The Mothers’ Union Leicester Diocese held their Annual Spring Members’ Forum at St Wilfrid's Church in Kibworth on Saturday 5 April.
Attended by 80 MU members and guests, the gathering included a talk from Central Mothers’ Union Programme Manager, Emily Brailsford, who shared details of current and upcoming projects.
Emily discussed the ongoing RISE-UP campaign focused on recognising domestic abuse, including coercion and control, and emphasised how difficult it can be to accept that domestic abuse can happen to anyone, from any background, even within our church communities.
Members were also told about upcoming MU projects which will be focused on work in Prisons, and recognising and reporting Modern Day Slavery.
For the second half of the meeting, the group welcomed Bishop Martyn, who joined the ladies for lunch and went on to lead the commissioning service for the new Diocesan Mothers’ Union President, Ruth Fryer, and Board of Trustees - Sue Wilson, Noreen Mewies, Eileen Payne, Margaret Rouse and Mary Clarkson.
Bishop Martyn said: “It was good to commission Ruth as Diocesan President, as well as the new trustees. I was also able to bring greetings from the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Kiteto, Tanzania, where there are strong links between the two groups.
“This was a lovely sign of how different parishes and dioceses can work together for the good of God’s kingdom.”
Mothers’ Union elections work on a three-year rotation and Ruth and the Trustees will therefore be in post until the end of 2027.
Upon taking office, Ruth shared her vision and said: “As I take over as President, I am excited to be part of the Mothers’ Union Team here in Leicester. I hope we can enthuse others to ‘Join Us and Join In’ with some of the projects which we are part of here in Leicestershire.
“I also hope that we can welcome new members from ALL backgrounds and ages, as we work to serve God and our communities.”
The group’s theme for the new triennium is “Join Us and Join In”. If you would like any more information about joining Mothers’ Union, please contact Kate Cooper, MU Administrator, at kate.cooper@leicestercofe.org