Time for an Update

Four years ago, the Midwest Women’s Presbyterial Missionary Fellowship (MWPMF) was faced with a big decision: continue as a joint society of women with the purpose of supporting women missionaries or disband as many local societies had already done. The Women’s Synodical of the RPCNA had already succumbed to the changing times. RP Global Missions had centralized the denomination’s missionary efforts. No women missionaries were dependent on ladies’ societies for their support any longer. As it stood, only a handful of local congregational women’s societies remained in the Midwest Presbytery. It seemed the handwriting was on the wall for the larger fellowship.

After forming a committee to survey the members and comb through the feedback, the general consensus was that Midwest ladies still wanted to gather annually. They enjoyed the retreat as a time to refresh and to focus on missions. They profited from studying God’s Word in depth as presented by the speakers and fleshed out in discussion groups. They enjoyed seeing their sisters in Christ from several states away and “breaking bread” together. Something special happened when multiple generations of women gathered together (an occurrence not always possible in a single congregation).

But how would the fellowship adapt? More ladies were working outside the home. It was difficult for many to find time away. Many of the procedures, reports, traditions, and customs were cumbersome or outdated. At times it was hard to find officers and committee members to serve. Finding local congregations willing or able to host a large group of women, plan for meals and lodging, and accommodate a speaker was no small task.

Many adaptations came about naturally, even before the committee and its survey. The retreat was changed to begin Friday afternoon and end Saturday afternoon. Part- or full-time registration for one or two days was offered. Childcare was free and on-site for young mothers. Congregations unable to host the large group sought out retreat centers more centrally located or better suited for ladies. Smaller congregations shared hosting responsibilities. To-go lunches were offered to those traveling longer distances to get home for Sabbath after the retreat.

But there was more work to do. In 2015, a bylaw revision committee was given the commission of ushering the fellowship into the 21st Century. Though multiple bylaw revisions had been made throughout the hundred-year history of the group, deeper measures were needed if the society was to survive and thrive. The committee came back with significant changes. First, a name change was in order. Even as an acronym, many ladies struggled to put the letters, MWPMF, in the right order! Thus, the Midwest Women’s Fellowship (MWF) was born. Though you may still hear those who have faithfully attended for decades call it “Presbyterial,” the annual meeting is now simply known as the “Midwest Women’s Retreat.”

Second, the officers and reports were all given a good once-over. A corresponding secretary was no longer needed, but a technology officer certainly was. And how would she manage all the new requests—a Facebook page, website, email, online registration? An assistant technology officer was also added. Gone were the requirements of reports from every officer, copied and mailed in packets to every congregation. Publicity, registration, and essential reports would be provided digitally.

The committee was careful to consider those less tech-savvy, requesting that point members at each congregation provide written copies and communicate with all members as needed. The committee also considered privacy, taking great pains to provide member-only access to those who requested MWF emails and business.

Also considered was the need for oversight of speaker selection, the changing roles of the treasurer who no longer collected money for missions year-round, as well as a myriad of other small details. It was decided that a business meeting would still be held annually, governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, and that missions and evangelism would remain a focal point of the gathering. Smaller, more frequent retreats within the presbytery, such as the Front Range Women’s Retreat were encouraged, though business of the fellowship would only be conducted annually.

With this committee’s work completed, the next logical step was … more committees! The newly elected board of officers set two new tasks for the freshly minted MWF: (1) Celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the fellowship, and (2) begin to digitally preserve its rich history.

A Centennial Celebration

Plans were made for the Tri-Lakes and Springs Reformed congregations to host the 100th annual meeting of the fellowship. The centennial gathering took place April 28–29 at the beautiful Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs, Colo., with 80 women in attendance. Main speaker Ann O’Neill shared her powerful personal testimony and the “Winding Paths” that God’s providence often take us down. Her husband, Dr. Jerry O’Neill, highlighted the evening missions presentation, updating the group on the past and future of East Asian works.

Throughout the retreat, the Centennial Celebration Committee shared the history of the fellowship in creative ways. First, a psalter booklet was prepared to feature tunes and selections from all five historical psalters used in the fellowship’s history, as well as facts about several of its sponsored missionaries.

Second, historian’s readings from each decade were presented while members modeled period dress and accessories. As you might imagine, this was a highlight of the celebration, with giggles and nods of recollection from the audience. Garments from some of the earliest members were shared—even a fourth-generation family wedding dress (though it required a 12-year-old to model it!).

Visual displays of pictures, gifts, and documents from sponsored women missionaries were presented, as well as a PowerPoint display of all the women serving as president over the last 100 years.

Here are a few of the historian’s notes shared at the retreat. As a fellowship, the MWF has met annually since 1915 (except for two years off during times of war).

Midwest Presbyterial History: 1910s–1920s

The year is 1915. The Sterling Women’s Missionary Society hosts the Kansas women to hear Rev. W.W. Carrithers from the Indian Mission. Special prayers are offered for the Syrian mission, particularly for Mrs. Samuel Edgar and family, as Mr. Edgar had been deported. Mrs. J.W. Dill of Sterling, Kan., is elected the first president.

Three years later, the ladies gather in Denison, Kan., with Mrs. George M. Robb of Quinter, Kan., presiding. As this convention was held during World War I, the societies were urged to be more constant and earnest in prayer that God would restrain the wrath of man and establish peace on earth. In the plan of work it was recommended that the presbyterial permanently assume the support of Miss Rose Huston, a missionary to China, in the amount of $630 annually.

In 1919, Topeka, Kan., welcomed the ladies with instructions for reaching the church by streetcar from the Union Pacific and Santa Fe Depots. All societies that year did Red Cross work. Unfortunately, the influenza epidemic hindered mission society work greatly and canceled regular meetings in many places. Heartfelt sympathy was tendered to the societies who had lost members in the epidemic, and resolutions were passed concerning suffering in the aftermath of WWI.

The “Chautauqua Salute” (the simultaneous flutter of countless white handkerchiefs) welcomed Miss Maggie Edgar to the 1922 meeting in Hebron, Kan. She brought greetings in Arabic to the children of Hebron from the children of Syria. She said that she had had 35 years of “opportunities, not of sacrifice.” Ten years later, Miss Edgar was retired but active in visiting and Bible-teaching in Syria when she mysteriously disappeared, never to be heard of again.

In 1927, the convention theme was “Ye Serve the Lord,” and Bible studies were led by Rev. Taggart of Topeka, Kan. Eleven junior societies reported having 220 members. Due to conditions in China and at home, Miss Huston could no longer be a representative in that field, and the presbyterial assumed support of Miss Elizabeth McElroy in Syria. Alice Robb urged in a letter from China to “pray as never before.” A cablegram eventually brought the good news that our missionaries were safe in Hong Kong.

Conclusion

As you might surmise from this small sample, the history of the MWF is rich and intriguing. The Digital Archiving Committee is currently scanning boxes of historical documents in an effort to preserve the 100 years of work that Midwest RP women have done to support the Lord’s work accomplished by the hearts and hands of women on the mission field. It is the Committee’s goal that these documents will be digitally available to MWF members, and perhaps the larger denomination, in the near future.

In the meantime, the ladies of the MWF continue their work, with God’s grace, to fulfill their mission of encouraging spiritual growth and fellowship among members and of supporting RPCNA missions. We do this by prayer, education about missionaries and mission fields, fundraising for missions, training in local evangelism efforts, and setting aside fellowship funds annually to provide for retired missionaries. Though change has not been without its struggles, the Lord continues to provide and bless the Midwest women’s efforts to continue their century of support.

Elizabeth Reed was an MWF officer from 2015-16. She is a member at Topeka, Kan., RPC.