55th Anniversary of the United Church Women’s Organization

UCW plays a unique role as part of the United Church of Canada and this year marks its 55th anniversary. United Church Women (UCW) came out of the amalgamation of two women’s groups within the United Church in 1962: Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) which was a world mission-oriented service and study group, and the Woman’s Association (WA) which worked in local congregations. Since then UCW has been active throughout Canada and around the world embracing the four pillars of their purpose: witness, study, fellowship and service.

As part of its 50th Anniversary UCW units across Canada adopted a nation-wide project to raise $50,000 for the Morogora Women’s Training Centre in Tanzania. More than $268,000 was raised, resulting in some 600 women being trained in maternity health care. In 2014 the Child Well Being Initiative was rolled out. It began with UCWs in Alberta and North West Territories taking on the task of eradicating Child Poverty in Canada and has been embraced across the country. There are several website links within the United Church of Canada that give up to date information on this issue. One is the Bread Not Stones campaign on the National United Church of Canada website; another is Alberta’s childwellbeingAlberta.org. A third is endchildpoverty.ca The goal is to make people, especially politicians at all levels of government, aware of the seriousness of child poverty here in Canada.

UCWs are also active ecumenically through WICC , a national council of 10 church partners. It provides information through its Riding the Waves publication and sends out worship resource kits to those hosting fund raising events such as the World Day of Prayer and Fellowship of the Least Coin. These events help to fund many women’s projects in Canada and throughout the world. Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada also provides specific funding for projects that benefit First Nations, Metis and Inuit women through its new “Awakenings” fund.

Locally, women of the United Church organize and share in specific Mission and Service fund raising events, help provide pastoral care for members of their community, whether it be spiritual care for those who are grieving, visiting nursing homes, assisting a refugee family or accepting donations and delivering them to local Women’s Shelters. They are also responsible for many fund-raising efforts within the church such as fall suppers, teas, bake sales, and rummage sales. UCWs are often called upon to provide lunches at funerals and other church functions, too. In other words as Moderator Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell explained in a letter about UCW last year, “they are the hands and feet of our mission on the ground.”

A special meeting of United Church women, from across Canada, was held in July at UBC in British Columbia. “Celebrating Spirit” was hosted by the Women of B.C. Conference UCW and featured plenary speaker: Ann Mortifee , with music leadership by Linnea Good. Guest speaker at the Thursday evening banquet was The Rt. Reverend Jordan Cantwell, moderator of the United Church of Canada.

Meanwhile local groups are celebrating this milestone with 55th Anniversary events of their own. St. Andrew’s UCW in Moose Jaw is hosting a 55th Anniversary Event on Saturday, November 25 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Charter members will be honored at this event. All women of the United Church are encouraged to attend for a time of fellowship. Please RSVP to Mary Mohn at d.mohn@ sasktel.net or phone 306-749-3446 by November 22.