MOTHER'S UNION AND ALL WOMEN Ministry
The Mothers’ Union is a Christian women organization of the Anglican Communion.The Mothers’ Union of the Anglican Church of Kenya is affiliated to the Mothers’ Union Worldwide and operates under the guidance of the Archbishop and the Diocesan Bishops. The Mothers’ Union has over four million members (as at 2018) in 83 countries globally.
Mothers’ Union was founded by Mary Sumner in the year 1876 AD. She wanted to create an organization for women that brought together the rich and the poor, the talented and the unskilled, the educated and the illiterate, to build a network that would support Mothers’ of all kinds as they bring up their children in the Christian faith.
The Mothers’ Union was started in 1918 at All Saints’ Cathedral but only among the European Ladies. On 4 March 1956, the first African Mothers’ Union members were enrolled. At that time the whole country fell under the Diocese of Mombasa. This took place at Mwongoiya Church which is within the present Anglican Diocese of Mount Kenya South. Mrs. Gladys Beecher, wife to the first Bishop Leonard Beecher, was instrumental in beginning the Mothers’ Union among African ladies in Kenya. She invited Mrs. Fisher, the wife of the then Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Fisher, to speak to the Mothers Union-Europeans and Africans–who gathered at All Saints’ Cathedral Nairobi. The Archbishop and Mrs. Fisher visited Mwongoiya Church to encourage and strengthen those first Mothers’ Union members and to see the place where the Mothers’ Union started among the Africans.
The Mothers’ Union grew from strength to strength under the leadership of Mrs.; Gladys Beecher. She organized Kenyan and Tanzanian Mothers’ Union members to meet occasionally here in Kenya or in Tanzania. When the Archbishop and Mrs. Beecher retired and the Church of the Province of East Africa was divided into the Provinces of Kenya and Tanzania, Archbishop Olang’ became the first Archbishop of Anglican Church, the Church of Province of Kenya (CPK). Mrs. Eseri Olang’, his wife, became the leader of the Mothers’ Union movement in Kenya. Successively, the wives to ACK Bishops have automatically assumed the roles of leaders of the Mother’s union with those of the Bishops taking leadership at the Diocesan level.
I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me
A Stable Family grounded in Christ
To promote programs that contributes to the holistic wellbeing of families
The Diocese of Mombasa is organized into 11 archdeaconries, each with committees composed of executive members from local parishes. These committees coordinate prayer sessions, worship gatherings, community activities, and empowerment initiatives. .
The Diocesan committee, including the Mothers Union president, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer, chaplain, coordinator, and chair ladies, implements decisions and organizes programs focused on women.
The Mothers' Union and All Women Ministry president holds a pivotal leadership role, overseeing all mission- related work and income-generating projects within the department. She is entrusted with the responsibility of organizing strategic fundraisers that not only fuel mission activities but also support charity efforts within the mothers union and all women departments.
Her leadership key focus is ensuring the department's long-erm sustainability through innovative income-generating initiatives that strengthen the financial foundation of our work.
The Mothers' Union and All Women Ministry president manages a dedicated team, ensuring their efforts align with both the Diocesan constitution and the Mothers' Union by-laws, maintaining a high standard of integrity and diligence. She plays a central role in overseeing the implementation and initiation of various income generating projects, ensuring that our objectives of empowering and supporting women are met effectively.
As the president of the Mothers Union, one of the challenging responsibilities is to oversee and lead departmental meetings and the annual general meeting. Additionally, it's important to ensure that all office records and files are well-organized, up-to-date, and readily accessible
Beyond the administrative aspects, Being the chairlady Tsavo region, she serves as a guiding force in promoting the core values of the Mothers' Union across the six Dioceses.. Through careful coordination and visionary planning, she works to unite the efforts of all involved, fostering an environment where women can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Our mission efforts include a broad range of initiatives, notably the acquisition of a plot in Menza-Mwenye, in Lunga-Lunga Kwale County, where we successfully built and consecrated Mary Church, named in honor of the Mothers' Union Patron Saint. Looking to the future, our vision is to extend this impact by establishing churches in every county within the diocese.
In June 2024, the diocesan Mothers Union and All Women Ministry launched a Women and Girls Resource Center, an initiative inaugurated by our Lord Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Alphonce Mwaro Baya. Spearheaded by the Women President, Rev. Martha Mwaro, this project continues Mary Sumner's legacy of charitable work. In addition, the resource center provides training in dressmaking and operates a stitching unit that generates income to sustain the center's activities, create employment, ensuring both empowerment and long-term sustainability.
he center warmly accepts donations of gently used clothing, food items, and other essentials to support widows and underprivileged families.
The Mothers Union and All Women Coordinator is responsible for promoting mission work through archdeaconry activities in training women and girls on their roles and responsibilities, create activities to foster unity among women and girls in the Diocese, and supervise elections for various women groups.
Additionally, to write quarterly reports to the Diocesan Bishop and Mothers' Union President on the progress of the Women's Desk, providing monthly reports to the Mothers' Union Executive or Council.
The coordinator works closely with the County Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Mission activities address the spiritual, healthcare, and social needs of women and girls, emphasizing empowerment through income-generating activities using locally available resources
This initiative helps women break free from poverty and fosters self-reliance. For girls, early education delays early marriages, reduces child labor, and enhances critical thinking skills. Spiritual development is supported through Bible studies, fellowships, outreach programs, discipleship, and leadership training, which collectively strengthen women's faith and leadership abilities. Empowered women and girls become catalysts for change, fostering healthier churches and communities.
a) Prayer Day (February 24, 2024): Held at ACK St. Luke's Makupa, the theme was "Reunite with God & one another to strengthen spiritual bonds." Over 400 participants, including clergy, attended.
b) World Day of Prayer (March 1, 2024): Celebrated at the archdeaconry level with the theme from Ephesians 4:1-7, encouraging communal prayer.
c) Mothering Sunday (March 10, 2024): The theme "Wholesome Family: The Lord bestows his blessing in a family that lives together in harmony" was embraced across all parishes.
d) Tree Planting Exercise (May 1, 2024): A delegation of 51 women joined the Bishop for a tree-planting initiative in Kwale County to combat climate change.
e) Guest Visit from Dar es Salaam (June 21-23, 2024): Hosted 155 guests, including Mothers Union members and clergy, for networking and benchmarking.
f) Thanksgiving Service (July 20, 2024): Over 300 attendees gathered for a service focused on Christian unity through prayer, worship, and service.
g) New Membership Enrollment: This year, 421 were enrolled in the Mothers Union, 98 in the Anglican Women Fellowship, and 186 in the Girls Friendly Society, all dedicated to serving God with their talents.
h) Talent Week (July 29 - August 4, 2024): Mothers Union and AWF members led services across all parishes, promoting outreach and extending Christ's
b) Mary Magdalene Sunday (July 28, 2024): Services led by AWF and Mothers love to those in need. Union members.
Our office is committed to capacity building through development of specialized training manuals for women and girls, aimed at preparing and empowering them for enrollment in comprehensive six-month training program.
Archdeaconries, targeting both Mothers' Union (M.U) and Girls' Friendly Society (GPS) We have conducted leadership trainings in Ukunda, Kaloleni, and Shimba Hills leaders. The training covered the following key topics:
dditionally, we host workshops to equip our leaders with essential knowledge and skills in leadership and Anglicanism. In a further effort to safeguard our initiatives, we have also secured insurance coverage for the Ukumbusho Mothers' Union Centre, ensuring its long- term protection and sustainability.
We have established a valuable partnership with the Director of Gender for Mombasa County, Madam Esther Ingolo.
This collaboration opens up exciting opportunities for future empowerment programs, particularly those focused on addressing and combating gender-based violence against women and girls. Through this alliance, we look forward to implementing impactful initiatives aimed at advocacy, education, and support for victims of gender-based violence in the coming years.
We believe this partnership will significantly enhance our efforts to uplift and protect vulnerable women and girls within our community.
We have established a range of strong fellowships, including the Dorcas Fellowship for widows, as an addition to the Mothers' Union and Anglican Women's Fellowship.
This initiative highlights our unwavering dedication to providing support and empowerment to women from diverse backgrounds. The specific focus of the Dorcas Fellowship is to empower women, especially widows and those who are vulnerable, by joining the Mombasa Community Development Trust (MCDT).
Our efforts have taken us to various archdeaconries in the Kilifi and Mombasa clusters for fellowship, where MCDT imparts valuable knowledge to the Dorcas Fellowship widows on saving strategies and access to loans. The level of support we have witnessed has been incredibly encouraging.
The Mothers union Media department & social media outreach Established in May 2024, the Media Office plays a crucial role in improving communicationwithin the Mothers' Union department. It also serves as a valuable income-generating avenue, offering videography and photography services for various events, thereby creating a sustainable source of funding.
The Media Office is poised for growth and looks forward to expanding its impact in the future.
The Mothers' Union Girls Hostels, strategically situated near the Malindi shuttles in Buxton, Mombasa Island, are dedicated to providing affordable accommodation for girls in need who are pursuing higher education in Mombasa. In addition to housing, the hostels offer counseling and spiritual guidance, fostering a holistic environment focused on their well-being and personal growth.
The Ukumbusho Mothers' Union Centre functions as a central hub, promoting uniformity within the diocese by offering a variety of church literature, vestments, and departmental uniformse
The revenue generated from these sales plays a crucial role in covering administrative costs and office expenses, ensuring the smooth operation of our initiatives and programs.
By the grace of God, we are confident in our continued progress, with the hope of soon producing our own vestments at our resource center.
TSAVO REGION CLERGY SPOUSES/LAY LADY CANONS RETREAT & prayer
MAMA NGINA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
The Kenya Anglican men’s Association traces its roots from the Mother’s Union operations. Retired Archbishop Manasses Kuria was so impressed by the work of the Mothers’ Union that he felt it right to start what was formerly referred to as the Fathers’ Union. The union first started in the same parish where the first pioneer Mothers’ Union members had been enrolled, namely Mwongoiya in Anglican Diocese of Mount Kenya South. It has over the years grown and spread to all the ACK Dioceses across the Country, becoming part and parcel of the Church ministry....
Sharing the word of God with children. Mark 16:15 "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Organizing services, fellowship and forums for children to grow spiritually, physically emotionally mentally and socially. Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Tn 1962, the then Bishop of (the former) Mt. Kenya Diocese, the late Obadiah Kariuki, had a vision for young people. He established the Anglican Youth Organization (AYO) with the main aim of bringing the young people back to the mainstream of the Church of Christ. In 1964, the bishop launched the Diocesan Anglican Youth Organization at the St. Paul’s Mother Church, Kabete and he commissioned a Youth Committee to carry on the extension work in the Diocese.