The quadrennial Women's Division Assembly began yesterday in Philadelphia.
As Jim mentions in his update, Faye Short and a team from Renew are there.
Please keep them in your prayers--these will be difficult days for them.
Someone said to me not long ago that they didn't envy Faye and the
team--that the Assembly was the only place she had ever attended where
people would take the handout she was giving out and tear it up and throw
the pieces in her face. One of the plenary speakers at this assembly will be
the same woman (Barbara Lundblad) who boasted, to a cheering, laughing
audience at the first Re-Imagining Conference in 1993: "We did not last
night name the name of Jesus. Nor have we done anything in the name of the
Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." She went on to advocate for
the acceptance of lesbian practice, and referred to Jesus as the "child of
Sophia" and to God as "Sophia." UMW pledge dollars at work.....!
Blessings!
Helen Rhea Stumbo
Good News Update
Greetings to you from
here at Good News. I trust this finds you well.
I write to urge you to join us in praying for the upcoming United Methodist
Women's Assembly that begins this evening (Thursday, April 25th) in
Philadelphia. If previous such assemblies are an indicator, there will be
some 10,000 women in attendance. These are just held once in a quadrennium.
Please pray often and specifically for our RENEW President, Faye Short and
the team of women that she has going to the Assembly. Joining Faye will be
Diane Knippers, Ruth Burgner, Katie Keyser, Lauren Keyser, Robin Lawson, Kim
Turkington, Andrea Yates, Ruth Velasquez, Karen Booth, and Donna Hailson.
Also, there will be some 15 women from the Philadelphia area there to help
in a variety of supportive roles.
Faye told me Tuesday that the RENEW Hospitality Room will be at the Hilton
Garden Inn adjacent to the Convention Center. Please pray for the many
contacts that the team will make with United Methodist Women who will be
gathering from across the nation and from other countries. They will have
presentations given Friday and Saturday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30
p.m., which is free time for the delegates.
This event is timely in that RENEW and Good News' Call for Reform of the
Women's Division has been getting more and more attention. UMW unit
presidents are beginning to ask questions and have not been satisfied with
the non-answers coming from the New York leadership. So, this will be a time
for conversation and the sharing of information and materials.
Please pray for Faye and the team. Whatever materials they distribute will
have to be done outside the convention center most likely. They have never
been permitted to distribute materials inside. The atmosphere can sometimes
be less than pleasant, so please pray for the team that the Lord will give
them a cover of spiritual protection. Also, pray for UMW members and
officers who will be there. Pray they will have discernment about what they
hear and see. Pray that they will have the courage to speak up and voice
their concerns about Women's Division policies and positions.
God bless you richly.
Yours in Christ,
James V. Heidinger II |
