Missouri Net News [link removed] Lead(HER) 2026: Empowering Female Clergy
Registration is now open for Lead(HER) 2026, a three-day conference for female clergy, April 20-22, 2026, at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church. The conference features keynote speakers Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Karoline Lewis, Beth Allison Barr, Danielle Strickland, and Rev. Lisa Yebuah, plus 14 breakout sessions addressing practical ministry challenges. Early Bird pricing: $249 (through Feb 16). Go to [link removed] [link removed].
Calling for Action after Disasters
United Women in Faith is mourning the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka and a preventable fire in Hong Kong. Ilka Vega, the organization’s executive for Economic and Environmental Justice, said the disasters are reminders that frontline communities, and particularly women and children, are disproportionately affected by climate change. “As these communities mourn and move toward recovery, we urge world leaders to take action,” Vega said in a statement. [link removed] Read statement.
UWF Calls for Advocacy to Protect Children
Before 2025 ends, United Women in Faith is urging people to ask their federal legislators to co-sponsor three key bills for children and youth: the Ending PUSHOUT Act, the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, and the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act.
The Ending PUSHOUT Act (HR 2738 / S 1338) is designed to address the alarming rates at which children of color, particularly girls of color, are disproportionately disciplined and criminalized in schools. Go to [link removed] [link removed]
Ban Corporal Punishment in School: The use of corporal punishment in schools undermines student safety and well-being. It’s not effective discipline – as parents, teachers, psychologists, and pediatricians have been saying for years. Go to [link removed] [link removed].
Counseling Not Criminalization: When we choose criminalization over counseling in our schools—especially for Black, neurodivergent, and otherwise marginalized students—we are doing the very thing Jesus warns against: causing little ones to stumble. Go to [link removed] [link removed].

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