This month, Bishop Cyril writes:
On the 1st of July 2010 I reached a personal milestone.
I became a member of the Mothers Union. To be perfectly honest I’m not sure how it
happened, but I think there was a conspiracy between colleagues and various members of
the MU leadership. I have to say that the event marked something of a conversion
experience for me. Like many in the church I had always valued the MU but wondered
where it fitted in the mission of the church.
The Lambeth Conference in 2008 changed my mind radically. This, as many of you will
know, is the coming together at Lambeth of most of the bishops in the Anglican
Communion. An event that happens every ten years. At the conference my wife and I spent
time with bishops from other parts of the world. Time after time we listened to accounts of
the hardship many bishops, their families and communities suffered at the hands of hostile
regimes. Persecution, starvation and humiliation were issues frequently faced. One common
theme began to emerge in these stories.
The front line presence of the Mothers Union. The work that the MU did to feed, protect and
clothe families was nothing short of Herculean. We heard of incidences where the Mothers
Union literally saved lives by their dedicated and generous work. So I guess I am a sort of
born again MU member.
It might interest you to know some other facts. The MU worldwide literacy and financial
education programme is astonishingly visionary.
Comic Relief donated £1m for this work in the Sudan. A MU team has climbed Mount
Kilimanjaro in order to sponsor overseas workers who support families in remote countries.
In the UK over 600 volunteers have been trained to run parenting programmes to support
family groups.
I suppose it is impossible to calculate how much genuine good is being done by the MU and
other voluntary organisations. But we should celebrate it enthusiastically.
Essentially, of course, the Mothers Union is inspired and motivated by the simple Gospel
imperative to care for God’s people in the whole of creation.
I, for one, have found this humbling and inspiring.
+ Cyril
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| The Bishops’ Letter - August 2010 |
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