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Dear Creative, Supportive Fellowship in Crest to Coast District --
I may sound like a transplant to the Pacific Northwest when you hear that I moved here in July after 44 years in the Atlanta area. But I was born in Yakima, spent the first 7 years of my life in Granger (baptized at Liberty Methodist church as an infant, WAY before we were United Methodists) and moved to Yakima at 7 after my parents divorced. I went to the University of Washington, graduating with a double major in Latin and English and a secondary teaching credential. The week after we graduated, I married Terry, a recently commissioned Ensign in the US Navy and 2 days later we left for his first duty station at Moffett Field, CA. Seven years (and 13 moves later) he left the Navy and we moved to Atlanta when he was hired by Delta Airlines.
I am not a fan of heat, humidity or bugs so coming back home to Washington was always part of our plan, we just didn’t know that it would take quite so long to achieve that goal. The high point of the 44 years in Snellville, GA was finding Zoar UMC, established in 1811 and the church home we were blessed to be part of for 42 years.
It was while at Zoar that I grew in faith and United Methodist Women was a large part of that maturing process. I was nurtured by my local unit and encouraged to accept leadership positions. I was blessed to serve as secretary, vice-president and president on both the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District and the North Georgia Conference. I used all of my tenure and was honored to be elected to serve on the National Board 2017-2020. It has been through UMW that I have made the closest friendships I have ever experienced. I have been encouraged to teach Mission Studies and speak at events. UMW has broadened my mission outlook and my opportunities for service.
I taught the children’s study at Mission u since 1997 and when Terry retired in 2004, we taught the class together. We were active in mission trips and helped organize an UMCOR warehouse in the North Georgia Conference. We have 2 daughters, Beth (a psychologist working with 9-11 survivors in New York) and Katy (a critical care nurse who has been working in COVID units for the last two years.)
We visited First UMC Olympia repeatedly as we spent 2 years looking for a house. We were attracted by the mission outreach, diverse congregation and active UMW. COVID has made it more difficult to become part of a new congregation, with everyone masked and socially distanced when we could be in worship. I was amazed to be called by the district nominating committee asking if I could serve on the team. I explained that I had used my tenure and checked with the national office to see if there was any capacity in which I could serve. I am NOT elected as President but rather as Convener for the Crest to Coast District. I will fulfill the duties of president as we continue to search for a person who can accept that office and I will mentor and assist in training that individual as the district team continues to promote and live out the PURPOSE of United Methodist Women.
I love visiting local units and learning more about what UMW means to the local members and the missions they support. As opportunities present themselves for us to gather together once again, please invite me to your meetings so we can get to know each other through this creative, supportive fellowship! Blessings -- Sue
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