A Message from Bishop Kammerer

Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer
Resident Bishop, Virginia Conference
(Bishop Kammerer was Resident Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference 1996-2004)

The following is a reprint of Bishop Kammerer's article for The Bishop's Corner,
as printed in the North Carolina Christian Advocate,
Volume 147, Number 18, October 15, 2002
Feel free to print, copy, and share!

Salute to United Methodist Women

My sister and I literally grew up around the knees and arms and voices of United Methodist Women.  Back then in the 1950's, the organization was the Women's Society of Christian Service.  My grandmother was a charter member of the WSCS in her local church in central Florida, and served as President several times.

There were numerous times her "Circle" met at our home.  My sister and I were taught how to greet the women, seat the women, serve refreshments to the women and sit on the floor to listen to the women.  We used some of our allowance for Thank Offering and Scholarship money requests that came to the Circle.  We sat and listened and learned about mission and about discipleship from these older women who graced our home and the church when we were there.

Later, when I was a Youth member of WSCS, my grandmother's circle raised money among themselves to help send me to college.  Several years later, they also raised money to help me live on a kibbutz for a summer in Israel.  The only reason I didn't go was because the 6 Day War broke out, and all trips were cancelled.

As a pastor, I have been active in the mission arm of our church through United Methodist Women.  I have often led programs or Bible Studies.  I have taught in Schools of Christian Mission, and introduced congregations to the Studies highlighted each year.  I have spoken at many gatherings of United Methodist Women over the decades, locally, at annual conferences, and jurisdictionally.  It has been a small way for me to say THANK YOU for all that members of United Methodist Women have meant to me.

This year, I am so thrilled to know that our WNC United Methodist Women are NUMBER 1 in the whole connection.

As an Annual Conference, they have the best and grandest record of giving and leading in all categories.  This is remarkable, and we salute them, one and all, and thank God for them.

As I spoke with appreciation to our United Methodist Women recently, I also acknowledged to them that I know that their organization is under attack from within our denomination.  I for one am deeply grateful for the courageous and bold witness from all of our predecessor bodies and now United Methodist Women in the life of our church and beyond to all the world.  There is no group that has done so much, led so much, given so much and provided for the needs of women and children around this world than our sisters in United Methodist Women.  I thank God for you daily.

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The PURPOSE of United Methodist Women
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

This page was last updated on Saturday, September 05, 2009.