The Mothers' Union, the largest Christian women's voluntary organisation in the world, has announced the election of Rosemary Kempsell as its World Wide President. Initially elected for a three-year term of office, Rosemary will take up her post on 1st January 2007.
Rosemary, from Southwark Diocese, has been a member of the Mothers’ Union for 30 years, and has served in many voluntary capacities during that time. Her experience of living for ten years in Kenya and Malawi, and her extensive travels to link with fellow members across Africa and South East Asia have given her a deep knowledge of different cultures and an appreciation of the diversity of God’s Kingdom.
In accepting the position, Rosemary will become the representative head of a 3.6 membership organisation across 77 countries of the Anglican Communion. The members financially support emergency relief, education, parenting and marriage enrichment programmes across all 77 countries and are committed to helping families in adversity within their own communities and worldwide.
'The Mothers'Union embraces many different cultures and its strength is reflected by the amazing unity of spirit and determination in all its activities,' she said on her election. 'We need to support the increased representation from outside the UK and Ireland for our governance. As an international organisation it is important that all areas have the same opportunity to have a voice.'
Over the first three years of her presidency, Rosemary will steer the well-known charity as the organisation seeks to redress stereotypical images of MU and focus attention on the very positive contribution its members make to community projects.
Rosemary will be commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams at Southwark Cathedral on 1st February.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Fiona Thomas
Mothers’ Union
Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3RB
Tel: 020 7222 5533
Email: fiona.Thomas@themothersunion.org
http://www.themothersunion.org
Note to Editors:
The Mothers' Union is an international family charity with 3.6 million members dedicated to promoting marriage and family life. It realises that the wellbeing of the family cannot be separated from the welfare of wider communities and therefore undertakes groundbreaking community work in 77 countries. Subjects of recent concern are the MU’s Flexible Families Campaign which advocates the passing of laws to give parents of all children under 18 the right to request flexible working; representation at the UN on the Commission on the Status of Women; and promoting marriage and gender equality in marriage. Other initiatives include training facilitators to organise parenting groups, projects in child contact centres and prisons. Globally, thousands of women and girls have benefited from the MU's Literacy and Development programme.
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