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THE MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership in United Methodist Women is voluntary. Any woman may become a member who chooses to belong, is committed to the PURPOSE, and is willing to be involved in global missions through United Methodist Women. Membership in United Methodist Women offers each woman the opportunity to plan and evaluate the program in which she participates. Diversity in membership is sought in regard to age, race and financial/marital/employment status. Each member is regarded as a person of unique value. Membership in United Methodist Women can be expressed in one or more of the following ways:

Attendance at meetings;
Undesignated giving to support global missions;
Intercessory prayer
Meaningful community involvement;
Participation in varied events, projects, issues, and concerns of the Women's Division;
Acceptance of leadership responsibility.

All women of the United Methodist Church are not automatically members of United Methodist Women, though all are welcome and are encouraged to become members. The majority of members of the organization will also be members of the United Methodist Church; however, membership is open to any woman who chooses to fulfill the conditions of membership indicated above. In the local unit the president is required by General Conference to be a member of the United Methodist Church (Discipline ¶254). It should be noted that Woman's Division policy requires that ALL district and conference officers be members of the United Methodist Church). It is up to each local unit to be sure that the door of belonging to this supportive Christian fellowship is wide open and welcoming rather than restrictive, exclusive or confining. A woman becomes a member of United Methodist Women because she has freely chosen to be part of a woman's group organized for mission.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH

Members of the United Methodist Women are usually members of a local congregation. Each has accepted membership vows that express loyalty in terms of prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Belonging to United Methodist Women is additional to church membership and offers further opportunities for worship, attendance, giving, and participation. Loyalties may seem divided when women become deeply involved in the program and activities of the local unit, as well as the church wide program. As individuals, United Methodist Women will be participating in the various phases of general church life as well as events planned by and for members of the unit. The two are not unrelated, even though marked differences may exist. As an organization, United Methodist Women relates to the total congregation in multiple ways:

Most members of the unit are first of all members of the church.
The pastor is a member of the Executive Committee.
The president is a member of the governing bodies of the church (Charge Conference, Administrative Board, Council on Ministries) and reports according to established patterns.
Liaison relationships may be established between specific mission coordinators of the unit and work area chairpersons and commissions of the local church ( i.e., Christian Global Concerns with work area on mission; Christian Social Involvement with Christian Social Concerns).

Members of the unit should have an understanding of, concern for, and loyalty to the total program of the local church. Units for United Methodist Women are authorized by THE DISCIPLINE to secure funds and disburse them in accordance with the constitution and by the order of the unit involved. These funds belong to these units. Budgets are prepared and approved annually by the unit and include pledges and other monies for the programs and responsibilities of the Woman's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, funds for local administration and membership development, and funds for local church and community programs (mission locally). Units channel funds for the Woman's Division through the local, district, and conference treasurers of the organization (Bylaws, Article 7).