Sohl urges United Methodist Women to continue to act
Sohl urges United Methodist Women to continue to act
March 23, 2003
By Linda Bloom*
STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS) - Like waves in a turbulent sea, United Methodist Women must move and act in today's turbulent world.
That was the farewell message of Joyce Sohl to directors of the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, during their March 19-22 meeting in Stamford.
Sohl is retiring as the division's chief executive at the end of July. She has served in that position since 1991 and previously was the division's treasurer from 1976 to 1990. Jan Love of Columbia, S.C., will succeed her as top staff executive.
"The Women's Division cannot and should not take on all of the problems of the world, but it is our responsibility to advocate for justice; to find where God is working in the world with women and children and join God there; and to grow in our faith as we expand our involvement in God's mission," Sohl told the directors.
She encouraged the women to be prepared, imaginative, bold and faithful - words that also could be applied to Sohl herself, according to the tributes presented at a dinner celebrating her years of ministry.
"She has a clear vision of what it means to be a Christian woman in today's society," said Genie Banks, division president.
Drawing from her Evangelical United Brethren roots, Sohl has dedicated her life to the church, working in both denominational and ecumenical circles. Before her staff positions, she was a director of the Women's Division and Board of Global Ministries from 1968 to 1976. She has served in a number of roles with the National Council of Churches and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
The Women's Division administers the 1 million-member United Methodist Women organization.
As United Methodist Women celebrates its 135th anniversary, Sohl cautioned the organization to look at the future as well as the past. "God's mission is not static, nor can our involvement in that mission with women, children and youth be bogged down by old methods, old relationships or old, self-imposed boundaries," she said.
She reminded directors of some of the "bold women" of the division's past who were willing to take on the issues of their day. "Such women are still needed," she added. "We need women that are articulate, strong leaders; women that have a passion for justice and an understanding of partnership; women that can follow Jesus on the resurrection road and go with him to Galilee, the place of the marginalized and oppressed."
In all that work, a sense of faithfulness is essential, according to Sohl. "It was the faithfulness of our foremothers that brought about the missionary organizations of the 19th century," she said. "It is the faithfulness of United Methodist Women today that enables mission and ministry to take place through the Women's Division."
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York. News media can contact Linda Bloom at (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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