At their National Conference on 15 November 2023, held by Zoom, members of Australian Church Women Inc. (ACW) from across Australia voted to make donations to two NCCA projects: the Ronald Wilson Ecumenical Leadership Fund and Martung Upah Appeal.
The organisation formally began in February 1965 when a constitution was ratified at the annual meeting of the then Australian Council of Churches.
The first ACW newsletter in May 1965 noted;
our aim is to be a movement providing programmes and perspectives for existing church groups rather than [to be] a large powerful organisation.
Today the areas of focus remain the same:
- to produce and circulate materials for our two annual services (Fellowship Day in late July and World Community Day in late October), which involve hundreds of women in city, regional and rural settings, and
- to strengthen our international links with Christian women especially in Asia, through our support for the Fellowship of the Least Coin and our membership of the Asian Church Women’s Conference.
ACW National Committee member Major Donna Bryan was recently elected President of ACWC.
Recent decisions have allowed the organisation to streamline their structure and reorganise their finances, and to share with the wider ecumenical community funds that are no longer need for their own work.
The National Committee meets monthly by Zoom to coordinate activities and produce the resources that are then offered to members and the wider community.
They also have a comprehensive website that regularly attracts visitors from across the world and gives an excellent overview of their past and current work, and of the role of the Australian Council of Churches in the organisation's foundation.
Please visit their website at www.acw.org.au.
The ACW warmly invite Christian women of all ages, backgrounds, and traditions to join in their work.
The NCCA expresses sincere gratitude to the Australian Church Women committee for their generosity, and also to Margaret Ker, National Secretary for providing the information above.
