United Women in Faith is the new name of the organization for women in The United Methodist Church. Logo courtesy of United Women in Faith.

Did you know that United Methodist Women (UMW) started off as the “Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society” (WFMS) in 1869? In fact, over the past 150 years we’ve had various names and affiliations, only becoming “United Methodist Women” in 1972 as part of the denomination’s Board of Global Ministries. However, in 2012, The United Methodist Church General Conference voted to make United Methodist Women’s national policymaking body autonomous. That policymaking body announced in early March that we now have a new name: United Women in Faith (UWF). There’s a new website, uwfaith.org, you can visit to learn more about the changes in the organization, and about new avenues to participation in our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of women, children and youth both here and abroad.

UMW — now UWF — will hold its quadrennial World Assembly in Orlando this May. Belmonter Connie Bergquist will be attending, gaining insights and understanding about this promising new chapter in our continuing journey. Stay tuned!