Growing Leadership: MU needs leaders, could it be you, asks Marian Pope

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO BRANCH OUT

You could be the next leader in your diocese, or you could be the one to give a fellow member the confidence to step up, says Marian Pope

Last year was one of unforeseen challenges and firsts. Joining a meeting using Zoom or coping with wearing a face mask. It’s amazing how we have adapted to so many things outside our comfort zone.

In 2021, as well as the global pandemic, Mothers’

Union members have the added challenge of helping the charity move forward into the future.

During this year, the process of nominations and elections will be taking place in dioceses, provinces and worldwide, to uncover those with the passion to contribute to the development of Mothers’ Union in the new triennial period, starting in January 2022.

You may think this has nothing to do with you. But it has. Everyone who belongs to Mothers’ Union, who wants to see the movement flourish and increase its impact, can be involved.

Voting for Change

Mothers’ Union is a leading Christian movement for change, active at the heart of communities, sharing God’s love through practical action, spiritual support and emotional care. We want to build communities where everyone thrives, but especially women and girls, and encourage others to join us. What can you do in the election process in your diocese? It may seem obvious, but the first thing to do is to pray. Take some time, either individually or with a group of members, to listen to God. You can find a reflection focusing on the election process on the Mothers’ Union website here: www.mothersunion. org/2021-theme-rebuildinghope-and-confidence or take time to read and reflect on Bible passages such as 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NIV) or 1 Peter:10-11 (NIV).

At a local level, Mothers’ Union is managed by a group of trustees who are responsible for ensuring that the diocesan charity is financially solvent and well

run. They play a vital role in identifying the needs of their local communities and identifying appropriate ways in which members in their diocese can respond. Between them, trustees should bring a mix of skills and experience, as well as their individual commitment to the charity. Would you consider being a trustee for Mothers’ Union in your diocese?

To find out what is involved, speak to your diocesan president or a current diocesan trustee. Asking for information does not commit you to anything, and it’s important to know what you are taking on. Being a trustee can seem daunting – and while it is a role with legal responsibilities that need to be taken seriously, it can also be immensely rewarding to help shape Mothers’ Union in your diocese.

Finding potential trustees is the responsibility of every member who wants to see Mothers’ Union flourish and continue transforming lives. Do you know someone who would be an asset to the development of Mothers’ Union in your diocese? Some people don’t recognise their own abilities, perhaps because of a lack of self-belief, and so they don’t realise the value of their contribution. Others may think they have something to offer, but don’t have the confidence to put themselves forward. Perhaps it is your challenge to affirm, persuade and encourage others whom you see as having the potential to be an effective part of the leadership team in your diocese.

Positive Contribution

Sometimes encouragement isn’t enough. There are many individuals in Mothers’ Union weighed down with so many tasks and responsibilities that either prevent them from taking on roles in which they could excel, or that would limit their effectiveness to carry them out.

And this presents another challenge – if you see someone who has a positive contribution to make to Mothers’ Union in your diocese, what can you (and others) do to support and enable them to do to get involved? Can you free them of all or some of their current responsibilities in your local group, to take on new ones? It’s possible you may find one person to do this – but is this the best approach? Isn’t it better to find a group of people who can each take on a little?

This has so many benefits. Sharing responsibilities allows more people to be actively involved in Mothers’ Union. It enables everyone to give what they can and to experience the fulfilment of making things happen – whether in their local group, or more widely in the diocese. As St. Paul was so fond of reminding the early Church, the body is made up of many different parts and each has its own vital contribution to make to the whole.

The challenge to us all is to consider what we can offer to Mothers’ Union in this election year – whether to volunteer to take on a diocesan leadership role, to encourage others to fulfil their potential, or to offer to take on a little more and create the space for others to flourish.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we can rise to any challenge –so there’s no excuse not to rise to this one.

Do you know someone who could

“be an asset to the development of Mothers’ Union?

Head of Finance and Services Richard Miller explains how we are following charity sector best practice

HOW MOTHERS’ UNION MAKES THE SUMS ADD UP

As part of Mothers’ Union’s ongoing efforts to increase members’ understanding of its aims, and how it spends its money, the Board of Trustees is updating Mothers’ Union’s approach to fund accounting, in line with charity sector best practice.

Three longstanding restricted funds* of an indefinite and non-project specific nature, were closed to donations on 31 December 2020, and three new replacement designated funds** opened to receive future donations. The festricted funds involved are: l the Overseas Fund, l the Britain and Ireland Development Fund. l the Relief Fund.

What does this mean for members and donors?

There are no implications for Mothers’ Union’s current spending plans, or future donations. All monies in the restricted funds at 31 December 2020 will be spent in line with the funds’ governing terms of reference.

All monies received from 1 January 2021, with nomenclature or accompanying instructions akin to the old restricted funds, will be placed in new designated funds of those names, with identical terms of reference to the restricted funds they are replacing. The immediate changes are administrative.

In the longer term our fundraising asks will encourage support for the charity in general, or for specific projects or initiatives, to provide members and donors with greater clarity about what Mothers’ Union wants to do, and how money has been spent. The Christmas campaign for the Democratic republic of Congo, with funds raised allocated to a new, project-specific restricted fund, took this approach.

Those interested in learning more can speak with their diocesan president, or find a more detailed write up of the changes on our website. www.mothersunion.org/ global-membership-renewal GLOSSARY: *Restricted funds: can only be spent on a specific project or a particular area. **Designated funds: unrestricted funds earmarked for particular purposes.