Small Change, Big Difference All Unit Conference, 6 th –8 th October 2010 MU Australia Council Meeting November 2013 20:20 Vision “Sowing the future together”

Small Change, Big DifferenceAll Unit Conference, 6th –8th October 2010

MU Australia Council Meeting November 2013

20:20 Vision

“Sowing the future together”

Nicola LawrenceHead of Action & Outreach Worldwide

Mary Sumner House


Our vision and mission

Our vision is of a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.

Our mission in summary: Wherever Mothers’ Union is we will express our Christian faith in the transformation of families and communities worldwide.

We will achieve this by promoting the importance of marriage, supporting families and nurturing faith; with members sensitively spreading the news of a God who loves and cares for us all.


• Praying

• Enabling

• Campaigning


Our 20:20 Vision

Six themes


Enable individuals, families and communities to be in loving, respectful

and flourishing relationships.


For example:

• Work with Mothers’ Union in each province to develop their own strategy by enabling them to hold strategic planning workshops

• Programme work such as the Church and Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP), the Parenting Programme, Literacy & Financial Education Programme and local Mothers’ Union projects and activities


Challenge the mechanisms that perpetuate social

injustice adversely affecting family life.


For example:

• Equip members to identify issues adversely affecting family life in their own region/area and to challenge them

• Through projects and programmes run by Mothers’ Union individuals, families and communities will be empowered to know their rights.

• Use forums such as the UN Commission for the Status of Women to challenge social injustice on an international level


Increase in active, engaged and effective

membership.


For example:

• Help Us Grow

• Exploring and developing new ways of being MU – offering different types of membership, exploring supporters

• Considering, what it means to be a member. Do we both receive and give as part of our membership? What are we offering to others in joining us?

• Communication – breaking down barriers to communication and information sharing.

• Developing leadership within Mothers’ Union


Create partnerships within and outside

Mothers’ Union based on mutuality of

relationship


For example:

• Work more closely in partnership with and build strong relationships with Mothers’ Union Provincial or Country Structures (e.g. MU Provincial Executives).

• Support, develop and strengthen Mothers’ Union Provincial or country structures, in order to enable them to achieve their objectives.

• Improve communication/information flow, especially with MU Provincial Structures.

• More effective and strategic funding according to MU Provincial/Country priorities and objectives


For example:

• Move away from paternalism and dependency into new and better relationships.

• Create/maintain partnerships with other organisations where there is mutual benefit

• Create opportunities for all Mothers’ Union provinces to contribute to the global MU (e.g. review and change election process, governance structures, PPs meetings)


Ensure we have sufficient resources to

fulfil our mission


For example:

• Money but it is not just about financial resources

• Human resources – global network of volunteers as well as paid staff (e.g. Community Development Coordinators, Diocesan Secretaries in some cases, MSH staff).

• Physical assets (MSH, caravans etc)

• Faith

• Time

•


Evaluate our performance, impact and accountability.


For example:

• How do we know whether we have made a difference?

• Who should we be accountable to in showing the impact of our work? Members, supporters, beneficiaries, partners, general public.

• Sharing experiences of assessing impact across the organisation.

• Ensure appropriate processes are in place for proper accountability of the use of funds and resources.


GovernanceHow this is changing



17 Trustees



UK & Ireland Provincial Presidents


Provincial Representative Trustee


Zonal Trustees


Unit Coordinators


Which elected positions do MSH run elections for?

• Worldwide President

• General Trustees for the Central Trustee Board (Unit Coordinators, Provincial Representative Trustee & Zonal Trustees)

• Central Unit Committees for Action & Outreach, Faith & Policy, Finance & Central Services, and Fundraising & Communications

• Representative Members (Worldwide Council)

• Provincial Presidents of Canterbury, York, Wales and Scotland


Nominations Process

Members of Worldwide Council have the opportunity to put forward the names of those they would like to see stand for election for Worldwide President, Zonal Trustees, Unit Coordinators and the Unit Committees.

Members of Worldwide Council include all Provincial and Diocesan Presidents from around the world, Representative Members, Central Trustees and Past Worldwide/Central Presidents.


Nominations Process

A directory is usually produced which tells people who all the members of Worldwide Council are. It is these members who are effectively the leadership of Mothers’ Union now and who are able to nominate and vote for most of the positions in the leadership elections.


Nominations Process

Members of Worldwide Council can nominate ANYONE they feel could fill one of these roles if they meet the requirements of the post as listed in the role description.

The exception to this are Representative Members who must be elected from amongst the Incorporated Members of the Society.


Nominations Process

For most positions members of Worldwide Council can nominate one person only for each position. One exception to this is the Unit Committees where members can nominate between 8-10 people (depending on which Committee it is). An individual must receive at least 10 nominations for a position to be able to stand for election to that position.


Who can vote?

Members of Worldwide Council have the opportunity to vote for the Worldwide President, Zonal Trustees, Unit Coordinators, and Unit Committees.

Where only one person is nominated for a position or less than the maximum number of people are nominated for a Committee there is no vote and those persons are automatically ‘elected’.


Who can vote?

Representative Members are voted for by Incorporated Members.

The Provincial Representative Trustee is nominated and voted for by the Provincial Presidents outside the UK & Ireland.


How can people vote?

• By post

• By fax

• By email (scanned papers)

• Online (introduced for the first time in 2012)


Participation levels in 2012

Trends by region


2012 elections at a glance

Nominations Phase• 45% of those eligible to nominate in the 2012 elections from the UK & Ireland did so.

• 1% of those eligible to nominate in the 2012 elections from outside the UK & Ireland did so.

Voting Phase• 80% of those eligible to vote in the 2012 elections from the UK & Ireland did so.

• 20% of those eligible to vote in the 2012 elections from outside the UK & Ireland did so.


Average participation levels (2006-2012)


The importance of participating

“The elections move their identity in Mothers’ Union from the local to the global”

“I feel a sense of ownership. I own the Mothers’ Union. I am part of it”

“I believe my vote counts and I should have a say. It means you are part of it at worldwide level”


Implications of non-participation

“A lack of participation from worldwide members perpetuates colonial patterns and inhibits real partnership”.

“A lack of participation threatens the whole life source of MU”

“If worldwide members are not taking part, it is really only the UK that is speaking. It is not a worldwide voice”


1. A lack of understanding and misconceptions

2. Election process and complexity of Mothers’ Union structures

3. Accessibility

4. Cultural factors

5. Apathy and alienation

6. A lack of confidence

7. A lack of time

Seven key potential barriers:


“For such a time as this”


…Christian care for families worldwide

Mothers’ Union….

…transforming communities worldwide

Documents

Small Change, Big Difference All Unit Conference, 6 th –8 th October 2010 MU Australia Council Meeting November 2013 20:20 Vision “Sowing the future together”