Would you join the Mother's Union?

[junglehusky]

Hi there. I'm new to mumsnet and intially joined to get some information for a feature I'm making. I'm a journalist.

Of course, I am now somewhat addicted..but work must go on.

Can any of you help me? I am making a radio feature about the history of the Mother's Union.

Part of what I'm doing is looking at different ways Christian women are getting together to network, help each other and change the World.

Mumsnet is very interesting in this respect.

Do any of you belong to the Mother's Union?

Would you ever consider it?

And how important do you think it is for women to join together to make their communities a better place?

Our church doesn't have a Mothers Union, although the Cathedral does. I've had a look at the activities they do, and they frankly don't interest me - perhaps they'd interest my mother (I'm 43)! I feel the same way about the WI.

I think in principle, that women's groups CAN do a lot of good. In practice I try to avoid them, because I really don't enjoy women-only groups (MN excepted!), and thats in addition to the MU or the WI being too old for me.

Mother's Union is something I would be interested in joining but No Way Hose at my church. It is pretty much for ladies who need a lift to the Parish Hall and assistance to get out of the car. The village WI is full of youthful vigour and thrust in comparison.

Thankyou for being honest about being a journalist, junglehusky, but you probably should have paid to go in the media section.

Personally I don't belong to the MU..although my G'ma did. I imagine having to sit though talks on somones recent trip to an African Orphnage and feeling unerpresure to make cakes or jam to sell, so won't be rushing along to joing anytime soon.

Probably not, because around here it has definitely become a club for much older ladies. But I've recently come across their magazine - Families First - and have taken out a subscription because it's really, really surprisingly good! Puts a refreshing, Christian perspective on family life, without being excessively preachy or worthy.

Just in case anyone's interested!

I didn't realise I had to go in the media section until after I posted this message. I've cleared it with the powers that be, so I'm off to post it there instead.

I am a member as well though and am enjoying the chat.

Thanks for your comments.

I am including Mumsnet in the piece I'm making for the BBC Local Radio Sunday Breakfast shows about different ways women who have a faith are working together outside of Church organisations.

In our area several churches have groups for young mothers which aren't called the mother's union. The name "Mother's union" puts many mothers off as they think of women in their 70s with blue rinse hair.

There are plenty of christian based mother and toddler groups which are open to all parents.

Nope I wouldn't join. Even my MIL (67) won't as she feels too young for it!

Glad to know you like Families First
As Editor of the Mothers' Union's magazine, which is Britain's best-selling Christian mag, I don't have to be a member - but I joined because the worldwide work through 3.6 million members in 78 countries has such a significant impact at the grassroots with families. It is possible to be a member of Mothers' Union without attending branch meetings if they're not for you...

Hi
I actually work with familiesfirsteditor - I'm the comms officer at Mothers' Union. It is interesting to know if, Junglehusky, what your sources are for the radio slot - and of course we'd love to hear it :-)
On a personal level I am a mum myself (and on mumsnet under a personal name too), and recently did become a member - however not a member in my own local area as the branch there is not outward looking enough for me. But I did join as an area member as the outreach work to families affected by divorce, imprisonment, refugee-linked poverty and support for programmes across the world seemed so cool. I think groups are what you make them. If your local women seem old - they were young once, and are probably dying for younger women to come and give new life and direction. life is what you make it! I think Mothers' Union is a great vehicle for helping others, giving and receiving support and making a difference. I've become a member because the forthcoming campaign - about tackling the way children are targeted by agressive marketing and early sexualisation, is really important to me as mum of a daughter especially. Mumsnet America took on this as a cause in the states and won - so who knows what a Mothers' Union/Mumsnet partnership could achieve.

Agree with the above comments about the Families First magazine. My MIL passes her copy on to me and as well as being an interesting read it acts as a prompt to discuss parenting and related issues with her.

Thank you

PS Forgot to add, not a member of the MU. The meetings for the group in the church I attend are always held on weekday afternoons.

Glad that Families First is prompting good discussion - but do buy your own copy Every copy sold raises around 50p to help support families around the globe through Mothers' Union projects.

My grandmother was a Mothers' Union member, I am too. To be a member today doesn't mean going to meetings; it means belonging to a worldwide organisation supporting families around the world through inovative projects, through prayer and through listening to the voices of women in the developing world and helping to empower them run income generating projects to support their families. Take a look at the website www.themothersunion.org. You'll be amazed!

FamiliesFirstEditor, can you explain why you would want to be a MU member, if the branch meetings didn't interest you? I am unsure of the point in doing so, and genuinely curious!

I'm not a branch member. I joined as a Central Member because I want to support the work across the globe helping to strengthen and encourage family life. Grassroots work as diverse as literacy programmes in Sudan, trauma workshops for rape victims in Congo, and parenting groups in prisons and parishes closer to home. Being a central member links me to a worldwide network of people like me who care about family life.

FamiliesFirstEditor - could I get in touch with you?

I'm so glad this is sparking some debate!

The starting point for my piece is actally a book about the history of the Mother's Union by Cordelia Moyse. I didn't want to just do an interview about a book.

I thought I'd find out what Christian mums actually think of the idea of a union of christian women and if today's thinking ties in with Mary Sumner's original vision.

Hi there.
I have to say that some of the replies just depress me. Why? Because I used to work for the MU so I know a lot about the fab work it does. Just a few things it's involved in:

1. Training parenting group facilitators. (The Mothers' Union Parenting Programme is externally accredited by the Open College.)
2. Organising holidays for families who are at the end of their tether.
3. Running Contact Centres for divorced parents.
4. Volunteering in over 80 prisons.
5. The overseas Literacy and Development programme.
6. Sending emergency relief grants mainly abroad but occasionally in the UK too.

That said, I know that many people see the MU as an old ladies club or worse, the WI with religion only less interesting. In my parish it's just like that so I'm a central member now. I think the answer is a centralised society but many members would lynch me for saying so. By the way membership of the MU is open to men as well as women and I know a number of men who are members. But as long as we stick with the old fashioned name, who's going to know?

Am not a member yet but being pushed to be - kind of expected of me as curate's wife. Our group is mainly older ladies, really doesn't appeal to me, but I've seen the magazine and been really surprised by how good it is and all the work they do - I am a bit torn tbh, the organisation does loads of stuff I'd like to be associated with but the branch leaves me cold. still deliberating on it...think I will be pushed in the new year and have to stop procrastinating.

i have been a member on and off for just over 20 years. i started in my late teens and have always enjoyed my time with MU.

i always have a lot of respect for the older members as they have had so much experience dealing with lifes difficulties nd are always happy to see you.

atm i am unable to attend a group as i work full time and simply could not attend an evening group as my job is so demanding.

i do very much miss attending MU. i have found that in my travels all over the world that no matter where i have been they are always happy to fit me in.

well i love the magazine families first - i am married, 30 with 2 young children and i find it a brilliant read, relevant to family life and very interesting. I would recommend to anyone :-)

would i join the mu - if there was a meeting near me where other mums f similar age meet up then yes i would, as a stay at home mum its great to have network groups like that.

I am also a curate's wife and feeling an expectation to join. Although in my parish it is mainly older ladies as members that is because my congregation is mainly older ladies. I do feel that the 'older ladies'
and I have things that we can learn from one aanother.

However I have been to a few groups and although I wasn't sure about going I have enjoyed them and the fellowship therein. I think I will dip in and out as time goes on.

My parish branch does run afternoon and evening sessions so it is possible for me to attend.

There is a Mothers Union facebook branch you can join, or you can be a central member or join your diocese as a diocesan member. Anyone male or female, married or single parent or not. This is about supporting mothers as they do the most important job in the world.