MU members share their gifts
by Ana Watts
Mothers’ Union (MU) members from across the country were as delighted children around the tree on Christmas morning when they met Nov. 16 to 19 at Villa Madonna in Rothesay. The theme of their biennial conference was Our Gifts to Give, and they were showered with gifts of all kinds.
Keynote speaker Sue Wilson, representing MU central headquarters at Mary Sumner House in London, England, brought a huge sack filled with information on the work of MU worldwide. As coordinator for action and outreach as well as a Mothers’ Union general trustee, she shared a wealth of knowledge with the 55 MU Canadian executive members who gathered from coast to coast. For members new to the national scene her presentation on worship through the MU was inspiring.
These members, long been involved in service to children and families at the parish/community level and deeply appreciative of the personal support of their sister branch members, were stunned by the global impact of the 3.6 million MU members in 77 countries and impressed by fact that MU is accredited to the United Nations to speak to social issues. “We bring a Christian point of view and we can speak directly from our members’ vast experience,” said Sue.
With words as colourful as the photographs that accompanied her three presentations throughout the conference, she told them about the 30,000 people in developing countries who have benefited from MU literacy programs that are focused mainly on women.
“Now they can do the things we take for granted,” said Sue. “They can calculate sums, identify bus numbers, read medicine instructions, read their Bibles and participate in church services. But that is just the beginning. In Burundi, Hutus, Tutsis and Pygmy’s, who have been at war with each other, worked together in our literacy programs. Empowered by this basic skill, many learners go on to get involved in their communities and become decision-makers.”
A parenting program developed by MU for the United Kingdom is now used overseas, as are parenting and family life programs that cover relationships, family violence, health issues, peacekeeping and hygiene. Appropriate academic institutions accredit all MU programs. The society also funds more than 300 MU members in various developing countries who work for their local bishops among their own people. Many of these workers are on the front lines battling the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Grants for community projects and to start income-generating projects also available to help women feed their children. An MU international relief fund is able to react quickly in times of disaster. Members on the ground are in touch with Mary Sumner House and can quickly access help for local disasters that don’t make it to the television news as well as major ones like the 2004 tsunami.
Canadian MU president Kathleen Snow of Fredericton shared her experiences in the Canadian north where she recently enrolled members in the first MU branch in the Arctic region. “Even though these people live a simple life much closer to than land than we do, they still face many difficult family and social issues that MU could help, through supportive branch relationships and some of our programs,” She said. She has been invited back by Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk to address their synod in 2008.
The Rev. Canon Alice Metcof of the International Anglican Women’s Network addressed the conference on the place of women in the Anglican Church, the importance of the United Nations Millennium Goals and the impact women can have through dialogue rather than war.
Dean Keith Joyce, national MU chaplain; Ginny McEwen of Riverview, past national MU president; and Christine Hayes, an MU member from the Parish of Richmond and a fabulous singer all offered workshops throughout the conference on the gifts of prayer, beauty and music respectively. Sue Wilson from Mary Sumner House also had advice on how to recognize and nurture the gifts of others, especially MU branch members.
Business items discussed included reports from MU Canadian Council members, changes to the MU Canadian constitution and funding or the travel fund.
The MU Canadian Council resides in a diocese for four years, hosts a biennial meeting with branch and diocesan executives half-way through its term and a major quadrennial conference with the general membership at the end of its term. The present council from the diocese of Fredericton will remain in office until the next quadrennial meeting. It will be held at Mt. Alison University in Sackville in the late spring of 2008. A new Canadian Council will be elected at that time.
