HISTORY OF THE METHODIST WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP.
The Women’s Fellowship is recognized by Conference as a Women’s Organization in the Methodist Church.
The aim of the Women’s fellowship is to unite Christian Women in the connexion in fellowship with one another and with Jesus Christ so that the spiritual life of each member may be enriched and that all working together will fully give support to the Church which is the body of Christ. The Women’s Fellowship was started in cape coast in 1931 by a missionary, Sister Frances Green, a tutor at Wesley Girls High School. The fellowship was established in the Church by Rev. G. R. Acquaah. Sister Frances Green invited six other Women; Mrs. Sarah Acquah (Wife of Rev. G. R Acquaah.), Mrs. Hannah DeGraft Johnson, Mrs. Lydia Selby, Mrs. Faustian Daniels, Mrs. Henrietta Phillips and Mrs. Charlotte Bart Plange for the First Meeting. They agreed to train Women in sewing, domestic practices, Child care, Housekeeping, first aid and above all Bible study and its application in life of a Christian Women.
The Women worked hard especially among the less privileged Women. The Ghanaian Women were instrumental in translating whatever took place from the English to local language. It was agreed in the early days of fellowship that in order to embrace all Women irrespective of class or Education, all teaching and interaction must be done in the local Language as much as possible. Bible study may also be done through drama and quiz to enable those who could not read to have better understanding of the Bible.
The Fellowship’s first report to synod was commended and Women were tasked to open more branches saying “The Girls of today are the Mothers of tomorrow and history will never cease to tell of the influence of Mothers upon the great Men of the World” (ref. synod report 1932)
In 1933, Mrs. Kathleen Browne started a branch in Accra, which was later handed over to Sister Rose Little, a missionary tutor at Accra Wesley Girls High School. It is reported that Sister Rose Little worked hard having twenty three (23) literate Women join her in extending the work. These Women were committed and dedicated to the vision of the founding members. In 1934, Sister Frances Green was taken ill and (she) hat to return home. Sister Irene Mason, also a missionary tutor at Wesley Girls High School, took over the mantle of the Women’s Fellowship work. Sister Irene Mason became the first worker, visiting the branches in and around Cape coast. She learnt the Fante Language to be able to work effectively among the illiterate Women. She worked closely with a Ghanaian Women, Sister Juliana Abban, who took over from her when she retired home after retiring in 1953.
In 1934, the Women’s Fellowship was started in Kumasi by then headmistress of Mmofraturo School, Sister PerSis Beer, also missionary. The pioneers continued to establish branches throughout the regions and by 1940, synod had given the recognition to seventeen (17) branches. The vision gave birth to the establishment of the Kwadaso Women’s Training Centre offering course in housecraft, course for ministers and catechists Wives (including reading and writing).
Sister Irene Morrow then stationed at Kwadaso became the first connexional secretary in 1961 as well as establishing the Girls’ Fellowship. In 1937, Sister June Oye Noom started the Women’s’ Fellowship in somanya emphasizing the importance of reading and studying the Bible in the local Language. Several Women have served the Women’s Fellowship with dedication and commitment in diverse ways with some of them opening branches across the Country. In September 2011, the Women’s Fellowship celebrated its 80th anniversary (1931-2011) with recorded membership of fifty thousand (50,000) in the connexion.
THE EMBLEM.
THE Women’s Fellowship has the tree of life (Revelation22:2) popularly called “Nkwadua” as its emblem. The emblem originated from the Federation of Methodist Women in China. The twelve fruits on the tree each represents an area of work undertaken by the Women’s Fellowship i.e. Evangelism, medical, educational, literature, Children, Youth, home, rural, economic, international friendship, temperance and World peace.
MOTTO
“Make you his service your delight and He’ll make your wants His care” (MHB 427, last two lines)
PROMISES I promise to obey Jesus Christ I promise to make my home a Christian home I promise to be loyal to the Women’s Fellowship I promise to take part in some definite Christian service.
The aim, motto and promises are usually said in local language in accordance with the Women’s Fellowship tradition.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all Women in the Church. New members after showing commitment are enrolled as full members and are given a badge to confirm their status. One must be a full member of the Methodist Church before being eligible for enrollment.
Methodist Catechumen and others may attend meetings as associate members until such time when they become full members of the Methodist Church.
Organization: Like the Methodist Church, the fellowship is organized from connexion / diocese, circuit and branch (society level)
Handbook: Handbooks making out suggested topics for the whole year are distributed to all branches. Topics are mainly based on the twelve (12) areas of work already mentioned; bearing in mind the aims and objectives of the women’s Fellowship.
ATIRE
1. White slit and kaba (“twom”) (housewife style) signifies purity. The only uniform worn with the badge.
2. Nkwadua (blue) slit and kaba for ceremonial occasions e.g. anniversaries.
3. Nkwadua (white) slit and kaba for non- ceremonial occasions e.g. a member’s wedding, special Sundays etc. By choice
They are worn with a blue headgear which signifies the love and glory of God with black sandals/shoes to stamp out sin/evil from the World. A black handbag and simple white accessories (necklace, earrings and wrist band or pearls) complete the uniforms.