandise, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and water bottles?
o Water bottles are available at uwfaithresources.org until June 30, while supplies last.
o Clothing merchandise is available for purchase and fundraising through bonfire.com/store/uwfaith.

• What about Gift to Mission and Gift in Memory cards?
o Treasurers can continue to order the cards through the Treasurer’s Office.
• How can I order the president’s and membership pins?
o Treasurers can continue to order these pins through the Treasurer’s Office.
• How can I order Special Mission Recognition pins?
o Treasures can continue to order the pins through the Treasurer’s Portal.
• Where can I find response magazine?
o United Women in Faith’s official magazine, response,
continues to be available in both print and digital formats. Visit uwfaith.org/response to subscribe.

With appreciation,
UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH

06/05/2026

United Women in Faith Digital, our private network for community and resources, is a place for you!

If you want to learn more, have questions, or aren't quite sure how to get started, join us on Tuesday, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET, for an Open House where we'll share the vision of this platform as well as step-by-step instructions for everything you need to know (including turning off those pesky notifications!).

We'll help you get connected, and you'll leave prepared to inspire, influence, and make an impact. Click on the link below to register.

Blessings,
The UWFaith Digital Team

https://uwfaith-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/YfCCFNo7S4We4ApdZBRMkw?utm_source=United+Women+in+Faith&utm_campaign=2e8341aaf9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_03_13_07_48_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6872dac275-563985742&mc_cid=2e8341aaf9&mc_eid=22160005df #/registration

05/29/2026

ACTION ALERT: Block the Transfer of Lethal Weapons to Israel

Ban the sale of lethal weapons that are utilized in Israel’s genocidal campaign throughout the Middle East.

Church and Society supports the Block the Bombs Act (H.R. 3565) led by Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL-3). This bill is the first legislative vehicle in Congressional history to aim to ban the U.S. from sending some of the worst-offending offensive weapons arms to Israel.

The bill focuses on artillery ammunition and high-impact bomb variants that have been involved in the grossest civilian casualties. In addition, the bill demands Israel comply with U.S. and international law. As Israel continues to commit unspeakable atrocities against civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, it is imperative that our Representatives take action to block these weapons and hold Israel accountable.

The United Methodist Church continues to strongly condemn U.S. military aid and sales of weapons that enable Israel to continue their deadly campaign in Gaza and throughout the Middle East. Terminating military aid would be a major step toward ending the conflict peacefully. The United Methodist Church has long advocated for “a just and lasting peace and human rights for all in the region” (The United Methodist Church 2020/2024 Book of Resolutions #4108: Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land).

Church and Society urges all governments to end all military aid, arm transfers, and arm sales to the region. The goal is to create lasting peace in the Middle East by opposing any means of violence. Instead, we seek to encourage a peaceful resolution, moving away from weaponized solutions that only lead to further violence.

Together, let’s uplift our voices by contacting our federal Representatives to support the Block the Bombs Act that would not only address U.S. involvement in the conflict, but also begin the de-escalation of violence in the Middle East.
https://secure.everyaction.com/HlYFp3JxqEuzN-xws3JYlw2?emci=db82eb0d-1356-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=267f58fd-cb59-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=15646282

05/26/2026

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Support the Tech to Save Moms Act

This bipartisan legislation invests in evidence-based digital tools to reduce maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Resolution #4203 of the Book of Resolutions affirms that the Church is called to eradicate systems of oppression and marginalization that inhibit women’s well-being… and address the root causes of maternal deaths in local contexts. (2020/2024 Book of Resolutions, #4203, Maternal Health: The Church’s Role) As such, the General Board of Church and Society has endorsed the Tech to Save Moms Act (H.R. 8317 | S. 958).

Based on recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Tech to Save Moms Act leverages the use of telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes, including expanding remote patient monitoring and promoting virtual training and capacity building models.

Specifically, this bill will:
• Require the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation to consider models that improve the integration of telehealth services in maternal health care
• Authorize funding for technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models that will develop and disseminate instructional programming and training for maternity care providers in rural and underserved areas, covering topics such as:
o Safety and quality improvement
o Addressing maternal mental and behavioral health conditions
o Identifying social determinants of health risks in the prenatal and postpartum periods
• Establish a grant program to promote digital tools designed to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved communities
• Commission a comprehensive study on the use of technology in maternity care to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities
Digital tools are not the only solution to America’s maternal health crisis, but they can play an important role in addressing specific challenges facing patients and providers, particularly in underserved areas. Join GBCS in advocating for the passage of the Tech to Save Moms Act by contacting your congressional leaders now.
https://secure.everyaction.com/1aLKIOnE_E6NKW_m6VkAXQ2?emci=02a30238-0556-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=6317c9cf-0259-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=15646282

05/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18kPLhwmQE/

05/12/2026

Listen to Us: Black Girls Speak Out
Youth-Led Research on School Discipline, with IDRA

Monday, June 1, 2026
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Join United Women in Faith for a special webinar with Makiah Lyons and youth researchers from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) on discipline disparities and school pushout. In early 2026, the team released their findings in a new report, Listen to Us: Black Girls Speak Out on Biased Discipline and Its Impact in Atlanta-Area Schools.

https://uwfaith-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/WeVCwgkwSvap8rnIhhzdiQ?mc_cid=d3b976644a&mc_eid=22160005df #/registration

Researcher Nickell Brown wrote: “As a Black young girl, I want to bring light to the things Black girls and other girls of color suffer with while just trying to get an education. I want to bring light to the severe consequences of adultification, stereotyping and racial bias. One small encounter with any of these challenges could cause girls to derail for the rest of their lives. I’m very passionate about getting these circumstances of Black girls out to the public so people see their true struggles, along with other girls of color.”

This webinar will feature Makiah Lyons and two members of the youth research team, Eden and Nickell.

Join United Women in Faith for a special webinar with Makiah Lyons and youth researchers from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) on discipline disparities and school pushout. In early 2026, the team released their findings in a new report, Listen to Us: Black Girls Speak Out o...

05/01/2026

Delegate elections in just a few weeks!

This email is to remind you that if you're in the Alaska, Desert Southwest, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Iowa, Mountain Sky, New York, North Georgia, Oregon-Idaho, South Georgia, Pacific Northwest Conferences, you elect your delegates to the United Methodist General Conference NEXT MONTH.

Most of the deadlines for nominations and declarations of candidacy have passed, except for:

If you missed your deadline, don't worry—all conferences must also take nominations from the floor of the conference.

Our article "Getting Women in the Room Where It Happens: Becoming a General Conference Delegate" shares more about what it means to be a delegate and why members of United Women in Faith should consider serving in this important role. Happy discerning! https://uwfaith.org/general-conference/2025/getting-women-in-the-room-where-it-happens/?utm_source=United+Women+in+Faith&utm_campaign=d7b6d79490-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_04_16_02_06_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bc596b683b-563985742&mc_cid=d7b6d79490&mc_eid=22160005df

General Conference updates
The General Commission on the General Conference met in mid-April and confirmed Minneapolis as the location for the 2028 worldwide meeting, with a possible secondary location, likely in Canada, for delegates unable to obtain U.S. visas.

The conference has been shortened to 8 days instead of 10.

Paragraph 101 of The Book of Discipline states that the new General Book of Discipline, to be presented by the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the U.S., must be addressed and acted on within the first three days of the conference. Those same first days will also be used for orientation, meetings of the Standing Committee, and a meeting of the new (and one-time-only) U.S. Regional Committee, comprising all U.S. delegates, who will review all legislation directly related to the church in the United States and make recommendations the full body. Then we'll get to legislative committees and plenary.

You can read more about the commission's meeting from our friends at United Methodist News. https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/commission-offers-update-on-travel-and-safety-precautions-for-gc-2028?utm_source=United+Women+in+Faith&utm_campaign=d7b6d79490-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_04_16_02_06_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bc596b683b-563985742&mc_cid=d7b6d79490&mc_eid=22160005df

General Conference delegates are elected at annual conference. So ... what is annual conference? Check out "What Happens at Annual Conference" to learn more. Yes—we need your voice there too!
https://uwfaith.org/general-conference/2026/what-happens-at-annual-conference/?utm_source=United+Women+in+Faith&utm_campaign=d7b6d79490-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_04_16_02_06_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bc596b683b-563985742&mc_cid=d7b6d79490&mc_eid=22160005df

Looking ahead
As the upcoming elections remind us, General Conference 2028 isn't that far away. Here is the general anticipated timeline to keep in mind:

Spring 2027: Most delegates elected.
July 2027: Petitions submission start date.
September 2027: Petition submission deadline.
February 2028: Delegates receive Advance Daily Christian Advocate.
May 2028: General Conference meets.

I will, of course, keep you updated on all things General Conference and how United Women in Faith can help inspire, influence, and impact the church's future. Please let me know if you have any questions, and let me know if you are planning to run for delegate!

Blessings,
Tara Barnes
Director of denominational relations
United Women in Faith

by Tara Barnes The next United Methodist General Conference is scheduled for May 8-18, 2028, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This meeting may be a few years away, but the time to start thinking about…

04/28/2026

Preparing for Mission u

What does it really mean to experience God with us in every season of life?

This week on Faith Talks, we explore Mission u 2026 and its theme, Experiencing Emmanuel. Host Jennifer R. Farmer sits down with two dynamic voices shaping this year’s curriculum:

- Amy Beth Jones – guiding our children to recognize God’s presence early
- Linda Furtado – inviting adults into a deeper, fuller knowing of God

Watch the latest episode here. https://youtu.be/xg2anAnG7oE
Thank you for watching this episode of Faith Talks! For more episodes and other podcasts from United Women in Faith, check out: uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts.

Let’s turn our faith into action on behalf of women, children, and youth!
With love and gratitude,
United Women in Faith

1 like. "Preparing for Mission u // Faith Talks with Amy Beth Jones and Rev. Linda Furtado"

04/22/2026

Dear Sisters,
This Earth Day, April 22, we are invited to celebrate the beauty of creation—and to care for its future.
Protecting God’s creation and the communities most affected by climate change is not only something we believe in. It is a core commitment of United Women in Faith.
Around the world, women, children, and vulnerable communities experience the greatest harm from rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental destruction. At the same time, many governments are stepping back from critical climate commitments.
But hope is alive in local communities.
When you give to support Climate Justice work, you help fund climate justice efforts that lead to creative, community-led solutions that care for both people and the planet. One way United Women in Faith helps local leaders launch environmental initiatives that create lasting change is through our Seed Grant program.
In 2025, 12 seed grants supported innovative projects in the United States and other countries, such as:
· In Oregon, church lawns are being replanted with pollinator plants and native grasses that require less water and maintenance, as well as no fertilizer or pesticides.
· In Zimbabwe, 15 houses are receiving solar lighting, impacting 75-100 people, reducing local carbon emissions, improving indoor air quality, and enhancing children’s safety and well-being.
· Through a collaboration with Texas and Jamaica, two high-capacity solar stations are being established as community hubs in Jamaican neighborhoods that suffer disproportionately from grid failures.
These are complex problems met with creative solutions sparked by faithful people who care deeply about God’s creation.
This Earth Day, you can help grow that impact.Your gift will support climate justice initiatives that protect communities, expand renewable energy solutions, and nurture hope for our shared home.

Give Now: https://uwfaith.org/?form=socialaction&utm_source=United%20Women%20in%20Faith&utm_campaign=b6c517b4f7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_10_18_04_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-9cd9ce913d-563985742&mc_cid=b6c517b4f7&mc_eid=22160005df

Together, we can celebrate and honor God’s call to love, protect, and sustain the Earth.
Give today and celebrate Earth Day by investing in the future of creation.
Ilka Vega
Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice

P.S. I hope to see you later today at our Earth Day Celebration webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern. Register online here. https://uwfaith-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/J8qTP_uBTFWe0fUh_cVbuA?mc_cid=c80acab91f&mc_eid=d812261f48&utm_source=United+Women+in+Faith&utm_campaign=b6c517b4f7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_10_18_04_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-9cd9ce913d-563985742&mc_cid=b6c517b4f7&mc_eid=22160005df #/registration