By Vivian Shipe
KNOXVILLE, TN — Texas native Sally Vonner is many things; a visionary, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, and as of May 2023 after a nationwide search, she is the newly-elected general secretary/CEO of United Women in Faith for the national office of the United Methodist Church.
The appointment of Vonner, only the second African American to lead the organization founded in 1869, is timely and purposeful as the United Methodist Church, like many other religious organizations has experienced splits and declines in membership and is looking to rebuild and grow.
Vonner, who was installed on July 29th of this year, has begun traveling across the United States speaking to members about her vision to continue to expand the mission and reach of the United Women in Faith.
One of her first acts as top executive was to speak and share her vision in Knoxville at the 50th anniversary of the Holston Conference which was held at Church Street United Methodist Church in September. Donna Mosby, the first African American to hold the position as president of the very active Holston Conference coordinated the effort to bring Vonner to speak.
United Women in Faith is the new name of the organization. Formerly called United Methodist Women, it was Vonner, who oversaw the rebranding of the powerful group; an official organization of the United Methodist Church with over 800,000 women members internationally. The work of the organization lies in spiritual growth, leadership development, education, service and advocacy with a current focus on climate and racial justice.
