A Message from Our Bishop

A Message from Our Bishop

Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer
Resident Bishop, Virginia Conference

The following is a reprint of Bishop Kammerer's article for The Bishop's Corner,
as printed in the North Carolina Christian Advocate,
Volume 147, Number 18, October 15, 2002
Feel free to print, copy, and share!

Salute to United Methodist Women

My sister and I literally grew up around the knees and arms and voices of United Methodist Women. Back then in the 1950's, the organization was the Women's Society of Christian Service. My grandmother was a charter member of the WSCS in her local church in central Florida, and served as President several times.

There were numerous times her "Circle" met at our home. My sister and I were taught how to greet the women, seat the women, serve refreshments to the women and sit on the floor to listen to the women. We used some of our allowance for Thank Offering and Scholarship money requests that came to the Circle. We sat and listened and learned about mission and about discipleship from these older women who graced our home and the church when we were there.

Later, when I was a Youth member of WSCS, my grandmother's circle raised money among themselves to help send me to college. Several years later, they also raised money to help me live on a kibbutz for a summer in Israel. The only reason I didn't go was because the 6 Day War broke out, and all trips were cancelled.

As a pastor, I have been active in the mission arm of our church through United Methodist Women. I have often led programs or Bible Studies. I have taught in Schools of Christian Mission, and introduced congregations to the Studies highlighted each year. I have spoken at many gatherings of United Methodist Women over the decades, locally, at annual conferences, and jurisdictionally. It has been a small way for me to say THANK YOU for all that members of United Methodist Women have meant to me.

This page was last updated on Friday, November 18, 2005.