By Hannah Ensley, TWK Communications Intern, and Gratia Strother, TWK Conference Archivist
Women’s History Month invites us to remember the women whose leadership expanded the church’s mission far beyond the walls of any single congregation. In our own conference’s Methodist story, women have led locally, nationally, and internationally, shaping Christian education, social witness, and community transformation.
Sadie Wilson Tillman: A National Leader in Women’s Mission
Sadie Wilson Tillman was one of the most influential Methodist women of the twentieth century. Born in Tennessee and raised in a rural church near Lewisburg, she became a prominent leader in women’s missions at the national and global level.
From 1924 to 1927, she served as Director of Christian Education at Laura Haygood Normal School in Soochow, China. She later became Associate Secretary of Missionary Education for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. As president of the Women’s Division of Christian Service from 1956 to 1964, Tillman guided the organization during a pivotal era, including the adoption and implementation of the first Charter of Racial Policies. She was also instrumental in the decision to fund the Church Center for the United Nations, where the chapel now bears her name.
Through denominational leadership, ecumenical engagement, and educational advocacy, Tillman shaped Methodist missions on a global scale.
Sallie Hill Sawyer: Building Community Through Faith
Sallie Hill Sawyer was a Fisk University graduate, teacher, and member of Capers Memorial Colored Methodist Episcopal Church who helped lay the foundation for one of Nashville’s most enduring ministries. In 1907, she partnered with Estelle Haskins to begin what became Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.
Together, they established a kindergarten, well-baby clinic, sewing circle, and recreation programs for families with limited access to public resources. Her leadership reflected a deep commitment to strengthening families and building opportunity within her community. Today, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville continues the legacy of “changing lives and building futures.”
Estelle Haskins: Mission Leadership in Action
Estelle Haskins was Educational Secretary of the Women’s Missionary Council of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Their work embodied the spirit of the Social Gospel movement, which emphasized that Christian discipleship required addressing poverty, inequality, and community need alongside spiritual growth. In an era marked by social division and limited opportunities for women, Haskins and Sawyer built a ministry that nurtured children, supported working families, and strengthened neighborhoods.
Interracial work at the Bethlehem Center opened doors for Methodist Women’s engagement in racial justice. It led to the Women’s Missionary Council educating White Methodist women about the violence perpetrated by the KKK, and engaging them in collaborative work with the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching. Outcomes led to a powerful, nationwide contingent in public opposition to lynching and other forms of racial oppression, and ultimately helped achieve the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
Continuing the Legacy
During Women’s History Month, we honor women like Tillman, Sawyer, and Haskins, whose leadership expanded the church’s witness in classrooms, mission fields, and communities.
Their stories remind us that the history of the church is also the history of women who saw a need and answered God’s call with courage, vision, and perseverance.
