The Williston Federated Church has a very active women’s group. The group’s primary goal is enabling God’s love in the world by caring for others, both worldwide and local. Women of the Church participate in three major fund raising efforts each year:  Chicken Pie Supper, Christmas Bazaar and Rummage Sale. There are often smaller fund raising programs throughout the year. The money from these efforts goes primarily to local area charities, and also to worldwide and national missions through our denominations. In addition to fundraising, Women of the Church care for and nurture people in our church and community as the need arises. 

Women of the Church is also about fellowship! All women associated with the church are considered members and may participate in all activities.  While we do not have a monthly meeting, we do have an annual fellowship breakfast and a monthly book group.

The roots of our Women of the Church organization began in the 1800’s when church women saw suffering in the world and wanted to alleviate it*. Church decision making at that time was controlled by men, so the women organized to fund raise and implement charity work throughout the world. The Congregational Church had the “Ladies Aid Society,” and the United Methodists had the “Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society.” In 1869, Clementina Butler and Lois Parker, wives of missionaries to India, made a plea to a group of eight women in Boston about the spiritual and physical needs of poor women in India. They could not be treated by male doctors; schooling for girls was almost non-existent; and help was desperately needed.

In what would become a lasting legacy of “showing up and getting things done,” the attendees were moved to action. They quickly called another meeting of more women. They wrote a constitution. And in short order, they organized the Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS).

By November 1869, the newly formed organization raised funds and sent educator Isabella Thoburn and Dr. Clara Swain to India.

Ms. Thoburn began a school with just six young girls that went on to become Isabella Thoburn College, Asia’s first women’s college. Dr. Swain’s medical work resulted in the first women’s hospital in Asia. Both institutions continue to serve the people of India today. To the beginning In 1972, United Methodist Women first became the women’s mission organization as part of The United Methodist Church’s Board of GlobalMinistries.

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016**.

¶ 1902—United Methodist Women shall be actively engaged in fulfilling the mission of Christ and the Church and United Methodist Women’s national organization shall interpret the Purpose of United Methodist Women for the whole organization. With continuing awareness of the concerns and responsibilities of the Church in today’s world, United Methodist Women shall support ministry with and advocate for the oppressed and dispossessed with special attention to the needs of women, children, and youth; shall work to build a supportive community among women; and shall engage in activities that foster growth in the Christian faith, mission education, and Christian social involvement throughout the organization.

•   https://uwfaith.org/who-we-are/our-history/

** https://uwfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/OrganizationalPurpose.pdf