United Women in Faith: Faith Talks

As you may know, November is Native American Heritage Month. November 29 is also the 160th remembrance of the Sand Creek Massacre, in which a Methodist pastor led the slaughter of 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples. Most of the loved ones who were slain were women, children, and elders. The United Methodist Church is in a repenting and repairing process for its involvement in this particular inciden...

Join us as we discuss Hurricanes Milton and Helene with United Women in Faith members from Florida. I’ll interview Edith Zewadski-Bricker and several members of the Green Team at her United Methodist Church. We’ll also touch on the 2024 presidential election with the goal of offering encouragement and hope. Faith Talks is produced by United Women in Faith and hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer from Spot...

When children go to school, we expect they will be in environments that are safe, nurturing, and conducive to learning. But this assumption isn’t always borne out in every school across the country. A student’s race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and class influences how they are received in schools. While this isn’t something many will readily admit, our school communit...

How do you pray when you are angry, afraid, or confused? If you’re like many people, you may struggle to find the words or even the desire to pray when your world has been turned upside down. Or you may be stuck with unrealistic notions of what prayer should or should not be. Join us on this episode of Faith Talks as we talk with Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley to discuss her new book, Rage Prayers. R...

September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness of this urgently important crisis. Suicide impacts persons of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, and other demographics. This month is an opportunity to shift public perception, spread hope, and share vital information to people affected by suicide. If you are reading this and feeling discouraged, or experiencing a mental h...

We are sure you will agree that there are few rights as sacred as the right to vote. Our ancestors struggled to ensure the right to vote for women, people of color, and other marginalized groups. Unfortunately, every election cycle there are nefarious efforts to sway electoral outcomes or influence elections in a way that benefits persons with extreme wealth and power.  This has always been a conc...

Have you ever felt like a problem? Have you ever been treated as if you are a problem? Or have you had the experience of struggling to access resources that others obtain with little effort or worry? Join us on this episode of Faith Talks as we  talk with Chioma Oruh, Ph. D. and Dara Baldwin. Baldwin is an activist, scholar, and an author with over 20 years of experience in policy and social justi...

This year Mission u will bring together adults, youth and children to explore what it means to draw closer to God and one another through transformative education, powerful worship, fellowship, and action. You are invited to join Mission u gatherings across the country to explore how we can transform ourselves and our communities in ways that bring us closer to the kin-dom and the kin-dom closer t...

June is Caribbean Heritage Month and Faith Talks is excited to celebrate this commemorative time. We are delighted to talk with Barbadian-American author Dr. Gena Cox. Cox is an organizational psychologist with a commitment to helping leaders create healthy and dynamic work environments. Her award-winning book Leading Inclusion: Driving Change Your Employees Can See and Feel is a “how to” resource...

The U.S. State Department notes that there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time. It is happening under our noses with all people, of all ages, of all backgrounds, and of all nationalities being vulnerable to trafficking. Faith Talks wants to talk about this issue in a substantive way. Please join a discussion with Jennifer R. Farmer; Hannah Estabrook of Sanctua...

The U.S. State Department notes that there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time.  This segment features organizations that are helping children and adults heal and recover from the horrors of sex trafficking. You’ll hear from Hannah Swift, director of community outreach and training at Gracehaven; Victoria Roland, statewide program administrator for the Susanna...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Faith Talks will facilitate a discussion highlighting the intersection of mental health and disability rights.  We are keen to focus on the ways racism impacts one’s mental health journey, and further endangers persons who are differently abled. We’ll examine what’s happening in schools with regards to students with disabilities and the loss of innocence o...

May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month and we're committed to learning and celebrating this commemorative event on Faith Talks. Listen in as we talk with several members of United Women in Faith who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander or South Asian. This is a moment to highlight the community's trials and triumphs while committing ourselves to deeper learning. We are excited to inte...

We are excited to invite you to treasure God's creation on Earth Day and every single day, whether we are attending large meetings or tending to small daily habits. United Women in Faith has a long history of caring for creation, preserving as sacred our places, serving as God’s stewards on Earth. In light of Earth Day and the upcoming General Conference, we encourage you to join our amazing and i...

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and as an organization committed to women, children, and youth, United Women in Faith wants to talk about it. But we not only want to talk about it, we want to offer protective and preventive tips to help us better support and nurture children and families. We will talk with Chelsea Elliott of Somocom Lab; Ellen Reddy of the Nollie Jenkins Family Center; and...

In continuing our celebration of Women’s History Month, we will interview author Deepa Iyer. We are excited to speak with Iyer about her books “We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future,” and “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection.” We also want to preview her forthcoming children’s book, “We are the Builders,” which will be...

Let's kick off Women's History Month with a look back and a look forward, situated solidly in this present moment. We'll celebrate the women of the Bible and challenge our understanding of women's roles in church and society today. Meet and re-acquaint yourself with some women who've loved our beautiful United Women in Faith (and its earlier incarnations) into existence. Get ready to share insight...

As we enter the season of Lent, join us as we talk with Whitney R. Simpson and discuss her book, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit. Simpson’s book is a 40-day devotional written with Lent in mind. It includes daily prompts for lectio divina, breath prayer, simple yoga postures, essential oils, and journaling and reflection. It was created to engage the whole body on this 40-day Lent...

February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month and we are excited about this opportunity to learn and grow. Listen as we feature three remarkable leaders who are making history today. We will talk with our wonderful General Secretary and CEO Sally Vonner, Bennett College President Dr. Suzanne Walsh, and the Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert, who is the executive director of the Scarritt Bennett Cent...

Listen in as we talk with Sarah Augustine, a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, author, and climate justice activist. Sarah is the executive director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, and author of The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. We willll discuss her latest book, So We & Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Cl...

The mission of United Women in Faith has always been to celebrate and encourage women leaders – in church and in the community. As we enter this new year, let’s learn about United Women in Faith’s latest leadership tools from guests Praveena Balasundaram, Director of Communications; Olivia DiAgostino, Transformation Program Coordinator; and Shannon Priddy, Executive for Development & Donor Rel...

Advent is a season of lighting candles, symbols of the coming light of Christ. Right? Yet what does the promise of rebirth mean to you? And why is there so much need? To be honest, many of us experience solitary moments of doubt and despair, whether we notice our financial lack, loneliness, poor health, grief, etc. For women experiencing such missing pieces, life can feel like a puzzle. Join this...

Let’s celebrate God’s many gifts and the ways we’ve shown up for one another as friends, sisters, neighbors, and fellow travelers during this year! What is one blessing that you thank God for? How do you share that blessing? What is your strategy for giving? Do you give through word, deed, or material resources? In this episode, we’ll hear from our sisters in United Women in Faith on how to raise...

On this episode of Faith Talks we will focus on Native American Heritage Month. While the contributions of indigenous people cannot be constrained to one month, we will use this moment to celebrate the culture and heritage of First Nations people. We will also highlight some of the challenges facing tribal communities, including environmental injustice and preservation of sacred land, water, and a...