March is Women’s History Month

United lay, clergywomen together for study, prayer, action!

(From THE FLYER, January-March, 2008, newsletter of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in The United Methodist Church)

In recent years, resources to help churches and other groups mark Women’s History Month have been offered by such United Methodist groups as GCRW and the General Board of Discipleship.

For the 2008 celebration, the women’s commission will again offer free bulletin inserts, invailable for download at www.gcrw.org, starting Jan. 15. And both the commission and the Discipleship agency (www.gbod.org) will also offer worship resources that incorporate the history, gifts and perspectives of women in worship for March and beyond.

In addition, the commission has created a six-part study, “Women Called to Ministry” (also available for free download at www.gcsrw.org), which traces the history of women prophets, preachers and teachers from the Old Testament through modern-day Christianity.

Beyond celebrating women’s history, however, March is also an ideal time to bring together women in your church or conference group for a time of study, prayer, worship and planning for advocacy and support. Consider bringing together clergywomen and laywomen to:
· Evaluate the worship and Christian education in your church in terms of their relevance to women and girls;
· Mentor teenagers and college-age women about church vocations;
· Plan a portion of weekly worship for each Sunday in March celebrating women;
· Honor “mothers” of the church or conference who have pioneered women’s leadership in your area;
· Pray for, support and listen to the concerns of clergywomen and laywomen employed by (or in leadership in) the annual conference;
· Engage in Bible study or a class meeting;
· Discuss issues of particular challenge to women in your church or conference and create a strategy for addressing them.

The following resources can help you plan for your Women’s History Month observances—all available from Cokesbury, www.cokesbury.com, 800-672-1989;
· Sisters: Bible Study for Women, produced by Abingdon Press.
· Reflect, Rekindle, Renew; Meditations Shared by Deaconnesses of The United Methodist Church, published by the General Board of Global Ministries.
· The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls: Hard Stories of Race, Class, and Gender, Evelyn L. Parker, editor, The Pilgrim Press, 2006.
· Preaching the Women of the Bible, by Lisa Wilson Davidson, Challis Press, 2006 .

As you plan for Women’s History Month and beyond, remember that women around the world of all ages, nationalities and circumstances offer their gifts and ministry to the church as mission workers, administrators, counselors, care-givers, musicians, deaconesses, ordained ministers and lay employees of church agencies, teachers and domestic workers. Include their voices and their perspectives in your celebration.