The MU, including many members from Ireland, invaded Edinburgh this week for their Annual Meeting. On Wednesday night of this week, 1300 members filled St Mary’s Cathedral and an overflow of 300 were accommodated in St John’s Episcopal Church for the Eve of Meeting Eucharists.
The preacher in St Mary’s was the Primus, Most Rev David Chillingworth who in his address highlighted the missionary heritage of St Columba. He said that the Episcopal Church with its ecumenical partner churches was attempting to engage in mission with a changing Scotland.
He likened this mission with that of the Mother’s Union whose annual report for 2010/11 is entitled “Blueprint for Mission”.
The following day every seat in the Usher Hall was occupied for the annual meeting .Hilary Moran Provincial President of the MU in Scotland welcomed members. The opening worship was conducted by Bishop Ken Clarke of Kilmore, the central chaplain to the MU.
In her presidential address, Rosemary Kempsell welcomed members from Great Britain and Ireland together with representatives from Africa, Australia, and the Americas. She reminded those present of their fellow MU members who were living in difficult circumstances in respect of their faith. The 6,000 members in Burma, the branch in St George’s Baghdad, and the woman in violent parts of the word who were victims of gender violence.
There needed to be serious discussion between trustees and staff and presidents worldwide. The current financial situation had implications worldwide.
“Every member belongs to an organisation which is great and which is special”, she said. The MU network worldwide had enabled work to grow in areas such as literacy, parenting, family life and representation at the United Nations.
The Wordwide President declared, “It is all about unity and love. God is at the centre of the work.”
Mrs Kempsell continued by giving examples of how individual women in a variety of countries had been enabled by the MU to improve their economic conditions and she highlighted how these modest increased incomes had been used by most mothers to better educate their children.
Referring to the recent MU initiative Bye Buy Childhood, she recalled that she had been able to present a sizeable petition to 10 Downing Street which had been spearheaded by members. The size had made the impact with politicians. The campaign had emanated from parents who have a genuine concern about the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. Referring to the recent government review body in this area which had been chaired by the Chief Executive of MU, Reg Bailey, the President said that, “It was an honour for the Mothers Union for its chief executive to have been asked to chair it”.
The membership of the four million-plus organisation in 83 countries is now comprises: 2% Europe, 48% Africa and 49% India. “Who we are and what we stand for is underpinned by prayer”, she continued.
“The MU needed to constantly reflect if the way in which it was doing things is the best way. We need to take time to reflect. It was not a case of change for change’s sake”, she remarked.
Members were taking increasing responsibility for the vision of the organisation in their own place. Fresh ideas mean fresh responsibilities. The President gave examples of this in various parts of the world. Thirty MU leaders from Central Africa had met for a week’s training in Zambia. Three days were given to discussion of their vision for the mission and work of MU in their region. In Ireland the parenting programme had been expanded.
MU Ireland was well represented with groups from several dioceses in addition to office bearers are members of the Central Trustee Board including Mrs Ruth Mercer, MU All Ireland President, Roberta McKelvey, Provincial Representative Trustee, Patsy Devoy, Unit coordinator Faith and Policy and Rosemary McCartney, General Trustee.