Participating in United Methodist Women's Reading Program opens readers to a world of new places, new people, new ideas. The program offers books in four topical categories:
- Education for Mission
- Nurturing for community
- Social action
- Spiritual growth
Reading one or more books from each category gives readers a wide range of experiences.
Education-for-mission books go to the heart of United Methodist Women's commitment to be in mission with women, children and youth. There are stories of those who are in mission and stories of places in the world where United Methodist Women is in mission.
Books in the nurturing-for-community category often offer hands-on tips for addressing life's challenges. Authors in this category often share their own stories making the concerns and solutions come to life.
Books in the social-action category stimulate thinking about the justice issues of our day from racism to immigration to environmental concerns. While these can be hard reading because of the serious issues addressed, they also can build hope as readers realize others share their commitment to work for a better world.
Spiritual-growth books offer faith insights, guides for daily meditation and prayer, and explorations of the roots and meanings of Scripture. They affirm readers' faith and stretch them to go deeper in to spiritual disciplines
In addition to the books in the four topical categories, United Methodist Women's Reading Program includes:
- Spanish-language books
- Korean-language books
- Large-print books
- Children's books
- Youth books
- Mission-study books and
- Spiritual-growth study books
To receive credit in the Reading Program, you are to read Response magazine regularly. Printed monthly with a combined July-August issue, Response is the official journal of United Methodist Women. It includes Bible studies, mission studies, mission stories, information on social-justice issues, action ideas and more. To subscribe, call 877-881-2385.
United Methodist Women members are women who believe the first step to being in mission with women, children and youth is mission education. They actively read and study about various parts of the world and issues faced by their neighbors near and far. The Reading Program is a key piece of this mission education.
READING-PROGRAM PLANS
Plan 1
- Read four books during the year.
- Read one book from each category.
- Select books from the current reading lists and/or back five years.
- Do not include books read in previous years.
- Regularly read Response Magazine.
Plan 2
- Read 10 books during the year.
- Read at least two books from each category.
- Select books from the current year and/or back five years.
- Do not include books read in previous years.
- Regularly read Response Magazine and New World Outlook.
Plan 3
- Read 15 books during the year.
- Read at least two books from each category.
- Read 7 additional books from any of the categories.
- Select books from the current year and/or back 5 years.
- Do not include books read in previous years.
- Regularly read Response and New World Outlook.
Plan 4
- Read 20 books during the year.
- Read at least two books from each category.
- Read 12 additional books from any of the categories.
- Select books from the current and/or back 5 years, including youth books.
- Do not include books read in previous years.
- Regularly read Response Magazine and New World Outlook.
This was taken from the October 2006 RESPONSE magazine written by Brenda Thompson.