MARCH CIRCUIT PUBLISHED BY THE WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Volume 1 / Number 5
March is Women’s History Month! This is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. The United Methodist Women are an integral part of the United Methodist mission. Not only do these amazing women create leaders of other women in their churches and communities, but reach out nationally and globally to serve, educate, advocate, and foster spiritual growth and health. Only recently on December 5, 2015, the West Virginia Conference lost a true leader of United Methodist Women, who gave more of herself for the betterment of others.
Betty Sanders Gordon, dedicated member of Trinity UMC, lived a life committed to serving her Christian faith in support of the United Methodist Church. She was an active delegate at the West Virginia Annual Conference for decades, presenting a strong voice on many issues and serving on many committees. She was conference Vice-President of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and United Methodist Women, and conference President of the United Methodist Women. She was elected to the General Board of Global Ministries Women’s Division as a director in 1980, and re-elected years later. Betty was assigned to the World Division and Mission Personnel Resource Program Department 1984-1988. She was a delegate to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1976 and Jurisdictional and General Conferences, 1980 and 1984. At General Conference, she was chairperson of the Legislative Committee on Local Church. Betty served on the Northeastern Jurisdiction Core Planning Group of the United Methodist Women. In the 90’s, Betty served
on the national level as a Director of the Women’s Division under the General Board of Global Ministries, supporting programs, mission institutions, and ministries in the United States and around the world. She later served on the Board of Global Ministries in New York City, as director, consultant and interim Associate General Secretary of the Mission Personnel Resources Program department. Betty left this world a better place than she had found it, living by her convictions and uplifting, encouraging, strengthening and loving all who she encountered. Below is a May 2015 nominations lead team interview between Betty and Judy Raines, past United Methodist Women President. These questions and answers give a deeper look into Betty’s walk in faith and her path in the United Methodist church. Thank you, Judy, for contributing this interview. Judy: When and where did your journey in church leadership begin? How were you invited? Betty: I was raised a Southern Baptist but became a United Methodist when Will and I were married. I was convinced it was a good idea when my son spent six weeks in the hospital in traction and the church loved and cared for him and the rest of the family. Then when we moved to Bluefield the Pastor, Dr. Browning met us on the day we moved and told us Bluefield had the best orthopedic surgeon around and he was expecting us. We looked no further for a church. I felt God had led us to Bluefield for the church and for Dr. Raub. I became active in the church working in the kitchen with Mrs. Wood, Frances Wayland, and Rae Elliott. I taught Sunday school for a while. United Methodist Women impressed me because they enabled women to be all that they could be. I had many offices in the local unit at Trinity.