Episcopal News Service January 18, 2007
New Mothers' Union officers given many thanks and a challenge
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[ENS] New officers of the American province of the Mothers' Union, the largest Christian women's voluntary organization in the world, were installed and commissioned January 13 during a service at Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia.
House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson, the Rev. Canon Angela Ifill, the Episcopal Church's Missioner for Black Ministries, and the Rev. Margaret Rose, director of the Church's Office of Women's Ministries, participated in the service.
The Mothers' Union movement began in the United States in 1986 with the founding of the first branch in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mazel Medley, according to the group's U.S. website (http://www.mothersunionusa.org). The organization gradually spread throughout the country, and on January 18, 2003, held the first meeting of its executive membership, officially establishing the Province of the United States of America. There are 11 branches located in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, and Virginia.
Phyllis Gomes succeeds Medley in the president's post. The other officers installed and commissioned during the service were Alice Newstead (first vice president), Darrell Ricketts (second vice president), Hilda Macauley (secretary), Joy Warburton (assistant secretary), Nola Cummings (treasurer), Evelyn Alleyne (assistant treasurer), Eva Johnson (marketing coordinator), Grace Osuagwu (faith and policy coordinator), Monica Green (community resources coordinator) and Sally Jarrett (Link secretary).
Diocese of Virginia Bishop Suffragan David C. Jones presided at the service. Ifill was the preacher and she was introduced by Rose. Anderson presented the officers with a proclamation that expressed her "deepest admiration and thanks" for the work of the Mothers' Union.
"In their steadfast love and perseverance, the Mothers' Union has brought the power of personal prayer, meditation, and religious education in the lives of many people, making each individual known to themselves and others as spiritual beings made in the image of God," her proclamation said in part. "The Mothers' Union provides an example to us all of a reconciled world within our grasp. They have dared to dream the dreams of wholeness, prayed for the realization of those dreams and have asked God to help them daily in their work."
Full story and photographs: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_81245_ENG_HTM.htm
- - - - - - - - -
To SUBSCRIBE to Episcopal News Service, send a blank email message, from the address which you wish subscribed, to join-enslist@epicom.org and include "subscribe" in the subject line.
Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to news@episcopalchurch.org
ENS provides information and resources which we consider to be of interest to our readers. However, statements and opinions expressed in the articles and communications herein, are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of ENS or the Episcopal Church.