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Energizing and Equipping Local Churches
in Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World
Mission Interpretation
MISSION INTERPRETATION FORMS
Mission Interpretation begins with the Purpose Statement of United Methodist Women.
Through the Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation, individual Local Units currently use the Mission Today Combined Report Form as a checklist of activities to become Mission Today Units. The GOAL of these activities is to: Strengthen our Community of Women throughout the organization, and to energize United Methodist Women in order to be more involved in mission through prayer, participation, study and action. This enables the larger community to truly Make A Difference in the mission areas they are engaged in.
Note that the reporting period is from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.
RECOGNITION AWARD LEVELS:
*Gold Certificate – Unit completed the required number of activities.
*Diamond Certificate – Unit completed more than the required number of activities.
*Rising Star Certificate – Unit participation on a lower level.
*Additional Certificate of Excellence awarded for Mission Studies of 4 hours.
*Additional Certificate of Excellence with Gold Seal awarded for Mission Studies of more than
4 hours.
Activities qualifying Local Units to become a Mission Today Unit are organized under six areas
of Opportunity.
(1) OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN PRAYER AS MISSION
*With approximately one million United Methodist Women using the Prayer Calendar at every event and meeting, it is estimated that 100,000 prayers are offered each day for our missionaries, institutions, and staff in all areas that have their birthdays, work information and addresses listed.
*The Prayer Calendar is also used to support these persons and institutions through correspondence.
(2) OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT UMW MISSIONS WITH SECOND-MILE GIVING
*Personal and Unit Pledges.
*World Thank Offering.
*Gift(s) in Memory.
*Purchase of Gift to Mission Cards (Birthday, New Baby, Congratulations, Thank You, Thinking of You, In the Service of Christ (for Missionaries and others), Special Day, and Christmas.
*Special Mission Recognition (with Pin).
*Burning of the Candle special offering for both Local Units and Individuals.
(3) OPPORTUNITIES TO USE GIFTS OF PRESENCE AS MISSION
*Attending the Cooperative School of Christian Mission for the purpose of personal
Spiritual Growth and education in areas of national and international concerns.
*Attending District and Conference Annual Meetings for the purpose of expanding our
community of women and building teamwork for our connectional organization.
Mission expands as our Community expands.
*Attending Officer Training for Leadership Development. Learn by being PRESENT.
*Co-Sponsoring Children’s Sabbath with a Local Church.
*Celebrating United Methodist Women’s Sunday each year to inform others who United
Methodist Women are and what we do.
*Expand Local Unit Membership to increase mission work.
*Use of scholarships to help others make a Gift of Presence as Mission at any of the
events listed above.
(4) OPPORTUNITIES TO USE DEVELOPED RESOURCES AS MISSION
*Use of the United Methodist Women Program Book in programs to educate and inform members and visitors about mission and annual events: Pledge Service; World Thank Offering Service; Call to Prayer and Self-Denial Services; Bible and Spiritual Growth Studies; and other UMW priority issues.
*Unit and individual subscriptions to Response Magazine, our mission magazine which tells our mission story and demonstrates vividly where our money goes!
*Offer short versions of the Cooperative School of Christian Mission Studies. Extend this rich area of education opportunity to others.
*Use the Reading Program books to help members learn about both sides of issues currently of concern nationally and internationally.
(5) OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE SOCIAL HOLINESS AS MISSION
*The Charter for Racial Justice Club membership is open to all Units. United Methodist Women and our Foremothers stood for racial justice during dangerous times in our history and are still doing so. The struggle continues.
*Cooperation with Church Women United on issues of common concern.
*Participation in the United Methodist Women’s Action Network to help enlarge efforts on issues of concern throughout our organization.
*Attendance at our state-wide Legislative Event in Austin, and work on those issues chosen for Conference wide emphasis.
(6) OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL UNIT MISSION *UMCOR kits or Medicine Boxes. *Collection of Labels for Education for our National Institutions, as well as local schools
or institutions.
*Support our National Mission Institutions in particular areas of need.
*Support of our Annual Conference Mission Project.
*Other Unit Mission Activities of choice which fulfill our Purpose.
WE INVITE ALL WOMEN TO JOIN WITH US IN SUPPORTIVE FELLOWSHIP, SPIRITUAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION IN AREAS OF CONCERN, AND WESLEYAN ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL HOLINESS EFFORTS FOR JUSTICE AND PLENTY FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN. MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS NOT MANDATORY.