Mrs Marilyn Oulds is the Zone 3 Trustee position of the World Wide Mothers' Union. This means she is a General Trustee from the zone that is non African, and non UK and Ireland. The affairs of The World Wide Mothers' Union are managed by the Board of Trustees.

The position involves much travel as Marilyn attends meetings in London at least four times a year at the expense of Mary Sumner House. Marilyn has previously been a member of the executive of MU Australia as the Overseas and Outreach Department Co-ordinator.

October 2008

Greetings

This is an exciting new venture for me.  I have never written an article before that it is to be published on a Web Site.  Thank you June for suggesting it.  I thought I might just talk to you about some of the things that have been happening during my role as General Trustee for the World Wide Mothers’ Union.  It is hard to believe that 2 years have almost rushed by and next year is the start of the final year of the triennium.

It is still hard to believe that I am part of the team that meets together five times a year to listen to one another, hear the work of the Units and decide on the general direction of the organisation.  A lot of serious discussion takes place, difficult and thought provoking decisions sometimes have to be made along with the easier ones.  We take time out for prayer and fellowship which after all is what is at the heart of The Mothers’ Union.

The Trustee Board is made up of the World Wide President who chairs the meetings), the Provincial Presidents of Canterbury, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and York, the Chairs of the Units – Faith and Policy, Action and Outreach, Marketing, Central and Financial Services, three General Trustees elected from within the United Kingdom, the Provincial Presidents Representative Trustee and three World Wide General Trustees one from each of the three zones.  Zones 1 and 2 are Africa and Zone 3 the rest of the world.  This is an awesome responsibility and one that is not taken on lightly by any of the elected representatives.  The Chief Executive for the Mothers Union and the Heads of Unit also join the Trustee Board for the meetings and so we are a sizeable team.  One of the Agenda items is for a Trustee Time only when the staff is excused from being part of the discussions that take place.   When he is able the Central Chaplain, who at the present time is Bishop Richard Inwood, from the Diocese of St Alban’s, attends.

I am also very fortunate to be part of the Faith and Policy committee that meets to decide on the work that is carried out at the United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women - where we have special consultative status.  The charter we had in 2008 was to look at the education of children and in particular gender equality.  The call is for governments to back the Millennium Development Goals especially number 3 – ensuring that boys and girls have equal access to education.  In 2009 The Mothers’ Union will be preparing a report on the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care giving in the context of HIV/Aids which is an important issue for Mothers’ Union World Wide.  Mothers’ Union are able to share their experience and knowledge at what works at grassroots level to improve gender equality and good relationships.  In this way the aim of supporting marriage and family life continues.

As a member of the Faith and Policy Committee, I have been able to attend the annual Conference which is held at the Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derby.  It is a time for the Diocesan F & P Representatives to come together for a time of learning, sharing, fun and fellowship.  Patsy Devoy who is the Faith and Policy Trustee and Fleur Dorrell, who is the Head of Unit and their team, put together an interesting and most worthwhile Agenda.  One of the speakers we have had is Canon Robert Wright who is the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House in the British Parliament and also a renowned painter of Modern Art.  He spoke to us about his role as Chaplain.  It was interesting to learn that he says prayers at the start of the Parliamentary Day; that he also presides at communion services in the chapel at Parliament or Westminster Palace as it is known; and that he is required to attend State Banquets. He brought with him some prints of his pieces of art and spoke about the representation of the pieces.  (Not being a lover of modern art personally, some of this went completely over the top of my head!)  This year we were blessed to have as the keynote speakers Bishop Ken and his wife Helen, from Ireland, awe inspiring speakers on the theme of “Relationship”.  I feel very privileged to have been part of these conferences.  As I asked for some work to do, at one conference I ran a workshop and at the other I prepared one of the worship sessions.  During my time at these conferences, I wished that I was able to either transport everyone to Australia or have all of you with me at Swanwick.  What a dream!

Incidentally, all the other Units have an annual conference.

When I am in the UK, and not attending a Trustee Board meeting, I accept invitations to speak at Diocesan gatherings.  Mostly, I am invited to speak about the work of MU Australia which I very gladly do.  For a change recently I was invited to run a workshop on speaker training.  I found this experience most uplifting. 

A new programme has been put together by the Action and Outreach Unit.  It is called ‘Loving for Life’.  A marriage preparation programme and I was able to attend a training session for facilitators.  Another programme that has been put together by the A&O Team is ‘Reaching Out’ but I have not been able to attend a training session for this programme.  I know that Carolynn Ford is in contact with Jane Groves the Joint Head of Unit for Action and Outreach, so she will have details of these programmes.

At the Trustee Board meeting held on the 1st October, Fleur Dorrell, Head of the Unit, Faith and Policy, launched her new study/discussion booklet entitled ‘We Are Created By God’.  A lot of prayers, blood, sweat and tears went into the preparation of this booklet which I recommend to you. I do have a copy but they are available through Mary Sumner House and the Participants book plus the leader’s manual are £2.00 each.  I am happy to bring some back with me after the December Trustee Board Meeting.  Just contact me via Email or by snail mail.

I also have with me a copy of the latest promotional DVD entitled “Home” which was launched at the 7 Road Shows that took place around the United Kingdom.  They were available at Lambeth and so there are some copies available in different parts of Australia.  I am not sure which Diocese purchased one.  I was fortunate enough to be at the Lambeth Conference for a short time as The Mothers’ Union had a presence in The Market Place but was not there for the whole of Lambeth.

Just recently, the new Magazine ‘Families First’ was launched and if you were a subscriber to Home and Family you should have or will receive a copy of the first edition.  A companion magazine was launched entitled ‘Families World Wide’ which incorporates Encompass and the Prayer Diary.  Sadly, this is not available in Australia in hard copy but it is available on the web site.  www.familiesfirstmagazine.com and then follow the prompts.  One of the excellent articles is about our work at the UN. 

I am happy to share more of my experiences with you – whether in person or via another article on the Web Site.  Thank you for your confidence in me and I very much appreciate your prayerful support.  I have been given such a terrific opportunity.  I ask for your prayers as I continue in the role of General Trustee, a ministry that I feel very humbled and grateful to be involved in.

Marilyn Oulds

General Trustee