Report of Presbyterian Women
to the 2011 General Assembly

Report of Edna McIlwaine, PW President

Moderator and members of Assembly... Thank you for this opportunity to bring the work of Presbyterian Women before you. Many changes have taken place in PW over the past few years as we have developed a women’s ministry and encouraged women to reach out to those in their community. However, I feel it is important to say that we haven’t waned in our support of the deaconesses and overseas mission personnel of our Church. We, like the rest of the Church, hold these people in our hearts and as far as we are able, we will continue to support them, both prayerfully and practically.

Our Birthday Project 2009/2010 supported God’s Work in Malawi, a country in great need but with a warm-hearted people, and one which Dorothy Marshall (former PW President) and I were privileged to visit in 2009 on behalf of PW.

All the Projects are in the Synod of Livingstonia and £65,460 has been generously given by our PW Groups for this needy work. Some of the money has already been distributed. The David Gordon Memorial Hospital in Livingstonia, where Una Brownlee works, has already received a washing machine and a haemoglobin machine to test blood. Someone from NI is going out soon and will be involved in installing this washing machine. We also intend sending some money to the Primary Health Care Programme which is also based in Livingstonia Hospital and which provides food for orphans and vulnerable children.

The Women’s Empowerment Group organised by Victoria Chihani, who works in conjunction with Helen Quinn, has also received £12,000. This programme trains women to establish their own businesses and have some extra funds which are very often used to pay school fees.

Our gifts will also support the work of Diane Cusick, who is responsible for over 300 pre-school play Groups and also for the training of teachers. When I was in Malawi in 2003, we visited some nurseries and the children just sat on the floor and learned by rote. As a teacher I found it difficult to comprehend. No pictures on the walls, no covering on the floor, no furniture, no toys, no toilets nearby. What a difference in 2009. It was very refreshing to see how so much had changed in the nurseries over which Diane had influence and we thanked God for Diane’s influence. In fact some churches from PCI were responsible for providing some of the furniture and equipment. Much equipment and supplies are still needed. We continue to encourage our Groups to send supplies to Malawi by using the Approved Plastic boxes.

The PW theme for the incoming year is "Under His Wings" and at our Annual Meetings a few weeks ago our speaker, Jennifer Rees Larcombe introduced that theme from Psalm 91. "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge". She both encouraged and challenged us, and, speaking from the heart, she shared some personal experiences to illustrate how we should just rest in God’s amazing love. She spoke very movingly about how she had experienced a real anger in her own life and yet when eventually she handed it all over to God and sheltered "under His Wings" it was easier, not easy, but easier, to deal with. Prayer played a big part in Jennifer’s change of attitude. We can learn much from her experience. Jennifer’s whole persona just reflected the aura of Christ. What a testimony!

Within our Central Committee we have a number of hard-working committees. One is the Arrangements Committee, which arranges the big events, like the Annual Meetings. As well, twice a year we bring together representatives from each LINK committee and this is known as the PW Forum. LINK is the go-between, between Central Committee and the Groups. Each Presbytery has a LINK which is usually made up of 3 representatives from each Group. PW Forum keeps Central Committee in touch with the Groups and also gives us the opportunity to share information which we feel is important.

The Resources Committee also fulfils an important role. Each year this Resources Committee is responsible for producing a Resource Pack for each Group, all 500 of them, giving useful ideas on ways of encouraging the women to reflect and study the theme. The Pack includes a poster showing the theme and it may include devotional ideas, poems to be read, or a Drama to be acted, or suggested readings, all to challenge us to think deeper about the theme. We usually also include a craft and we try to include a fun element to it. This committee have already started to think of the contents for the pack in 2012/13!

As most of you will know Wider World is the magazine of Presbyterian Women. It has an editorial committee which encourages the editor and helps brainstorm on the content of each issue. The editorship of our magazine changed last year and we are grateful to Anthea Harrison who served in this role for seven years. Charlotte Stevenson has been with us as PW Development Officer for five years and took on a new role of PW Communications and Development Officer last year, which includes Editor of Wider World. Changes to the magazine have already been made and each issue receives positive feedback. Might I also add that although this magazine is produced by PW, men can also, and do also read it!

It was worthy-of-note one day when I was travelling home in the train, to see a man sitting opposite me take a Wider World from his briefcase and read it. He told me he found it a very interesting booklet. Wider World has a readership of around 19,000 and we continue to promote this among the wider Church. Charlotte would value your prayers as she tries to develop the magazine for Presbyterian Women.

Presbyterian Women continues to develop as a Women’s Ministry in the Church. We encourage sharing our faith and giving support to many women, some of whom have never been to a PW meeting. We’re told that we are His witnesses. That’s PW’s aim. "Living for Jesus". We give the glory to God for all that’s happening among Presbyterian Women and value your support.

Report of Caroline Hawthorne, PW General Secretary.

Moderator and members of Assembly, I hope you have been encouraged by what Edna has shared with you about the work of Presbyterian Women this past year. It never ceases to amaze me how God continually works through PW and I pray that He never stops! I have to say that this can only be down to prayer, both from our members and by our Central Committee. It is a privilege for me to work alongside some wonderful, Godly women, our Central Committee members. Central Committee is the decision making body of the organisation and each member plays a vital role in the life and work of Presbyterian Women.

I would like introduce you to the Office Bearers for 2011/12. Valerie Tweedie continues for another year in her role as Home Vice-President. Valerie represents East Belfast LINK; Elizabeth Moffett begins her role as Overseas Vice-President for two years. Elizabeth represents Iveagh LINK; Edna McIlwaine is our President and is from Armagh LINK.

PW is funded by its members through giving to the PW Mission Fund for Home and Overseas. In 2010 this fund received £547,770. This is down 4% on last year but given the current financial situation I think it is a healthy figure.

Edna has already shared with you that an additional £65,460 was received for our 2010/11 Birthday Project which is supporting God’s work in the Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi. We are very grateful to our members for their faithful contributions as without them PW could not support projects or carry out the work that it does.

In an effort to simplify giving and to help us be better stewards of the money raised, Central Committee has decided to have one fund from September, called the PW Mission Fund.

As part of this change the Committee looked at the whole area of membership fees. This has probably been the most frequently raised issue, with many requesting an end to the collection of such fees. It was decided (after much prayer and many discussions!) that women should not be asked to pay membership fees to be a part of our organisation and that contribution to the Mission Fund should be encouraged.

The term Birthday Project will no longer be used. However, special projects will continue to be identified each year and supported through the PW Mission Fund. A Frequently Asked Questions document has been sent to groups and is available from the PW Office or from our website which should help explain the new arrangements.

This change will help to simplify giving as one fund will support all of our work. It will help us to focus on what we support and will make us better stewards of the money raised. Especially in terms of the special projects – we will be giving what is needed, when it is needed which means projects can benefit at the time they are identified rather than waiting 18 months when sometimes the need had changed.

Let me briefly tell you how we use the generous giving…

The PW Mission Fund will support:

Administration – for the running of the organisation and financial support of its staff and volunteers.

Resourcing and Equipping Women – this is through running conferences and events, providing annual resource packs and Wider World etc.

South Belfast Freindship House – PW are responsible for the funding of the House. We work together with the Board of Social Witness regarding its management and appreciate the help and support we receive from the Board.

Many groups give financially to help support this work and send practical items to help with the day to day running of the House. This help is greatly appreciated.

The work of the House continues to grow and even more so since the building work was completed last year. The new FH is a superb facility with many coming in and out its doors. It is hoped that a full-time Youth and Children’s Worker will be appointed over the next few months. The House will continue to have three paid workers. There has also been a good network of volunteers which is vital if the work of the House is to continue at the same level. Jenny Robinson (deaconess responsible for the House) is currently looking for more volunteer support. If you or if you know of anyone, young or old, male or female, who may be interested in helping in this way please get in touch with the PW Office. Even just a few hours a week would make all the difference. If you would like to know more about the work of Friendship House please get in touch with me.

The Mission Fund will also support Special Projects – As I have already mentioned, we will continue to support home and overseas projects each year through the Mission Fund. In 2011/12 we will be supporting at home:

CAP

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a national debt counselling charity which offers face-to-face comprehensive solutions to those struggling under the burden of debt. Through their unique combination of budgeting advice, creditor liaison, provision of a CAP account and personal support, they empower people to work themselves out of debt and transform their finances. This service is provided free of charge. CAP operates through a growing network of local centres which are opened in partnership with local churches. There are currently eight CAP centres in Northern Ireland, reaching more than fifty per cent of the population. In the current climate of the ‘credit crunch’ the effects of debt are causing increasing pressure on many individuals and families, and the Church has been given a unique opportunity of working in partnership with CAP to ensure that people experience God’s love in action – offering hope to many for the first time. PW plan to give financial support to the eight centres in Northern Ireland.

CAP has already helped many connected to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and many have come to know Jesus through their work – I recently heard that 12 came to know Jesus on the recent CAP family weekend. Further information on the work of CAP can be obtained from PW Office or from the CAP website – www.capuk.org.

Tritonville Close, Dublin – Board of Social Witness

The other home project we will be supporting is Tritonville Close in Dublin which is sheltered housing for older people, supported by the Board of Social Witness. The Board has been carrying out refurbishment to the older parts of Tritonville Close, with particular emphasis on improving the current bedsit apartments. This refurbishment to date has seen the conversion of twelve bedsits into eight one-bedroom apartments including completely new fully-fitted modern kitchens. This has considerably enhanced the living conditions for the residents. There are plans to convert a further four bedsits to arrive at four one-bedroom apartments. This latter development requires an extension to be built to provide the additional space required. PW plan to help with the provision of the kitchen fittings and appliances for this new development.

Overseas Project

If you have read the June issue of Wider World you will have seen that I had the privilege of visiting the Church of North India with Phyllis Spence (past President) in November last year. Phyllis and I received an invitation from the Bishop of Gujarat to be guest speakers at the Church of North India’s 40th Anniversary Women’s Fellowship Conference. During our ten day trip we visited many churches. Our schedule was exhausting, our numerous talks left me almost speechless (and that doesn’t happen very often!), but, thanks to the prayers of many, we survived. My lasting memories of Gujarat will be of wonderful, happy, generous people whose greatest joy is to serve God and worship Him with everything they have.

The overseas project will support the work and witness of the Church of North India through the Gujarat Diocese. Financial support will go towards the work of the Diocesan Counselling Centres in Ahmedabad and Surat. The Centres provide an effective Christian service to all sections of the community. They offer training programmes and a personal counselling service.

PW will also help educate and support women and children throughout the Gujarat Diocese, focusing mainly on the tribal areas where women lack basic parenting skills. The women need training in several areas, and it is hoped to give them empowerment by upgrading their skills.

And finally, The Mission Fund will support Local and Global Mission – We are delighted that we were able to give £450,000 in 2010 to the Board of Mission in Ireland to help towards the training and support of deaconess and to the Board of Mission Overseas for the support of our overseas mission personnel. This support will continue and I count it a privilege to play a very active role on both Boards and enjoy the contact I have with the deaconesses and overseas mission personnel.

So now you can see how our money is used and how much is supported through the generous giving of our women.

And finally I would like to highlight an event that we are running on Saturday 10th September here in the Assembly Hall which you may like to encourage women in your church to attend.

In place of PW Forum in September, we are organising a Leadership Event for women, in partnership with Focusfest. We are excited about this event and hope it will be a day to encourage and help women in leadership within PW and other Christian organisations, for example, GB, Sunday School or Parent and Toddlers. It has been designed not only for leaders, but also for potential leaders so we would encourage those who could be future leaders or who have the potential to lead, to come along too.

Elisa Morgan from America is the keynote speaker as well as there being several seminars. The day will run from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with a break for lunch and the cost is £15 (which includes afternoon refreshments). Tickets will be issued on a first come - first served basis so we are encouraging those interested in attending to book early in order to avoid disappointment! Forms are available from the PW Office or can be downloaded from our website.

I have been in post for just over five years and I really believe that we are beginning to see the fruit of what we believe God wants to do with PW. From a central level I have been so encouraged and it is our prayer that this will filter down to groups across Ireland. We need your support in this. We live in a world that is constantly changing but we know that we have a Saviour who never changes. Therefore the two things that remain constant are the need for change and the need for Jesus.

PW has a history and God willing it will have a future. In all things it is good to be reminded of the words found in Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

We serve an amazing God. And last night at the Opening Night we sang the words of one of my favourite songs which ultimately proclaims why we do what we do... When I stand in glory I will see His face, and there I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place. But for now I say, and you also may say Thank you, Oh my Father, for giving us your son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done.

Moderator this concludes the PW Annual Report.