Anglican Church of Melanesia’s Mothers’ Union representatives from the provinces are gathering in Honiara this week to elect new office bearers.
The week-long meeting held at St Barnabas Cathedral started on Monday.
It is the 13th general meeting whereby a number of issues relating to Mothers Unions will be discussed including the election of a new president and other office bearers.
The meeting was opened on Monday by the Church’s Archbishop David Vunagi.
Other church heads and representatives from the diocese of Vanuatu and New Caledonia Mothers Unions are also attending the meeting.
It is the Church’s big gathering for mothers under the theme “faithful Relationship in Unity, Mission and Services”.
President of the Mothers Union bodies Edith Mary Koete during the opening of the meeting highlighted the important mission of mothers.
“Firstly, we are here to re-emphasise the vital task at hand and the responsibilities we have in carrying out the ministry.
“Other important issues include the faithfulness in the service and partnership for a strategic mission in allowing the gospel to shape the direction of the mothers unions.”
She said as worldwide family and co-worker in the mission field, women are to be faithful to their calls and relationship with their faith in action to the community.
“We must unite and stand in solidarity to launch a mission toward addressing issues affecting families and communities today.
“We are also called to share learning and experiences in our work in order to a strong partnership as a foundation to launch out to people.
“This means we must strengthen our faith, not to isolate ourselves in our journey and to remain committed and dedicated.
“We must work to advance the work of the Mothers Union to help families, communities and people.”
Mrs Koete reminded mothers that their missions in the church determine their mission of approach to address the overall situation of what affect people in the community.
“And it means Mother Unions must facilitate communities to bring about changes from within so that they can take control of challenges they face, rather than to be controlled by it.
“Our mission is what we aim to achieve. We must equip and build up individuals and families, so that the whole body of Christ, the church is working.”
She thanked and welcomed all mothers who availed themselves for the meeting.
Mothers Union is an international Christian organisation that work through its grass root membership to encourage strengthen and support family life.
This Christian group was founded by a mother and grandmother Mary summer in 1876 in Whinchester, UK.
The meeting is held every three years to evaluate, revisit, strengthen and elect new office bearers.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
