PURPOSE

As individuals called to discipleship to grow in knowledge and experience of God through Jesus Christ, committed to support the mission of the church, and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are challenged to help one another engage in ministry and action, and grow and respond in faith to God’s redemptive plan for the church, the society and the world.

HISTORY

The Women’s Missionary Society is an organization rooted in African Methodism as far back as 1787.  Sarah Allen was the first woman missionary in the A.M.E. church.  Her first missionary project was to look after the physical condition of the preachers that Richard Allen sent out on the field.  Many of them returned in very poor physical condition, and Sarah Allen organized the women to mend their clothes and provide hot nourishing meals when they came to make their reports.

THE STRUCTURE

The Women’s Missionary Society is not a club in the local church.  It is part of a connectional organization, which functions through commissions.  The Commissions are as follows:

1. Commission on Administration

2. Commission on Christian Social Action

3. Commission on Mission Education and Interpretation

4. Commission on Membership and Recruitment

Official attire – white with a touch of blue

Levels of the Women’s Missionary Society

• Connectional – Episcopal Districts

• Episcopal District – Specific Conferences within a district

• Conference – Churches within an Annual Conference Division

• Area – churches within a geographical area of a Conference

• Local – Organized society in a local church

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WMS UNITS

#1 Ruth Butler –
Bernice Neely Convening Chairperson
Meets on 2nd Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

#2 Winnie Lumpkin Unit –
Peggy Graham, Chairperson
Meets on 1st Sunday, 12:15 p.m.

#3 Biddy Mason Unit –
Sue Beidleman, Chairperson
Meets on 3rd Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

#4 Fitzgerald-Simpson Unit –
Lois Wood, Chairperson
Meets on 4th Sunday, 12:15 p.m.

#5 Bernadine Murray Unit –
Tanisha Thomas-Blank, Chairperson
Meets on 2nd Saturday, 9:00 a.m.

PROGRAMS & PROJECTS

• 2012 Monthly Food Give-Away (see dates)
  
• Bi-Annual Hunger Walk
  
• Bi-Annual Debutantes and Masters
  
• Handy Simmons Scholarship
  
• King/Drew Oasis Clinic Lunch
  
• Longwood Convalescent Visit
  
• Mini Twelve-Step Shelter Visit
  
• Lumpkin Angels
  
• Westside Convalescent Home

YOUNG PEOPLE’S AND CHILDREN’S DIVISION
OF THE WOMEN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY (YPD)

This organization is under the auspices of the Women’s Missionary Society and is designed to specialize in training young people for leadership in the missionary program of the AME Church.

The Women’s Missionary Society is responsible to minister to our youth, meet their needs where they are and encourage them to develop their relationship with God:

1. Provide meaningful youth programs

2. Encourage full participation in the total mission program

3. Enhance their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and African Methodist Episcopal Church

4. Provide leadership opportunities

5.   Foster spiritual and academic achievement