CONTENTS 1. FOREWORD BY THE LIAISON BISHOP 2. PREFACE 3. OBJECTIVES OF THE AWF 4. MOTTO 5. AWF PRAYER 6. THEMES 7. THE AWF BADGE 8. HOW THE AWF WAS FORMED 9. STRUCTURE OF AWF 10. A BIT OF HISTORY 11. THE CONSTITUTION 12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBERS 13. AWF PATRONAL SAINTS 14. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES a. Prayer & Worship b. Mission and Witness c. Fellowship & Study d. Service & Stewardship 15. UNIT COMMITTEES / PORTFOLIOS 16. SUGGESTED ANNUAL EVENTS a. Shrove Tuesday b. Mothering Sunday c. Mothers Day d. Dorcas Today e. Retreat or Quiet Day f. Mary & Martha Day Service 17. GUIDELINES a. To conducting Meetings b. To Admission Services i. Of New Parochial Branch ii. Of Executive Member iii. Of New Members c. Cluster Co-ordinators d. Report Writing e. Management of Promotional Material f. Hosting Provincial Executive Meetings g. Hosting Provincial Council Meetings 18. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE 19. ELECTION POLICY 20. EXECUTIVE HANDOVER POLICY 1 21. OTHER PRAYERS 22. AWF HYMNS 2 FOREWORD TO THE HANDBOOK By the Liaison Bishop “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) I have been privileged to write a foreword to this well-planned and clearly set out magnificent handbook. As clearly stated on its cover, it provides information not only to those who are already AWF members, but to all individuals and groups who seek to institute the same in their own parishes. No words can express our deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the production of such step by step guidelines to enable each member to be properly ingrained into the fold of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship. The current President, Pumla Titus, and her Deputy Nana Khoza, together with all PEXCO members have worked tirelessly to ensure that this handbook is revised and published. We shall forever be thankful to God for what they have done. The essence of what AWF stands for is made manifest in the pages of this handbook. The handbook, amongst other things, seeks to lay emphasis on the importance of being “united in prayer, service and love”. Indeed this is the goal and purpose of worship and fellowship, namely, to serve God and one another. Lastly, and most importantly, the handbook declares that the life of each member is undergirded and constituted by a rule of life, which includes inter alia, the set constitution, the set form of worship, governing policies and others. We recommend that this comprehensive piece of work be dear and closer to the heart of every AWF member for effective spiritual growth and development in the Christian pathway. Grace and deep peace †Sebenzile Mbhashe 13 May 2014 3 PREFACE Dear Sisters in Christ I am humbled to be presenting the 3rd edition of our Handbook and Guidelines Booklet. Many thanks to the diligent members of our Provincial Executive, who have worked very hard over the last two years to ensure that our organisation has good guidance and information. We have tried as much as possible to include all relevant information and included issues that have come up through frequently asked questions by our members. We urge all our members to utilise this book to promote the AWF and keep our fellowship vibrant though consistent. AWAFI! The translation of the Handbook to other languages remains a challenge, we urge able members to kindly assist us. We remain yours in Prayer, Service and Love Pumla Titus Provincial President 2010-2014 Email: [email protected] Website: www.anglicanwomensfellowship.co.za --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Edition: October 2007 2nd Edition: December 2011 3rd Edition: June 2014 Special acknowledgement is made to Mrs Mary Hayward who compiled the first handbook for the Diocese of Johannesburg, from which the first edition was derived. GLOSSARY ACRONYM FULL NAME AGM Annual General Meeting AWF Anglican Women’s Fellowship AWFDC Anglican Women’s Fellowship Diocesan Council AWFPC Anglican Women’s Fellowship Provincial Council ACSA Anglican Church of Southern Africa APB Anglican Prayer Book DEXCO Diocesan Executive Committee MU Mothers Union PEXCO Provincial Executive Committee 4 MOTTO “United in Prayer, Service and Love.” AIMS OF THE AWF The aims are to promote: ➢ Prayer and Worship ➢ Mission and Witness ➢ Fellowship and Study ➢ Service and Stewardship AWF PRAYER God our Father, You have called us to worship and serve You in Your Church. We ask you to bless the members of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship. Unite us in love, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and strengthen us to serve you in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN THEMES A Provincial Theme is proclaimed at each Provincial Council Meeting, which is held once every two years. The recent themes have been: 1994 – 1996: Committed to God, the community, our families and the AWF. 1996 – 1998: Vision, Empowerment, Renewal 1998 – 2000: Growth through Change 2000 – 2002: Joyful Servants of God 2002 – 2004: United in Christ to make a difference 2004 – 2006: Building Family Life to make a Difference. 2006 – 2008: AWF Arise and shine 2008 – 2010: Walk in His light in faith 2010 – 2014: Revive, Relate, Rejoice Women of God 2014 – 2018: Women Destined for GOD’s Purpose 5 WHAT OUR BADGE SYMBOLISES We need to remember that when one becomes a member of the AWF, it is not only to the organisation but also to the body of Christ and the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, one can proudly wear the badge, which reflects our motto. 1. COLOURS Our badge has the following colours: a) WHITE: Symbolising PEACE John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you” We will only be able to be peacemakers, if we ourselves are at PEACE with God and with one another. b) BLUE: Symbolising LOYALTY John 15:12 - “My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you.” This means that we have to be obedient to the teachings of our Lord. He has called each one of us to live faithful lives…. lives of obedience, devotion, worship and service. c) GOLD: Symbolising WEALTH (A great supply of resources or valuable material possessions) 1 Timothy 6:17 - “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” God has provided us with a wealth of gifts and resources to be His servants in the work that we do through the AWF 2. CIRCLE The circle symbolises the UNITY professed in our motto: “United in Prayer, Service and Love” 3. CROSS The cross symbolises our FAITH, which centres on the crucified and resurrected Christ Acknowledgement is given to Ms Nomazizi Nama of the Diocese of Grahamstown for sending this for inclusion in Contact Article No 85 of March 1997. 6 HOW THE AWF WAS FOUNDED This is part of circular letter sent to all Dioceses by the then Archbishop Robert Selby Taylor, inviting them to the inaugural meeting of the AWF which was to be held at St Benedict’s House in Rosettenville, Johannesburg from the 30th March to the 2nd April 1965: “It is suggested that the Province ought to have a comprehensive women’s organisation, to which all Anglican women could belong. After consultation with the Bishops of the Province I have decided to convene a conference to consider this suggestion” I wish to commend to all women of the church of the Province of South Africa the Anglican Women’s Fellowship. A conference met in Johannesburg last March, to which each Diocesan Bishop sent four representatives. The conference unanimously requested the Bishops to agree to the formation of such a Fellowship. The Bishops warmly approved of this proposal. The Anglican Women’s Fellowship will seek to develop and consolidate women’s work. It will also create a fellowship of prayer and service among women throughout the province. Its aims are: ➢ Prayer and Worship; ➢ Mission and Witness; ➢ Fellowship and Study; ➢ Service and Stewardship. The Anglican Women’s Fellowship will not supersede or replace any of the existing women’s organizations. Indeed it has come into existence to a considerable extent as a result of a suggestion from the Mother’s Union, which until now has been the only official society of our church. The Mother’s Union is dedicated to the witness of Christian marriage. Many women, for one reason or another were not qualified for membership of the Mother’s Union. It is most desirable that there should be one Society, which will unite all women into a fellowship of prayer and service. Those who are already members of the Mother’s Union, the Church Women’s Society or the various parochial guilds, can continue their membership, but at the same time they will be members of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship as will members of any new groups formed whose aims are in accordance with those of the Fellowship. In establishing a comprehensive organization, linking all the existing branches of women’s work in the Province, we are in line with general movement towards the co- ordination of such work in other parts of the Anglican Communion. I have an Interim Committee to assist me in the establishment of the Women’s Fellowship, to attend to all the detailed work and planning which such an undertaking involves. This Committee is already seeking information on existing women’s work, both at diocesan and parochial levels, and I feel sure that I can count on your co-operation in helping to supply this information, which will provide the essential background for the organization of the Fellowship.