ABOUT MU











Mission Statement

The Mothers' Union is a Christian organisation which promotes the well-being of families world-wide.

We achieve this by:

  • Developing prayer and spiritual growth in families

  • Studying and reflecting on family life and marriage and their place in society

  • Resourcing our members to take practical action to improve conditions for families, both nationally and in the communities in which they live.


    Ways of Belonging

    All members of the Mothers' Union share equal status, but there are different ways of belonging.

  • Branch Member Joins through a branch and attends its meetings. She may be involved in Mothers' Union projects and activities at branch, deanery, diocesan or central level.

  • Diocesan Member (Deanery Member) Joins through a diocese or deanery and is not attached to a branch. She may be involved in Mothers' Union projects and activities at branch, deanery, diocesan or central level.

  • Central Member Is not attached to a diocese or involved in activities but receives regular information about the Society from Mary Sumner House.

  • I M P C Member An Indoor Members' Prayer Circle member is unable to attend meetings or get involved in activities. Their contribution to the society is through regular prayer and contact is often maintained through a branch or IMPC rep.

  • Incorporated Member A member who holds, or has held, office in the diocese, at the centre or in a branch can be proposed at World Wide Council for Incorporated Membership. Incorporated members vote for the Representative Members of World Wide Council and pay an additional subscription.


    Beginning in Old Alresford

    This is the text of the piece written and read by Brenda O'Leary for the 125th Celebration Service in Portsmouth Cathedral on Wednesday 12 September, the eve of the Mothers' Union General Meeting in Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 13 September 2001

    The story in the setting of the vicarage at Old Alresford in the Winchester Diocese is familiar to us all. So, too, is the history of the growth and influence world-wide of the Mothers' Union which took root there in 1876.

    But what does all this mean to us as individual members?

    Can you imagine for a moment the thoughts that may have occupied Mary Sumner's mind as she busied herself in the life of that parish in the 1870's? Then how those thoughts crystallised themselves into a vision of Christian marriage and family life and how she saw mothers as being the guiding influence in the home? Later on, after the move to Cathedral Close at Winchester, came the opportunity to extend the scope of her early work when she was invited to address the women at a meeting during the Church Congress which was held in Portsmouth in 1885. Mary Sumner spoke eloquently of her hopes for an organisation, based on prayer, for mothers who were responsible for the upbringing of their children, and for the blessings to be found in a Christian home and family.

    Her words made a great impression on all who heard them. From that speech began the process of commending the newly-formed Mothers' Union as a diocesan organisation and from then on it spread rapidly nationally and worldwide.

    As time went by and the new dioceses of Portsmouth and Guildford were formed from Winchester, they were well equipped to organise themselves into diocesan Mothers' Unions capable of taking a full part in the development of the society in every respect.

    We may recall with justifiable pride how the Mothers' Union is concerned with issues of national and international importance relating to the well-being of family life, of the many projects which have been set up to help improve the lives of women and their families at home and overseas, and also of the commitment of so many women in their support of all that the Mothers' Union stands for.

    So from its humble beginnings in a village in the Hampshire countryside the faith and energy of one woman has inspired women everywhere to unite in prayer, worship and service in support of marriage and the upbringing of children in the faith and life of the church, and for the benefit of future generations.

    In this celebration year, we who belong to this great society have come together in thanksgiving, to inspire young women to join us and demonstrate our determination to carry on the work that Mary Sumner started 125 years ago.


    To find out more about other areas of the Mothers' Union, why not visit the Mothers' Union central website
    www.themothersunion.org

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