Mission Today United Methodist Women Peninsula-Delaware Conference
The purpose of promoting a Mission Today Unit is to: Energize United Methodist Women to be more involved in mission through prayer, study and action. Increase contacts between units and mission personnel and mission projects so the United Methodist Women understand where their money goes. Encourage the use of mission resources through United Methodist Women. Expand concepts of mission, including social justice as mission.
What is a Unit? A unit is any organized group of United Methodist Women within a church or district. Some units are composed of several circles, which periodically get together for a unit meeting.
*1. The Unit will make and meet its Pledge to Mission. (Must be completed.)
*2. Use the Prayer Calendar at each general meeting of the unit to pray for persons in mission and our mission work with women, children and youth. A new Prayer Calendar is printed each year and may be ordered from the Mission Resource Center.
*3. The unit will add at least two new members (one member for units with less than 15 members) to its roll.
*4. The unit will have at least two members subscribing to Response(1 member subscribing with units less than 15 members). Order from Magazines With A Mission, $24.00 for a year’s subscription. New World Outlook is also available from Magazines With A Mission, $24.00 for a year’s subscription.
*5. The unit will use at least two programs from the Program Book during the year. A new Program Book is printed every year and may be ordered from the Mission Resource Center.
*6. The unit or circle will conduct or participate in at least one mission study each year. Contact your district or conference Mission Coordinator for Education & Interpretation to learn what the studies are for each year. (If members of your unit, other than a conference or district officer, attend the conference Mission u or your District Mission Study and your unit takes an action growing out of the study, Gift to Mission, ministry related to the study, etc., your unit will meet this criteria.)
*7. The unit will implement the Charter for Racial Justice in at least two ways during the year. Possibilities are: Have members read and discuss books and articles about other races and cultures; Sponsor an interethnic event between two or more units; Recruit women of color to be members and officers of the unit; View the DVD on the Charter, “In Search of Racial Justice”. Your District President has a copy for use; Use the new “Resources for Racial Justice: Tools for UMW Leaders” handbook. (Available on our conference website on the “Downloads Available” page, and on the “Mission Today” page.) Write to elected representatives to support legislation affecting issues such as immigration, affirmative action, low-income programs, civil rights, etc.
How Do We Become a Mission Today Unit? In order to be recognized as a Mission Today Unit, UMW groups must complete a minimum of 8 to 10 of the following criteria, including four (4) of those marked with an asterisk (*). In order to become a Silver Mission Today Unit, UMW groups must complete a minimum of 11 to 17 of the following criteria, including six (6) of those marked with an asterisk (*). In order to become a Gold Mission Today Unit, UMW groups must complete all 18 of the following criteria.
#1 of the Criteria is not optional. You must complete this one to become a Mission Today Unit! Activities conducted between January 1-December 31, 2019, will be recognized at Conference Annual Meeting in October 2019. This is an ongoing program, so strive to become a Mission Today Unit! ******************************************
8. At least one member of the unit (other than a conference or a district officer) will attend the conference Mission u and report back to the unit on classes and events they experienced.
9. At least two members (other than a conference or district officer) will attend the district or conference Annual Meeting and report back to the unit about the event and what they experienced.
10. The unit will have at least one person joining the United Methodist Women’s Action Network to receive and respond to legislative information at least three (3) times a year. (To join, contact Women’s Division Washington Office, 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20002. (Attach to Mission Today report what you responded to and what action was taken.)
11. Members will correspond with five persons listed in the Prayer Calendar at least once a year.
12. The unit will participate in the Campaign for Children in at least two ways.
13. The unit will be a Five Star unit by contributing to all Five Channels of Mission Giving.
14. The unit will make a pledge to care for God’s creation and become a “Green” United Methodist Women Unit.
15. Each unit or circle meeting will include a “response Moment” where an item or article from response magazine will be lifted up as a way to tell the mission story.
16. Have at least two members from the unit, circle or subgroup complete one of the Reading Program Plans and report on one of the books read; encourage all members to complete Plan One; have a book review program.
17. The unit will invite a district or conference officer, other than a member of the unit, to one of the unit meetings during the year and/or for their United Methodist Women’s Sunday.
18. The unit will participate in a Hands on Mission Opportunity during the year.