MRS. MURIEL STAFFORD is the wife of Mr. V. C. Stafford, Director of the Federal Board of Christian Education, and a member of the Cheltenham Church, Victoria. She is immediate Past President of the Victorian-Tasmanian Christian Women's Fellowship. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Stafford was a teacher with the Education Department of Western Australia. At present she is an executive member of the Women's Inter-Church Council of Victoria.

      From the earliest records of the history of the Christian Church, it has been established that women have played a vital part in its purpose and growth. The Church of the first century owed much to such women as Lydia, Priscilla and Dorcas, who demonstrated that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female.

      It is a far cry from that first century to this, the twentieth. But in unbroken line women have combined to stand beside the men of the Church to assist them in their work of evangelism and service, in ever-increasing strength and devotion.

      The purpose of this pamphlet is to

      (1) trace the history of women's work in Churches of Christ throughout Australia;

      (2) give an idea of how women are at work in this present time;

      (3) suggest some ways in which such work may be maintained, consolidated and extended.

Victoria

      The first united meeting for women only was held about 1863 and was for prayer only. The women met in each others homes. From this very humble beginning has come the great Christian Women's Fellowship of today.

      In 1884 a united women's meeting was held at Buninyong, near Ballarat. Essays were read on Dorcas work, sisters' prayer meetings, mothers' meetings, visiting committees and teachers' meetings.

      The first official conference, which has ever since been an annual event, was held in 1886, when Mrs. C. L. Thurgood of Ballarat, was elected president. There were 60 women present at the first conference. This was the direct result of two letters which had appeared in the "Australian Christian Watchman" calling the attention of the Victorian sisterhood to the need of organising women's work, and suggesting a united forward movement.

      The "Jubilee History" published in 1903 reports, "The sisters' conference, which came into existence shortly after the reconstruction of the General Conference, had a great deal to do with the popularising of the latter. The sisters, who had hitherto stood aloof from the meetings, now attended in great numbers. Holding their own conference a day of two prior to the General Conference, they make a point of doing all they can to promote the welfare of the larger body and succeed most admirably in doing so."

      In 1902 there were seven departments of work--Home and Foreign Missions, Dorcas, Prayer, Sunday School, Temperance, Hospital Visitation.

      In 1956 it was felt that a more effective work could be accomplished if there was a greater unity amongst the women's groups in existence, and so the Christian Women's Fellowship came into being, to take the place of the Women's Conference.

South Australia.

      The work in this State commenced with a Dorcas Society at North Adelaide in 1884. In 1889 a "Women's Class" was organised, which in 1892 reached its peak with a membership of 75. The first women's conference was held in 1906.

New South Wales.

      Held its first women's conference in 1894. Work at that time covered home missions, temperance, Sunday Schools, Dorcas, Endeavour and isolated sisters.

Tasmania.

      Dorcas work had been commenced by 1900. The first women's conference was held in 1911.

Western Australia.

      No mention of any organised work before 1900. First women's conference in 1906.

Queensland.

      The only mention made in the "Jubilee History" of any early women's work is that of the formation of a women's sewing class in Brisbane in 1889.

      Sixty years have passed since the publication of the Jubilee History in 1903--sixty years of tremendous growth and expansion in women's work. The constitution of the first women's conference stated the aim as follows:

      "that in the spirit of auxiliary, it shall have for its basis the giving of hearty support to the general conference in all its movements, especially in work and effort wherein sisters may with fitness engage; also to enlist the sympathies and interest of every sister in the church to more effective service for the Lord."

      That this has never been departed from can be seen by a study of all present State constitutions, which contain such clauses as:

      "to draw the women of our churches more closely together and to organise their work more fully . . ."

      "to assist the work of the conference of Churches of Christ and to initiate and support such movements as are deemed to be in the best interests of the Kingdom of God . . ."

      "to engage in any form of united service which is in harmony with New Testament teaching . . ."

      "to develop individual Christian character . . ."

      "to promote growth and coordination of all women's work within the church . . ."

      "to give hearty support to the general conference in all its movements . . ."

      "to develop a trained Christian womanhood and to unite them in a world-wide service for Christ . . ."

      The practical outworking of these aims can be seen in the following summary of what has been and is being done in State Christian Women's Fellowships up to this present time.

      Victoria and Tasmania--Approximately 3,000.

      South Australia--Complete figures not available, but voting strength of delegates to Council 260. Average attendance at 1963 women's conference day sessions, 500.

      Western Australia--723.

      Queensland--632.

      New South Wales--No figures available.

      Money raised for all purposes during last conference year (1962/63)

      A glance at these figures would make impossible a criticism once printed in an American publication re the efforts of women. "You

know about this little play at missionary work with which our women are amusing themselves, making speeches and giving in their own name a little money, given them, as to little children, by their husbands and fathers."

      The committee system is the medium through which the work of Christian Women's Fellowship is carried out.

      These are the departments which are assisted by the activities of such committees, most of them being common to all States:

      (1) Missionary (Overseas, Home and Aborigines)
      (2) Social Service
      (3) Homes Visitation
      (4) Temperance
      (5) Catering
      (6) Dorcas
      (7) Hospital Visitation
      (8) Christian Education
      (9) Prayer
      (10) College of the Bible
      (11) Isolated members
      (12) Evening (or young women's) Fellowship

      Through the committees many major works are carried out. They include

      (1) Providing salaries of several missionary "living links."
      (2) Supplying "Christmas Cheer" for missionaries on the field.
      (3) Assisting with subsidies to Home Mission churches.
      (4) Providing all clothing required by the native children at our missions in Carnarvon and Norseman.
      (5) Supporting our own church hospitals, homes for the aged and children's homes.
      (6) Visiting regularly at these homes.
      (7) Making and donating clothing for needy families, hospitals and for overseas refugees through Inter-Church Aid.
      (8) Regular visitation of public hospitals.
      (9) Furthering temperance education amongst adults and young people.
      (10) Financially assisting departments of Christian Education.
      (11) Giving financial and practical assistance to our Bible Colleges.
      (12) Fostering the prayer life of our women.
      (13) Keeping in touch with isolated members.
      (14) Providing meals at conferences and other functions involving the various committees.

      Here are some special projects which have been undertaken in the last few years by State Christian Women's Fellowships.

New South Wales.

      (1) Supplied money for the timber for a missionary home in New Guinea.
      (2) Paid the subsidy of a country home mission church for 1963.

South Australia.

      (1) Financed a cottage for retired missionaries at the Christian Rest Home.
      (2) Assisted World Refugee Appeal.

Victoria.

      (1) Completed purchase of "Ludbrook House", a home for missionaries on furlough.
      (2) Initiated and continues to further the "Woman to Woman" evangelism movement through the State. To the end of 1963, ten campaigns have been held in local churches, and 24 decisions for Christ have been registered. Preparations" are being made for several more campaigns during 1964.

Western Australia.

      (1) Financially assisted the Christian Centre building fund.
      (2) Helped substantially in providing equipment for the kitchen at the Centre.

Queensland.

      (1) Given financial support to the Salvation Army Hostel for delinquent girls.
      (2) Supports seven aborigine orphans, as well as some orphans on our overseas mission fields.

Tasmania.

      (1) Continuing in maintenance of Bethany children's home and in
      (2) Working towards the establishment of a camp site in Tasmania.

      During the process of the years, and as the work of the States continued to grow, the necessity for collaboration in some fields became apparent. The idea of a business session for women of Churches of Christ in Australia originated in 1936, when Federal Conference was being held in Victoria. The Victorian Women's Conference Past Presidents' Association arranged a special function at which the following motion was submitted and carried--"That the Women's Executives of the States of the Commonwealth make an effort to organise a Women's Business Session at the Federal Conference, with a view to closer co-operation and more effective service:"

      A copy of the resolution was forwarded to the secretaries of each State Women's Executive. It was arranged that when Federal Conference was held in Sydney in 1938, the Women's Executive of each State would send representatives to meet the New South Wales' Women's Conference Executive prior to the Women's Conference Session, to discuss matters of business which their respective States wished to duce at the Conference.

      At the inaugural session, representatives from five other States attended. The main business seemed to centre round the idea of a united missionary work, and much was said about Mission Band work and its educational value. The offering received was used to help furnish the Mary Thompson Bungalow which had just been completed for the single nurses in India.

      It was decided to hold the first Women's Federal conference in Western Australia in 1940, when the next Federal Conference would be held. But owing to the war and travel restrictions, the conference was transferred to South Australia, and the first constituted Women's Federal Conference was held in Adelaide in 1941. The suggested constitution had previously been circulated among the States, and was adopted unanimously. Mrs. A. L. Read was the first President and Mrs. M. Trowbridge the first Secretary.

      One very important outcome of this conference was the election of a Women's Missionary Education Executive, which consisted of at least two women from each State, and a two year National Missionary Education programme was adopted.

      Because of the war and transport difficulties the conference was not able to be held again till 1946, though an informal meeting, representative of all States, was held in Sydney during this period, and support voted for the help of women in bombed British churches. Over a few months, £636 was received for this purpose.

      From 1946, Women's Federal Conference continued to be held biennially in capital cities, in conjunction with the Federal Conference.

      Many things have been accomplished by the women of Australia through the Women's Federal Conference,

the more important being as follows:

      (1) Fund established to help in the support of our lady missionaries in our Aborigines' Mission Field, the missionary chosen to be known as our Federal Living Link. At Federal Conference 1960, this sum stood at £252 per annum, contributed on a proportionate basis from all States.

      (2) At Federal Conference Sydney, 1956, a resolution was passed "to endeavour to bring a native worker from one of our missions to Australia, to stimulate interest in mission work among our women, in conjunction with the Federal Overseas Mission Board." As a result of this, in October 1957 Shantabai Choudhari was invited to attend Federal Conference in Adelaide in 1958. Her visit brought us all in closer contact with our Indian sisters, and her presence at Federal Conference follow ed by her itinerary through all States, established a more personal interest in our mission work.

      (3) At Federal Conference in Hobart 1950 it was resolved to seek to establish a World Conference of women of Churches of Christ, at the next World Convention to be held in Melbourne in 1952.

      On August 20th, 1955, the WCWF was officially inaugurated at the World Convention of Churches of Christ at Toronto, Canada.

      For years prior to this, the idea of a World Fellowship of our women had been in many hearts. At the World Convention in Melbourne in 1952 it was finally decided that such a fellowship be officially constituted and formed in Toronto in 1955.

      At each World Convention, every five years, a World President is elected from the country where the next Convention will be held. At present Mrs. Maldonado of Puerto Rico is President. Miss Jessie Trout, who was greatly instrumental in the formation of our WCWF, served as Secretary-Treasurer until her retirement in 1961. Miss Helen Spaulding succeeded her to this position.

      We have the great honour, at present, of having Mrs. C. Digwood of Western Australia as our World Vice-President. The World Executive is comprised of the Executive officers, and one representative from each participating country. Mrs. J. Cleland of Victoria, was our first Australian representative, and she was succeeded by Mrs. L. Wylie, late of New South Wales, and now of Victoria.

      "Newsletter" which contains news items from each country, greetings from our Executive, prayer topics which are used throughout the world, a specially prepared Birthday Programme once a year, and news of our Haiti project, is printed twice yearly and circulated to all countries.

      In 1962, as a World Fellowship, a Literary Project for Haiti was undertaken. This took the form of a simple Reading Primer on Hygiene and is to be used among the many illiterate women of Haiti.

      The World Christian Women's Fellowship is not an administrative agency, nor does it intend to become such. It is a World Fellowship of women, within the larger fellowship of our churches throughout the world.

Other Affiliations.

      Beyond our own particular work we, as Christian Women's Fellowships, are affiliated with other bodies such as Women's World Day of Prayer, Women's Inter-church Councils, and National Councils of Women, on which we are represented and whose activities for the welfare

of the community we support wherever possible.

What of the future?

      From a study of the volume and variety of work which is being done by our Australian women, it can readily be recognised that the maintaining of it is a major task. But it must be more than maintained. It must continue to grow, even as it has over the past sixty years.

      For this to be accomplished, there must be continued interest, efficiency and strength, both on the Executive and the local levels. There are several factors which at the present time are causing concern, and which could, if not remedied, constitute a serious threat to progress.

      The first problem is that of Membership.

      A slogan which has been set before our women, but which has fallen far short in actuality, is "Every woman in the church a member of C.W.F."

      It is generally recognised that the major part of C.W.F. work is done through the Missionary Groups, Missions Bands, and afternoon groups. Analyse the age level of such a group in your church. In most cases, the far greater percentage is made up of women in the late 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's.

      At the top, there is a gradual dropping away because of age or ill-health. Where are the

      recruits who should be coming in to fill the gaps and maintain the level of membership?

      Where are the women of vigour and efficiency, who are needed to put new life and energy into these depleted groups?

      One cause of their absence is the ever-increasing number of working wives, who, once their families are off their hands, seek employment which makes them unavailable for the work of C.W.F.

      Another cause is the reluctance of the members of our Evening Fellowship groups to graduate to the more mature group.

      Originally intended for young women who work during the day, and mothers of very young children who find it inconvenient to attend afternoon meetings, the Evening Fellowship often continues to retain women who no longer have the claims of young families, but who are reluctant to step up to a group which is in dire need of their talents and capabilities.

      There is much to commend the system adopted by our American women, wherein the programme, projects and studies for the evening groups are identical with those of the afternoon groups. Such a procedure might well be a step towards the unifying of our women's activities, and an increased interest in and support of all C.W.F. projects.

      The second problem is that of

Education.

      Here I would like to quote a recent visitor to Australia from U.S.A., Mrs. Lillian Lantz. In an article entitled "Working Holiday in Australia", published in the October 1963 issue of "World Call", Mrs. Lantz writes:

      "I found a dearth of programme material for C.W.F. groups, and what there is is not being widely used. The women are trying hard to compensate for this by undertaking many projects. They were fascinated by our apparent obsession with study."

      We could not agree more. Two things are very evident. Many groups are not availing themselves of the material provided by our Women's Federal Missionary Education Committee, and there is a dis-inclination to use topic or study papers supplied by State executives.

      Where there is lack of information regarding our work, and lack of desire to study and discuss the

basic principles of our faith, and their application to life as it is today, there can be little hope of any marked rise above the mediocre either in our own personal lives, or in our corporate work and, witness as a Christian Women's Fellowship.

      This title should truly express what it is intended to convey.

      Let us be a Christian Women's Fellowship, in that we are here not to be served, but to serve; not only to be busy and concerned about many things, but to choose that better part which shall not be taken away.

      Let us be a Christian Women's Fellowship, no longer children such as Paul describes in his letter to the Hebrews. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word.. You need milk, not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us go on to maturity."

      Let us be a Christian Women's Fellowship. In one of her recent books, Rita Snowden says, "Real fellowship is something far more than being together in one place, far more than hearing and looking at the same things, going the same way. Fellowship has its roots in self-giving. It is one of the most lovely experiences of the New Testament. An early saying of the Church was, 'One Christian is no Christian.' Faith and service in isolation lacks something. When Paul wrote to his friends that they were 'called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord' he was going right to the root of the matter, reminding them of a glorious self-giving to their Lord and to each other. It was one of the most exacting experiences, but they grew in that fellowship, as they could have done in nothing else."

      That is the kind of fellowship we must have as Christian women if the work to which we have put our hands is to prove worthy in the sight of the Master we serve.