Address to 2010 General Synod
June 9, 2010
By Marion Saunders, 2010 National President
Your Grace and Members of Synod:
It is my great pleasure to be here with you this afternoon and my extreme privilege and honour to represent and bring greetings from Anglican Church Women- from all of you here in this room – and those in every parish across this great nation. I bring with me the assurance of their prayers for this Synod, as well as their excitement that I can share with you the work and witness of Anglican Church Women of Canada.
This Synod has already celebrated anniversaries – PWRDF 50 years; 300 years of the Anglican Church in this diocese to name a couple. We too are celebrating our 125th anniversary of formalized women’s ministry in Canada.
It was in April 1885 that Mrs. Roberta E Tilton and 7 brave ladies approached the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society in Ottawa, to help with missionary work. They were given permission to form the Women’s Auxiliary (to the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada). A chapter was begun here in Nova Scotia shortly after this permission was received – and branches soon sprung up in parishes throughout the church. J.A., G.A., Little Helpers, a strong Dominion Board supporting missionaries abroad and in our north, Sunday School vans touring the prairies – the ministry carried out by these women is legendary and remains the foundation for the ministries of women today. A little known fact, which I learned several years ago, is that the W.A. remains an incorporated body even today, (although it has no funds, nor members!!).
In 1946, the W.A. President, Mrs. R.E. Wodehouse became the 1st woman delegate to General Synod. – and now - just look around this room today!
Twenty years later, in 1966, by resolution of General Synod and acceptance by the Dominion Board, W.A. was amalgamated with other women’s ministry especially Mothers’ Union, Chancel Guild and Church Year, to come under the umbrella of Anglican Church Women. The units came together with varying and varied formats- some formally incorporated (such as in the Diocese of Toronto) and others merely changing their name and continued the basic structures and practices of W.A. They were “administered” so to speak, by the Women’s Unit at the National Church level, until in 1992 the Women’s Unit was disbanded and the support of the ministry of women devolved to the dioceses and parishes (a decision re National work that you have heard about previously during this Synod). Structure was essentially lost.
One of the main areas of work of this unit had been the support of an annual conference attended by Diocesan ACW Presidents/Coordinators. With the loss of this assistance, the women determined to continue and now the annual conferences are hosted by Diocesan ACW’s in turn. More about this later.
Almost everywhere I go, bishops and priests are quick to tell me that they consider the ACW to be the backbone of their churches and they don’t know what they would do without them. But, do you know something? I detest ACW – those initials – because they put a box around what the women are doing and raise images of endless rummage sales, bake tables, funeral receptions, crafts, dinners and bazaars; of perpetual aprons and busy knitting needles!! In fact in one group I was meeting with, one lady said if asked to “join” ACW, she would say “NO” because she didn’t cook!! What she neglected to consider was that she works tirelessly with homeless people!! – truly a ministry of an Anglican church woman. Anglican Church women are far more than fundraisers – (although these events provide great opportunities to be ‘friend-raisers’).
Anglican Church Women is not an organization – but the ministry of faith-filled women – a ministry so varied and encompassing all the skills, talents, and God-given gifts of women throughout the Anglican Church in Canada – not just the women in the pews – but Anglican women everywhere.
Anglican Church Women are young and old (our youngest Diocesan leader is in her early 30’s, the oldest reaching 80);
· Anglican Church Women are ordained clergy – deacons, priests and bishops;
· Anglican Church Women are teachers, lawyers, secretaries, Moms, doctors and bus drivers;
· Anglican Church Women are lay readers, Sunday School teachers, choir members, tenders of the sacred vessels;
· Anglican Church Women are leaders and members of Bible study groups, organizers of parish and community dinners and events, bazaars and fundraisers.
· We are members of prayer chains, the makers of prayer shawls;
· we visit and bring the comfort of God’s love and peace to the sick and dying; we advocate for the poor, the homeless and against violence and abuse.
· We promote justice and peace, send bales (when I was in the Yukon recently it was great that a priest from a remote community came to pick up a bale, sent from an ACW in the south – wonderful to see that they are valuable and valued.)
· We are tellers of the story – we live the story and keep it alive, living, and encourage it to be passed on.
There is a wonderful hymn “Come, Celebrate the Women” in which we are called “Daughters of the Disciples” – what a heritage – what a challenge!! We are today’s Lydias, Joannas, Dorcases, Marys and Marthas. WE are creating the history to be celebrated 125 years from now!
A few years ago at the National ACW Presidents’ and Coordinators’ conference, it was determined to try to regain a more formalized structure at the national level to give some sense of unity to women’s ministry. And so began the work on a constitution. You have been doing a lot of governance work, setting directions etc. here at Synod. It is a very challenging undertaking which became clear to us as we looked at who we were, gathered at the conference, and wondered how to define that group as well as the thousands of women we represent. Who are we? Who do we serve? What do we want to do and be? How do we do it? And how do we get all that in a document?
We began with a definition of Anglican Church Women of Canada as a “…loosely knit fellowship of all women of the Anglican Church of Canada and others who agree with( a critical inclusion of women of other denominations who often come together with Anglican women to share friendship and ministry together ) and support the purpose of the Anglican Church Women of Canada. This purpose is: to give the women of the Anglican Church the opportunity to unite in a fellowship of worship, study and service which will lead them into Christian service in the parish, community, diocese, nation and the world.” - a very broad outreach indeed.
The constitution continues that the Anglican Church Women of Canada are “served by a constituted National Executive to support the ministry of and shall collate and represent the collective voices of Anglican Church Women of Canada” (which I am here today to represent).
The purpose of the National Executive (meeting annually) is: “to provide a national forum and voice for women’s ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada; provide opportunity for its members to share faith and fellowship and to learn from each other; to provide support in their common leadership; to discuss items of common mutual concern and to determine relevant common policies and procedures.”
The members of this National Executive are: the Diocesan ACW Presidents/Coordinators, the ACW President of the Diocese of PEI (a separate group), and the ACW National Chaplain (changes annually – the chaplain to the Diocesan ACW hosting the annual conference). The officers are: President – myself; Vice President, Terri Parrill, Dio of Western Newfoundland; Treasurer, Addie Sullivan, Dio of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador; Secretary, Anita Gittens, Dio of Toronto; and Past President, Heather Carr, Dio of Fredericton. We partner with the Mothers’ Union, whose president attends without vote. We work closely with the Catholic Women’s League; are developing a relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Women; sit on the executive of International Anglican Women’s Network – Canada, chaired by Elizabeth Loweth who is sitting right over here and whose focus in particular is empowerment of women as defined through the Millenium Development Goals, and the Anglican Consultative Council’s resolutions– we receive advocacy resources from IAWN, many of our presidents are diocesan links, and attend the United Nations Status of Women gatherings in New York.
In the past couple of years we have created a logo – shown here on this bookmark which I brought with me – I urge you to pick up some from the table in the display area to take home with you; determined a motto: “The Love of Jesus Calls Us – a modernization of “the Love of Christ Constraineth”. We have an ACW hymn - #434 in Common Praise, the Love of Jesus Calls Us; and last year adopted a National Prayer (found on the back of the bookmark) – not to replace diocesan or parish prayers, but to be prayed together with them, as a common prayer for all Anglican women. We are on the brink of signing into being an Anglican Church Women Trust Fund, with the Anglican Foundation, to encourage and support the ministry of Anglican women, administered by the National Executive of Anglican Church Women of Canada. In the past few years, we have been encouraging the bishops to establish a Diocesan ACW Sunday- not on any specific date – but one that works for their diocese; we have requested bishops who do not already do so, to grant a seat on the Diocesan governing body to the Diocesan ACW representative. We have also requested opportunity to report to the national governing bodies of our church – and I most sincerely thank those who made it possible for me to be here today.
At our conference last year, we were most delighted and privileged to have our Primate spend a day and a half with us. Our theme was “The Living Hands of Christ” – a term used by a bishop to describe the ACW in his diocese – and we were all blessed to have our hands anointed for our ministry by Archbishop Fred – a most moving and meaningful experience for us all – thank you Archbishop.
A first for us as a National body, last year, as we ventured into formal advocacy work by endorsing a resolution by the CWL bringing to the attention of government the necessity to be vigilant and enforce the laws against trafficking, particularly as it is common to have increased activity in this area when international games, in this case, the Olympics, are being held.
We have given considerable support to the Council of the North, to St Jude’s Cathedral, to PWRDF, to Grandmothers to Grandmothers (in support of the Steven Lewis Foundation), and to On Eagle’s Wings. We considered and gave input to Vision 2019 and will again review the approved document to look at our role in these strategic directions. We have learned about and studied the 5 Marks of Mission at both the national and diocesan levels. Locally our work encompasses a wide range of ministries: bales, working in and supporting women’s shelters; volunteering in hospitals, visiting the sick, supporting food banks, sharing in the work of IAWN etc. etc. A primary focus for us right now is to encourage women not so actively invovled to recognize and share their gifts and talents. It is so easy to hold on to our “jobs” – Sally makes the jellied salad; Suzi leads the altar guild; Nancy arranges the flowers. Perhaps it is time to say “I know this job (and I love it) but perhaps I can help you learn it”. It is up to the current “job holders” to perhaps let go, recognize gifts in others and help and mentor others to share in the fun, fellowship, take a more active role and find their particular place within the body of Christ. It really doesn’t matter if it is not done exactly as we would have done it!! From the national perspective, we understand that the ministry of Anglican Church women is much broader than what can be accomplished in a single parish. This ministry of women is as varied as the women themselves.
To return to the hymn quoted earlier: we are said to “weave the story still, the fabric of the future, with warmth and love and skill…”- truly the evangelism you were speaking of earlier in this Synod.
In thinking of what I would say to you this afternoon, I thought of the theme and was reminded of these words of Wesley Frensdorff. Speaking of our ministry together, he says in part… “Let us dream of a church… so salty and yeasty it would be missed if no longer around…of a church so evangelical…its eagerness to reach out to those in need cannot be contained… in which each Christian, gifted for ministry, a crew on a freighter, not passengers on a luxury liner…”
Anglican Church Women are active members of that crew- helping to steer through the winds of change while sustained by the firm foundations established by our faith-filled sisters before us and the body and love of Christ surrounding us.
We ask for your prayers as our ministry continues as it has over the centuries- nurturing, caring, teaching, acting, praying, learning and loving, bound by the cords of friendship and encompassed by the love of Jesus who calls each and every one of us to be His hands, His feet, His lips, His ears, His eyes, His heart to love and serve as his Body, His Church here, building the kingdom of God in our parishes and wider communities.
Thank you so very much.
National President
By Marion Saunders, 2010 National President
Your Grace and Members of Synod:
It is my great pleasure to be here with you this afternoon and my extreme privilege and honour to represent and bring greetings from Anglican Church Women- from all of you here in this room – and those in every parish across this great nation. I bring with me the assurance of their prayers for this Synod, as well as their excitement that I can share with you the work and witness of Anglican Church Women of Canada.
This Synod has already celebrated anniversaries – PWRDF 50 years; 300 years of the Anglican Church in this diocese to name a couple. We too are celebrating our 125th anniversary of formalized women’s ministry in Canada.
It was in April 1885 that Mrs. Roberta E Tilton and 7 brave ladies approached the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society in Ottawa, to help with missionary work. They were given permission to form the Women’s Auxiliary (to the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada). A chapter was begun here in Nova Scotia shortly after this permission was received – and branches soon sprung up in parishes throughout the church. J.A., G.A., Little Helpers, a strong Dominion Board supporting missionaries abroad and in our north, Sunday School vans touring the prairies – the ministry carried out by these women is legendary and remains the foundation for the ministries of women today. A little known fact, which I learned several years ago, is that the W.A. remains an incorporated body even today, (although it has no funds, nor members!!).
In 1946, the W.A. President, Mrs. R.E. Wodehouse became the 1st woman delegate to General Synod. – and now - just look around this room today!
Twenty years later, in 1966, by resolution of General Synod and acceptance by the Dominion Board, W.A. was amalgamated with other women’s ministry especially Mothers’ Union, Chancel Guild and Church Year, to come under the umbrella of Anglican Church Women. The units came together with varying and varied formats- some formally incorporated (such as in the Diocese of Toronto) and others merely changing their name and continued the basic structures and practices of W.A. They were “administered” so to speak, by the Women’s Unit at the National Church level, until in 1992 the Women’s Unit was disbanded and the support of the ministry of women devolved to the dioceses and parishes (a decision re National work that you have heard about previously during this Synod). Structure was essentially lost.
One of the main areas of work of this unit had been the support of an annual conference attended by Diocesan ACW Presidents/Coordinators. With the loss of this assistance, the women determined to continue and now the annual conferences are hosted by Diocesan ACW’s in turn. More about this later.
Almost everywhere I go, bishops and priests are quick to tell me that they consider the ACW to be the backbone of their churches and they don’t know what they would do without them. But, do you know something? I detest ACW – those initials – because they put a box around what the women are doing and raise images of endless rummage sales, bake tables, funeral receptions, crafts, dinners and bazaars; of perpetual aprons and busy knitting needles!! In fact in one group I was meeting with, one lady said if asked to “join” ACW, she would say “NO” because she didn’t cook!! What she neglected to consider was that she works tirelessly with homeless people!! – truly a ministry of an Anglican church woman. Anglican Church women are far more than fundraisers – (although these events provide great opportunities to be ‘friend-raisers’).
Anglican Church Women is not an organization – but the ministry of faith-filled women – a ministry so varied and encompassing all the skills, talents, and God-given gifts of women throughout the Anglican Church in Canada – not just the women in the pews – but Anglican women everywhere.
Anglican Church Women are young and old (our youngest Diocesan leader is in her early 30’s, the oldest reaching 80);
· Anglican Church Women are ordained clergy – deacons, priests and bishops;
· Anglican Church Women are teachers, lawyers, secretaries, Moms, doctors and bus drivers;
· Anglican Church Women are lay readers, Sunday School teachers, choir members, tenders of the sacred vessels;
· Anglican Church Women are leaders and members of Bible study groups, organizers of parish and community dinners and events, bazaars and fundraisers.
· We are members of prayer chains, the makers of prayer shawls;
· we visit and bring the comfort of God’s love and peace to the sick and dying; we advocate for the poor, the homeless and against violence and abuse.
· We promote justice and peace, send bales (when I was in the Yukon recently it was great that a priest from a remote community came to pick up a bale, sent from an ACW in the south – wonderful to see that they are valuable and valued.)
· We are tellers of the story – we live the story and keep it alive, living, and encourage it to be passed on.
There is a wonderful hymn “Come, Celebrate the Women” in which we are called “Daughters of the Disciples” – what a heritage – what a challenge!! We are today’s Lydias, Joannas, Dorcases, Marys and Marthas. WE are creating the history to be celebrated 125 years from now!
A few years ago at the National ACW Presidents’ and Coordinators’ conference, it was determined to try to regain a more formalized structure at the national level to give some sense of unity to women’s ministry. And so began the work on a constitution. You have been doing a lot of governance work, setting directions etc. here at Synod. It is a very challenging undertaking which became clear to us as we looked at who we were, gathered at the conference, and wondered how to define that group as well as the thousands of women we represent. Who are we? Who do we serve? What do we want to do and be? How do we do it? And how do we get all that in a document?
We began with a definition of Anglican Church Women of Canada as a “…loosely knit fellowship of all women of the Anglican Church of Canada and others who agree with( a critical inclusion of women of other denominations who often come together with Anglican women to share friendship and ministry together ) and support the purpose of the Anglican Church Women of Canada. This purpose is: to give the women of the Anglican Church the opportunity to unite in a fellowship of worship, study and service which will lead them into Christian service in the parish, community, diocese, nation and the world.” - a very broad outreach indeed.
The constitution continues that the Anglican Church Women of Canada are “served by a constituted National Executive to support the ministry of and shall collate and represent the collective voices of Anglican Church Women of Canada” (which I am here today to represent).
The purpose of the National Executive (meeting annually) is: “to provide a national forum and voice for women’s ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada; provide opportunity for its members to share faith and fellowship and to learn from each other; to provide support in their common leadership; to discuss items of common mutual concern and to determine relevant common policies and procedures.”
The members of this National Executive are: the Diocesan ACW Presidents/Coordinators, the ACW President of the Diocese of PEI (a separate group), and the ACW National Chaplain (changes annually – the chaplain to the Diocesan ACW hosting the annual conference). The officers are: President – myself; Vice President, Terri Parrill, Dio of Western Newfoundland; Treasurer, Addie Sullivan, Dio of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador; Secretary, Anita Gittens, Dio of Toronto; and Past President, Heather Carr, Dio of Fredericton. We partner with the Mothers’ Union, whose president attends without vote. We work closely with the Catholic Women’s League; are developing a relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Women; sit on the executive of International Anglican Women’s Network – Canada, chaired by Elizabeth Loweth who is sitting right over here and whose focus in particular is empowerment of women as defined through the Millenium Development Goals, and the Anglican Consultative Council’s resolutions– we receive advocacy resources from IAWN, many of our presidents are diocesan links, and attend the United Nations Status of Women gatherings in New York.
In the past couple of years we have created a logo – shown here on this bookmark which I brought with me – I urge you to pick up some from the table in the display area to take home with you; determined a motto: “The Love of Jesus Calls Us – a modernization of “the Love of Christ Constraineth”. We have an ACW hymn - #434 in Common Praise, the Love of Jesus Calls Us; and last year adopted a National Prayer (found on the back of the bookmark) – not to replace diocesan or parish prayers, but to be prayed together with them, as a common prayer for all Anglican women. We are on the brink of signing into being an Anglican Church Women Trust Fund, with the Anglican Foundation, to encourage and support the ministry of Anglican women, administered by the National Executive of Anglican Church Women of Canada. In the past few years, we have been encouraging the bishops to establish a Diocesan ACW Sunday- not on any specific date – but one that works for their diocese; we have requested bishops who do not already do so, to grant a seat on the Diocesan governing body to the Diocesan ACW representative. We have also requested opportunity to report to the national governing bodies of our church – and I most sincerely thank those who made it possible for me to be here today.
At our conference last year, we were most delighted and privileged to have our Primate spend a day and a half with us. Our theme was “The Living Hands of Christ” – a term used by a bishop to describe the ACW in his diocese – and we were all blessed to have our hands anointed for our ministry by Archbishop Fred – a most moving and meaningful experience for us all – thank you Archbishop.
A first for us as a National body, last year, as we ventured into formal advocacy work by endorsing a resolution by the CWL bringing to the attention of government the necessity to be vigilant and enforce the laws against trafficking, particularly as it is common to have increased activity in this area when international games, in this case, the Olympics, are being held.
We have given considerable support to the Council of the North, to St Jude’s Cathedral, to PWRDF, to Grandmothers to Grandmothers (in support of the Steven Lewis Foundation), and to On Eagle’s Wings. We considered and gave input to Vision 2019 and will again review the approved document to look at our role in these strategic directions. We have learned about and studied the 5 Marks of Mission at both the national and diocesan levels. Locally our work encompasses a wide range of ministries: bales, working in and supporting women’s shelters; volunteering in hospitals, visiting the sick, supporting food banks, sharing in the work of IAWN etc. etc. A primary focus for us right now is to encourage women not so actively invovled to recognize and share their gifts and talents. It is so easy to hold on to our “jobs” – Sally makes the jellied salad; Suzi leads the altar guild; Nancy arranges the flowers. Perhaps it is time to say “I know this job (and I love it) but perhaps I can help you learn it”. It is up to the current “job holders” to perhaps let go, recognize gifts in others and help and mentor others to share in the fun, fellowship, take a more active role and find their particular place within the body of Christ. It really doesn’t matter if it is not done exactly as we would have done it!! From the national perspective, we understand that the ministry of Anglican Church women is much broader than what can be accomplished in a single parish. This ministry of women is as varied as the women themselves.
To return to the hymn quoted earlier: we are said to “weave the story still, the fabric of the future, with warmth and love and skill…”- truly the evangelism you were speaking of earlier in this Synod.
In thinking of what I would say to you this afternoon, I thought of the theme and was reminded of these words of Wesley Frensdorff. Speaking of our ministry together, he says in part… “Let us dream of a church… so salty and yeasty it would be missed if no longer around…of a church so evangelical…its eagerness to reach out to those in need cannot be contained… in which each Christian, gifted for ministry, a crew on a freighter, not passengers on a luxury liner…”
Anglican Church Women are active members of that crew- helping to steer through the winds of change while sustained by the firm foundations established by our faith-filled sisters before us and the body and love of Christ surrounding us.
We ask for your prayers as our ministry continues as it has over the centuries- nurturing, caring, teaching, acting, praying, learning and loving, bound by the cords of friendship and encompassed by the love of Jesus who calls each and every one of us to be His hands, His feet, His lips, His ears, His eyes, His heart to love and serve as his Body, His Church here, building the kingdom of God in our parishes and wider communities.
Thank you so very much.
National President