United Women in Faith Reading Program

The Reading Program is a cherished United Women in Faith tradition that encourages us to read some excellent books that promote the priorities of UWF. It brings together members in mission as they explore, share and discuss the books. The books are grouped into categories as follows:

  • Education for Mission
  • Leadership Development
  • Nurturing for Community
  • Social Action and Advocacy
  • Spiritual Growth

Each year the national UWF publishes a catalog containing descriptions of the Reading Program books for the year. The Reading Program Catalogs are available on the national Reading Program web page. The lists include fiction, memoirs, non-fiction, devotionals, books for children & youth, and a few books in the Korean or Spanish languages.  Many of the books are available as e-books or audiobooks.

The Reading Program books may be purchased from any bookstore and most are also available at public libraries. If you purchase books from https://bookshop.org/shop/uwfaith, 10% of your purchase will go to United Women in Faith.  Below are links to condensed, printable lists of the Reading Program books with notes about availability at local libraries.

If you read at least one book from each of the five categories listed above, you can be recognized at the district annual celebration.  Selections can be from the reading lists for the current year or 5 previous years, as long as they were not included in a previous year’s report. Books for children and youth may be counted.  Books labeled as “BONUS BOOKS” count as 2 books!  In addition, Faith Talks podcasts count toward the Spiritual Growth category.  (2 podcasts = 1 book)

Frequently Asked Questions About the Reading Program

1. How Can I Participate in the Reading Program?
See the full details of the current Reading Program plans in the catalogs found on the UWF website Reading Program Page. There are four plans to choose from, depending on how many books you want to read. You may choose books from the current year’s list and/or the previous 5 years.

2. What is the timeline for participating in the Reading Program?
The Reading Program year runs from September of one year through August of the following year.

  • September – The new book list is published on the UWF website reading program page and in  “Response” magazine. Purchase the books through your favorite bookseller. Many are also available at your local library.

  • September of the current year through August of the next year – Read! Keep track of the books you have read, and their category.

  • September of the next year – Report your participation in the Reading Program to your unit, who will in turn send a report to the ECRD Reading Program Coordinator, Carolyn Bircher . (Each unit will receive a request for this report in late August.)

    • October – Annual Celebration! Certificates for Reading Program participation are given.

      3. Reporting your Reading Program

      In late summer, our ECRD Reading Program Coordinator will request a report of your Reading Program participation.

      If you have read at least one book from each of the five UWF Reading Program categories, you submit a list of the books that you read to the ECRD Reading Program Coordinator so you can be recognized at our District UWF Annual Celebration.  You may use the Reading Program Reporting Form found here or just send an email with your name, church name and the list of titles read.

      You may count books read between September 1 and August 31.  Books read from lists going back for 5 years may be counted as long as they were not counted in previous years.  Youth and children’s books may be counted.  Books labeled as “BONUS BOOKS”, count as two books. Mission u textbooks also may be counted. Faith Talks podcasts count toward the Spiritual Growth category: listening to two podcasts counts as one book; listening to three counts as two books.

      4. How can I find other UWF members to discuss the books with?  Several of the units in our district host book clubs.  Contact the Reading Program Coordinator to get contact information for those groups.  Or, better yet, start a group in your unit.  Also, the national UWF leadership has started book talks with some of the authors.  To receive information about UWF events throughout the year, join the reading program email list HERE. You may also like to join the “Reading Enthusiasts” group at United Women in Faith  Digital.

      5. Who can I contact if I have other questions about the Reading Program?
      Please contact your ECRD Reading Program Coordinator, Carolyn Bircher .