by Elaine Moy*
The chart below lists the U.S. United Methodist annual conferences in which 10% or more of their employees are racial-ethnic clergywomen and laywomen. There are 63 annual conferences in the United States. Below are also the U.S. annual conferences with the lowest percentage of racial-ethnic clergywomen or laywomen employees.
| Top annual conferences by % of racial-ethnic clergywomen employed | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Percentage |
| Oklahoma Indian Missionary | 44% |
| Kansas West | 40% |
| Wisconsin | 18% |
| Mississippi | 17% |
| Tennessee | 13% |
| Top annual conferences by % of racial-ethnic laywomen employed | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Percentage |
| Western Pennsylvania | 64% |
| Wisconsin | 43% |
| Mississippi | 41% |
| Southwest Texas | 24% |
| Baltimore-Washington | 20% |
| California-Pacific | 19% |
| Desert Southwest | 17% |
| Alabama West Florida | 15% |
| South Carolina | 14% |
| North Alabama | 14% |
| Lowest % of racial-ethnic clergywomen employed | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Percentage |
| Pacific Northwest | 6% |
| North Central New York | 5% |
| Western North Carolina | 5% |
| Virginia | 5% |
| Illinois Great Rivers | 4% |
| Oregon-Idaho | 4% |
| West Ohio | 3% |
| Iowa | 2% |
| West Michigan | 2% |
| Texas | 1% |
| Lowest % of racial-ethnic laywomen employed | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Percentage |
| Illinois Great Rivers | 4% |
| Desert Southwest | 4% |
| Penninsula-Delaware | 4% |
| South Carolina | 4% |
| Louisiana | 3% |
| Florida | 2% |
| West Viriginia | 2% |
| North Texas | 2% |
| California-Pacific | 1% |
| Iowa | 1% |
Some questions to consider:
- Do the percentages of racial-ethnic women employees (and the membership of UM congregations) in these annual conferences exceed, equal or fall short of the regions’ total racial-ethnic population? (The national population is nearly 40% people of color.)
- What might this imply with regard to our denomination’s efforts to make Christian disciples and be in mission with all people in all places, and to represent the communities in which we minister?
- Which racial-ethnic communities do the women employees represent?
- What positions do the racial-ethnic women hold?
- Which racial-ethnic women communities are missing from the discussions?
NOTE: Percentages are based on reports from annual conferences. Annual conferences NOT reporting include East
Ohio, Indiana, Northern Illinois, Susquehanna, New York, Greater New Jersey, Rio Grande, Holston, and Rocky
Mountain.
—Elaine Moy of Chicago is assistant general secretary for finance and administration for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.