Lessons from Fall - A letter from the General Secretary

By: Rev. Stephanie York Arnold

I have never been a lover of fall like so many others. Don’t get me wrong—the colors are beautiful, and I do love a good fire and a bit of pumpkin spice—but the ending of things is just so uncomfortable. I’ve always preferred spring and summer, when life is budding and blooming and the days seem endless.

Nevertheless, these last few years I have found myself being beckoned by the lessons of fall—lessons I wish I didn’t have to endure, yet ones that are nonetheless bringing forth a kind of winter harvest in my life.

Fall is the herald of change. It signals that things will not always be as they currently are. For some, this brings hope and joy. For others, it brings the harsh reality of losing what is.

Rev. Stephanie York Arnold Named Theologian in Residence for Assembly 2026

INDIANAPOLIS — United Women in Faith is honored to announce that the Rev. Stephanie York Arnold will serve as theologian in residence for Assembly 2026, taking place May 15–17, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Assembly is the organization’s signature quadrennial gathering, bringing together thousands of women of faith from across the world under the theme “Dream it! Believe it! Do it!”

“Rev. Arnold brings both a prophetic voice and a pastoral heart to Assembly 2026,” said Sally Vonner, CEO of United Women in Faith. “Her leadership will guide our community in deepening our spiritual grounding as we live out our mission to put love into action.”