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                                                        MOTHERS' UNION

                                                         CHURCH OF NIGERIA
                                                        (Anglican Communion)

                                                              PROVINCE III

                                                          THE MOTHERS' UNION
                                                       (What You Need To Know)

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MOTHERS' UNION

The founder of the Mothers' Union was known as Mary Elizabeth Heywood. Mary was born on 31st December 1828 to
Mr.and Mrs.Heywood. Mr.Heywood was a cultured, intelligent and wealthy Liverpool Banker. She had one sister and
a brother, Mary being the last to be born.

Formative Years
Her home was a formative influence on her life. The Heywoods had a charming personality and were deeply religious.
Mary and her sister were educated at home by lady teachers, her father supervising their general education. Her
mother particularly was a devout Christian and Mary said that the daily Bible readings with her mother greatly
influenced her life and gave her the foundation on which her later teaching for mothers was based. She learnt to love
the Bible and to know and serve her Lord.

Early Married Life
Miss Mary Heywood was married to the Rev. George Sumner, son of the Bishop of Winchester in 1848. Mary in one
of her writings described her married life in these words. "The union turned out to be a most perfect and ideal one."

Later in her life Mary said that it was at the birth of their first baby that the thought of the Mothers' Union first dawned
on her. She was only 20. She said, "I shall never forget the awful sense of responsibility which seemed to overwhelm
me as I took her in my arms and realised that God had given an immortal soul into our keeping. As I gazed with
rapture at my little baby, it struck me how much I needed special teaching for the great work of character training of a
little child, and how little I knew about it. I felt that mothers had one of the greatest and most important professions in
the world, and yet there was no profession which had so poor a training for its supreme duties." Mary spent her early
married years looking after her family, helping her husband in the parish, visiting, making contacts, teaching in Sunday
School, at mothers' meetings, in Bible classes, cheering, comforting, caring for the gentle folks and for the poor folks
who did very hard work on the land for little pay. All through these years the thought about a women's organisation
was her greatest obsession.

1876 - The Birth of the Mothers' Union
Mary called together mothers from all sections of the community to p[ut before the group the idea of religious teaching
in the home. Simple cards had been prepared with the words, "Remember that your children are given up, body and
soul, to Jesus Christ in Holy Baptism and that your duty is to train them for his service." The card included the M.U
prayer which was to be memorised. members signed the cards and a register was kept, so that the idea of an
Enrolling Member was born. For nine years it remained a parochial organisation and no more.

1885: This was a very important year and a year of change for Mary. Her husband was appointed Archdeacon of
Winchester and Canon Residentiary. Just before they moved from Old Alresford, the Sumners attended the church
congress in Portsmouth, a big inter-diocesan gathering. A meeting for working women was called. George Sumner
called on Mary to speak. Her theme was, "What can be done to raise the national character? Let us appeal to the
mothers of England. It is they who can in great measure work the reformation of the country." Somehow she fired
these women. She asked for a Mothers' Union founded on prayer. She told them they had a great work to do for
homes, husbands, children, church and nation. She ended with a moving reminder of the love of Him who never turns
away those who come to him in faith. "If you mothers of today will arise and build your own lives upon the one
foundation which us Jesus Christ our Lord, you will create in your home an atmosphere of Christ-like love and
obedience, purity and self-control, which will weave itself round the young lives and form their characters in strength
and beauty," she said. there was a tremendous response. From this, the Mothers' Union was launched as a
Diocesan Organisation in the Diocese of Winchester, and began its rapid expansion in other dioceses and then across
the sea. Mary became the Diocesan President in 1905.

Mary Sumner and her family lived for 34 years in Old Alresford where her husband was Vicar of the village church of
St.Mary. George later became the Bishop of Guildford. He died in 1909.

Towards the end of her life, she wrote, "I do pray that the Mothers' Union may never be treated as a religious society.
Since the year 1885, the great object in my life has been to try to win parents and homes for God and for our Lord
Jesus Christ. Let us settle it in our hearts that the greatest work we can do for the nation is to strive to bring the
church unto the home, which means Christ himself, into hearts and homes. Christ must be in every home if it is to be
in any way a home of peace and love. Our task is to restore true family life, for it is God's own institutions and this a
divine thing."

Mary died on 9th August, 1920. Mary sumner House was opened in London in memory of our pioneer mother in 1925.
The Mothers' Union is now a world-wide organisation.

Mrs.Christiana Abigail Oluwole was the daughter of a wealthy Lagos merchant,         E.A.T.A.Johnson Esq.. She was
born on 14th November 1866 and was educated a the C.M.S. Girls' Seminary (Broad Street, Lagos), the first female
institution of distinction in Nigeria. She was a well educated and formidable lady. She married the Rev.Isaac Oluwole
who later became a bishop. Her husband was bishop for 40 years, first as Assistant Bishop[ of Equatorial West Africa
and later Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos. When she accompanied her husband to the lambeth Conference of 1908,
she was present at the Musical Concert given in the Royal Albert Hall, London, to raise funds for the Mothers' Union
building in London. After arriving home from that Lambeth conference she founded the Mothers' Union in Nigeria in
October 1908. It was embraced in Lagos and then all over Nigeria. Mrs. Abigail Oluwole was also one of the
Founding Mothers of Y.W.C.A. Nigeria in 1906.

THE PRAYER
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who gave marriage to be a source of blessing to mankind, we thank you for the
joys of family life. Pour out upon us your Holy Spirit, that we may truly love and serve you. Bless all who are married
and every parent and child. May we know your presence and peace in our homes; fill them with your love and use
them for your glory. Bless the members of the Mothers' Union throughout the world; unite us in prayer and worship, in
love and service, that strengthened by your grace we may seek to do your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership shall be open to women who
i. have been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity and are confirmed;
ii. Accept the teaching as contained in the Apostles' Creed;
iii. Declare their adherence to the five objects of the Mothers' Union.

(b) Eligibility
If there is doubt as to the eligibility of an applicant for membership, then the Enrolling Member should consult the
incumbent, and if necessary the matter should be referred to the Diocesan President and the Bishop.

(c) Forfeiture
A member who is known to have ceased to uphold the aim and objects of the Mothers' Union shall forfeit her
membership.

THE PURPOSE
The purpose of the Mothers' Union is to be specially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and
Christian family life.

THE OBJECTS
1. To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding;
2. To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the church;
3. To maintain a world-wide fellowship of Christians, united in prayer, worship and service;
4. To promote conditions in society favourable to family life, and the protection of children;
5. To help those whose family life has met with adversity.

THE PROMISE
As a member of the Mothers' Union, I promise by God's grace to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and to continue
his faithful soldier and servant to my life's end; to uphold and support the objects of the Mothers' Union by word and
action; to try to plan my life to include worship in church, prayer and Bible reading.

MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 1:1-6
"Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no
use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees
that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in
everything they do. But evil men are not like this at all; they are like straw that the wind blows away. Sinners will be
condemned by God and kept apart from God's own people. The righteous are guided and protected by the Lord, but
the evil are on the way to their doom."
[Good News Bible]
Note: Memory verses are subject to change.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN GROUP MEETINGS

1. Who is more important - the girl or the boy child?

2. Who us more important - your husband or your children?

3. How would you feel if your husband had a best friend that you do not like, and your husband onviously prefers his
friends to you?

4. What is most important to you as a woman?

5. What can your husband do to hurt you most?

6. What would you do if suddenly your husband begins to talk about a beautiful time of fellowship with a certain sister
at the office .. all the time?

7. What will you do if you discover you have STD and you know you are faithful to your husband?

8. What would change in your relationship towards your husband if you knew Jesus Christ was coming back tomorrow
morning?

9. What will you do if your in-laws send someone you have never met to come and stay with you when your husband
is out of town and will not be back for another two months?

10. How would you feel and respond if you realised that your husband tells your in-laws about every little quarrel you
ever have?

11. What will you do if your husband comes with a present for you and he is so excited about it, but it is something
you would never like to wear?

12. What will you do if your husband does not ask your opinion, yet insists that everything he says is "law"?

13. Think: one day, by the grace of God, you will be a mother-in-law. How would you expect to be treated by your
daughter-in-law?

14. How would you expect your own daughter to be treated by her mother-in-law?

15. Do you know your Mothers' Union leaders?
- Branch leaders
- Diocesan officials
- Provincial officials
- World-Wide officials

16. Do you know the four units of the Mothers Union?
- Prayer and Spirituality
- Action and Outreach
- Finance
- Marketing Unit

THE WORLDWIDE WORK OF THE MOTHERS' UNION

The Mothers' Union has around 800,000 members worldwide, 80% of whom live outside the U.K. and Ireland. For
more than 90 years, in partnership with local members, the Mothers' Union has encouraged educational and self-help
projects to grow and flourish across the world. The work is sponsored by the Overseas Fund.

Self-Help Projects
Women generally have very little access to credit, or opportunity to gather capital. therefore they have very few
resources with which to begin projects which need initial funding for materials or equipment. The only projects open to
them usually depend on small scale agriculture which have poor returns and are subject to weather or disease. Small
grants from the Mothers' Union for equipment are often the catalyst for exciting developments. For instance, a few
thousand pounds to purchase a machine to press oil from sunflowers has undreamed-of benefits. Pure sunflower oil is
a valuable food and also a marketable commodity. The pressed seeds are good cattle food, and the cattle give milk
and meat and also manure to grow better sunflowers.

The income from such projects enables a small salary to be paid to those involved in the project and provides funds for
the local Mothers' Union and Church. Managing a project gives valuable commercial experience and training to the
women involved.

Suggestions for suitable initiatives are made by the Mothers' Union of the diocese involved and are carefully
researched before grants are made.

Outreach Projects
Not all initiatives can become self-sufficient, some are desperately needed community projects which will always need
funding. many of these involve working with children, especially in the cities of the developing world where mothers
must work and no childcare is available. In the Gambia, for example, a bakery run by the Mothers' Union provides
support for a nursery school. Children of
many faiths are cared for.

The Relief Fund
When tragedy strikes, often as war, famine, or flood, it is women and families who may be the most vulnerable. The
main aid agencies and government have well practised methods of helping, but may take time to get into actin,. With
a little immediate help, local communities can do a great deal to help themselves. Grants from the Relief Funds are
sent very quickly so that food can be purchased locally. A lorry load of beans from the local market not only saves
lives, but assures those with problems that elsewhere people know and care about their plight.

Conferences and Seminars
Attendance at a conference or seminar arranged by the Mothers' Union is often the only time in the lives of some
women when, freed from everyday chores for a few days, they can consider other aspects of their lives. Requests for
help towards funding are received from dioceses and provinces throughout the Anglican Communion.

A proportion of the costs of these events is raised locally by the participants, but without some additional funding, few
could take place.

Topics, suggested by the applicants, address key issues affecting their lives and families. Issues such as parenting,
rebellious teenagers, alcohol and drug abuse, marriage and family breakdown, are common world-wide. Local
problems may include legal issues such as widows' rights, or peace, justice and reconciliation following major
conflicts. All aspects of AIDS, its prevention and caring for sufferers, are also addressed.

Mothers' Union Workers
More than 240 women are employed by their diocese and provinces as Mothers' Union Workers and Trainers. All local
women, they speak local languages, understand local customs and culture and are trusted by the women among
whom they work. They have an important influence in their broader communities and their work covers many diverse
areas, such as spiritual growth, healthcare, nutrition, leadership and economic activities.

Grants are made to diocese to assist with the costs of salary and travel for the workers. When appointed, workers
already have the necessary qualifications and communication skills for their work. Where possible, these are
upgraded by appropriate training.

ACTION AND OUTREACH THE CURRENT SITUATION

The practical support and outreach of the society is managed and co-ordinated at both local and national level through
the Action and Outreach Unit.

Network Projects
* The "Away From It All" holiday project aims to help people who would not otherwise be able to have a holiday. Last
year, over 900 adults and 1400 children had a holiday through the AFIA holiday project.

* Over 60 prisons benefit from the support available through SCIP, the project offering support to children and families
affected by imprisonment.

* The Media Awareness Project (MAP) encourages families to become more discerning consumers of the media,
focusing particularly on the implications for children.

* The Mothers' Union has an active involvement in social policy issues, monitoring and addressing their effects on
family life, e.g. divorce law reform; the changing pattern of family life.

* The Mothers' Union upholds the commitment of Christian marriage. At the same tome it is realistic in its approach
to marriage in today's society. Marriage preparation and parenting courses are provided to help couples recognise the
commitment they are making, offering practical advice on how to manage challenges as they arise.

Local Projects
Members are involved in numerous local projects responding to community needs: child contact centres, mother and
toddler sessions, parenting courses, and schemes offering support to students, are just some of the current local
initiatives.

The Potential
Members of the Mothers' Union would like to do much more. The CWISY Fund will:

* enable dioceses, irrespective of financial resources, to establish projects which offer a variety of support to families.

* make it possible for existing successful projects to develop and expand.

* help dioceses to apply for additional funding from external sources.

CWISY FUND

(Canterbury, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, York)

PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES

The Mothers' Union cares about families, and is committed to providing support and resources which enable them to
function as a safe and nurturing environment for both children and adults.

THE NEED
As a Society we are committed to supporting those whose family life has met with adversity. We want to be there
alongside children and their parents living under great stress within our own local communities. For many families
day-to-day living presents pressures and problems most of us would see as unacceptable in the new millennium.

* At least 1 in 2 children do not have a warm or waterproof coat and a bed of their own.
* 1 in 4 children will see their parents divorce before they are 16 years old.
* 40% of mothers in prison said in a recent survey that they were having difficulties keeping in touch with their children.
* 25% of such mothers were not receiving any visits from their children.
* 16% of 16 year olds are involved in regular use of solvents and illegal drugs.
* At least 1 in 7 teenage girls who leave care are pregnant or are already mothers.
* 1 in 4 young children-in-care who are of compulsory school age missing school.

THE INDOOR MEMBERS PRAYER CIRCLE

The Indoor Members Prayer Circle is for all those who for one reason or another are not able to take a full part in
branch meetings, perhaps through age or infirmity or a caring responsibility for a relative or child. IMPC members give
an invaluable service to the Society and they are often referred to as "the treasures" of the Mothers' Union. They are
particularly concerned with the Third Object of the Society:

"to maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians
united in prayer, worship and service..."

The Purpose of the IMPC:

1. To draw together in closer friendship, all housebound members of the Mothers' Union and any others wishing to join
them, for the purpose of intercessory prayer.

2. To affirm and uphold these members by the personal friendship, interest and support of the IMPC representative and
her helpers.

CHURCHES FOR CHILDREN

The Mothers' Union
"If, instead of trying to teach good news to children, the Church tries to become good news, it will need fresh eyes to
see itself. Such a church would have the confidence to deal with questions rather than always having to find the
answers. It would be prepared to surrender its life and let its institutions be transformed."
From "Unfinished Business - Children and the Churches", CCBI Publications

If children are the Church of tomorrow, they must also be the Church of today. So how can members of the Mothers
Union ensure that our adult-centred churches make children welcome?

Children are Part of the Life of the Church
We no longer see children as a noisy distraction, to be kept safely out of the way in Sunday School. Children who
come to Church are "regulars". They have something to give, and need support from the faith community as much as
adults do. Children who fee valued by the Church are less likely to drift away from it.

Children Link the Church to the Neighbourhood
Welcome children, and you will be welcoming their parents, being open to children therefore brings a church closer to
local families. You may not be interested in passing faith on to the masses - but how about local children?

What does it mean to "welcome" children?
To welcome children is to make the church a place where they have friendships and feel at home. It begins with
greeting them when they step in the door, It involves listening to their needs, building relationships with them and
seeing what "ministries" they can exercise in the Church.

Some Questions We Should Ask?
think what your church looks and feels like to a child. Who can they talk to? Who can they make friends with? What
do they do at church that is important to them, and how are they helped to do it? How does coming to church help
them in their life at home and at school? Do adults listen to them? In what ways are they encouraged to contribute to
church life?

What Can the Mothers' Union Do?
Mothers' Union members are in a unique position to welcome children ...

... as an individual
* Encourage children you know to come to church, special services, children's events and clubs.

* Take church resources out to children in your neighbourhood.

* Talk to the children un your church, whether regulars or visitors. Let them know that it is nice to see them and that
you hope to see them again.

* Make sure that visitors know where the toilet, the hall and any other important parts of the church building are.

* Sit near to visitors or people with small children during the service and lend a hand if needs be.

... as a Branch
* Help publicise events for children and families.

* Check out your church's welcoming strategy .... are children part of the plan?

* Make happy bags or activity packs for visitors to children that choose to stay with their parents through the service.

* Design welcome cards especially for children.

* Set up and maintain a children's bookstall.

* Ensure that children's toys and resources are attractive and in good condition.

* Suggest a poster or sign saying, "This Church welcomes Children".

* Get alongside those who are doing children's work.

* Provide support for special children's events.

* Where appropriate, offer "grand-parenting" support to children and their families.

CALL ME MOTHER

Call me Mother,
On whom the Lord has laid
The channel of His image made
Who being the Eve of ages past
By the blood of Christ, and cleansed at last.

Call me Mother
Waking with the weaver birds,
Working within and away from home,
Meeting yearnings of young and old,
Seeking earnings of my flock to hold.

Mother,
Fanning fires from heaps of ash,
Holding our hope when all seems lost,
Soothing fevers from foreheads burning,
Calming fears of tomorrow's unknown.

Call me Mother,
Woman with or without child,
Graciously doing our Father's will,
One holy grain bearing fruit.

(Rita St.John)