Davidson UMC United Women in Faith Reading Program Circle

01/21/2026

Apply to Serve as a Reading Program Volunteer Evaluator

Dear United Women in Faith Members and Friends,

Did you ever wonder what goes into shaping the United Women in Faith Reading Program each year? At the heart of the Reading Program is the work of numerous volunteer evaluators.

Volunteer evaluators read and review assigned books, offering careful and candid feedback regarding the books' overall quality and alignment with our mission. Last year, 175+ volunteer evaluators read and reviewed a total of about 150 books. In 2026, we will be evaluating potential books for the 2028 Reading Program.

Are you interested in serving as a volunteer evaluator for the Reading Program? If so, please take 10 minutes to complete the 2026 interest form. Both new and returning volunteers should use this form.

We will consider interest forms on a rolling basis throughout the year, but completion by February 1 is preferred, as it allows us to plan appropriately for the spring cycle book assignments.

Peace,
Emily

Emily Jones
Executive for Racial Justice
United Women in Faith

Please complete this form if you are interested in serving as a United Women in Faith Reading Program volunteer evaluator in 2026. Both returning evaluators and new evaluators should use this form.

09/09/2025

2026 Reading Program announced today!!

VariDoc by Brodnax21c

01/28/2025

Join United Women in Faith for a special Zoom screening of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. The film screening will be followed by a small group discussion time open to all and an optional information-sharing session for those interested in screening the film in their local context.

About the Film: Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools is a feature length documentary which takes a close look at the educational, judicial and societal disparities facing African American girls. The documentary is based on Dr. Monique W. Morris’ groundbreaking book of the same name and confronts the ways in which the misunderstanding of Black girlhood has led to excessive punitive discipline which in turn disrupts one of the most important factors in their lives – education. View the film trailer here.

This event is hosted by United Women in Faith. There is no cost to participate. All are welcome.

Join United Women in Faith for a special screening of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. The film screening will be followed by a small group discussion open to all and an information-sharing session for those interested in offering a similar program in their local context. Abou...

08/21/2024

2025 Reading Program list has been released!

The Reading Program of United Women in Faith brings members together to read, share and discuss books in a variety of genres for all ages.

02/22/2024

UWF Reading Program books reflect the core values of the UWF: the empowerment of women, youth, and children; anti-racism and multiculturalism; inclusion and equity; fair labor practices; and economic and environmental stewardship and sustainability.

The reading program itself is inclusive; you don’t have to be a United Methodist or a woman to participate. It involves reading at least 5 books a year, one from each of 5 categories. The purpose of the program is to expand understanding, encourage critical thinking, increase empathy, nurture spiritual growth, and strengthen involvement. With knowledge comes transformation; with transformation comes action.

The library has 34 books from this year’s list including the following (pictured):

Fierce Love by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis; Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us into the Sacred by Victoria Loorz; Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us about Freedom by Kelley Nikondeha; Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer; The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones; Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land; The Loneliness Epidemic by Susan Mettes; and You Have a Voice by Vera Ahiyya.

For more information, visithttps://uwfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ReadingProgramCatalog2024.pdf or contact Gail Spach at [email protected].

05/17/2023

Join United Women in Faith members and friends for a Read Together small group discussion of _Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents_ by Isabel Wilkerson. This book appears in United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program as a social action bonus book. Please note that *pre-reading of the book is requ...

05/17/2023

Read Together Book Discussion
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Thursday, July 13th, 2023
7PM-8PM ET/ 4PM-5PM PT

Join United Women in Faith members and friends for a Read Together book discussion of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

Caste appears in United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program as a social action bonus book.

Pre-reading is required. This is a fully interactive small group book discussion that requires all participants to read Caste prior to attending. Space is limited and registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will close when we reach capacity. Please register only if you will be able to read the book before the July 13th virtual gathering.

This event is hosted by United Women in Faith. There is no cost to participate. All are welcome.

Register here:

Join United Women in Faith members and friends for a Read Together small group discussion of _Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents_ by Isabel Wilkerson. This book appears in United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program as a social action bonus book. Please note that *pre-reading of the book is requ...

03/30/2023

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
Thursday, May 4, 2023
7PM-8PM ET/ 4PM-5PM PT
All We Can Save Book Cover with "Bonus Books" Notation

Join United Women in Faith members and friends for a Read Together small group discussion of All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson. All We Can Save appears in United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program as a leadership development bonus book.

Pre-reading is required. This is a fully interactive small group book discussion that requires all participants to read All We Can Save prior to attending. Space is very limited and registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will close when we reach capacity. Please register only if you will be able to read the book before this May 4th virtual gathering.

This event is hosted by United Women in Faith. There is no cost to participate. All are welcome.

Register here.

Join United Women in Faith members and friends for a Read Together small group discussion of _All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis_ edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson. This book appears in United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program as a lea...

03/16/2023

There is a form available to submit book recommendations for the Reading Program. Here is the link.

Please use this form to share information about the book you are recommending to the United Women in Faith reading program. You may submit more than one recommendation, but please complete a separate form for each individual book. Thank you!

02/07/2023

Check out the United Women in Faith page. It’s a happenin’ place!

United Women in Faith is the largest denominational faith organization for women with approximately 500,000 members.

02/02/2023

I made a prezi presentation about the UWF Reading Program. It's accessible here:
https://prezi.com/view/1co859yI7OhD1M4Uyjnf/
It has information about the program and photos of the UWF books available in the library!