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Report to Joint Standing Committee Anglican Consultative Council
From Liz Barnes, IAWN Coordinator
It gives me great pleasure to present to you, the first report of the Anglican Women's network. I give thanks and praise to Almighty God for the opportunity given me, to be involved in the formation of this exciting new venture.
Subsequent to the Consultation held at Mary Sumner House, London, during November 1996, and a meeting with the design committee in Philadelphia, I was given the mandate to put together a data base of women's organizations and ministries throughout the Communion. A letter was sent to all Primates, and the response was indeed most rewarding. Although no reply was received from a few Provinces, with the help of Mary Sumner House and other contacts, our data base is now in operation.
A Mission Statement and Way Forward, drawn up from the Communique issued in November 1996, together with a questionnaire, was sent to all the names reflected on the data base, early in the new year. With the response to the questionnaire, we hope to be able to put together a picture of what the women in the Church require, and what form they envisage this Network should take in the future. We hope to have formulated all this information by the end of June 1998, and it should be very interesting to see how the end result differs form the conclusions arrived at in November 1996.
The great interest which has been generated and the wonderful response which has been received, the offers of space via the Internet, the enormous amount of contact names sent in from Provinces, proves the necessity of an International Anglican Women's Network. I am also convinced that this Network will prove to be a tremendous asset, to all, throughout the Communion. Provinces are sending us details of activities, both national and international, and after a recent meeting of ANITEPAM in Harare, I was sent a powerful document for onward transmission to the ACC.
There are disadvantages, such as language, etc. but I feel very confident that, with the Lord's guidance, these will be overcome. The total lack of finance has not proven to be as big a problem as originally envisaged. The generosity of women within the CPSA has been tremendous, and I give thanks to God for opening the hearts of these people. However, if the Network is to succeed and function as a viable entity within the Communion, I must impress that consideration be given for future funding.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have assisted me achieve what we have so far, and a special thanks to the Rev. Canon John Peterson for all his support and encouragement.
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