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History of Women Ministries
CHICAGO, IL (January 31, 2006) - The idea of a woman's auxiliary was born in
the fall of 1915 when the wife of the president of North Park College,
Mrs. Louisa (David) Nyvall entertained a few ladies for coffee. When her
husband suggested the possibility of a women's organization to aid the
school, the women were interested.
Mrs. Selma (Charles) Wik, assisted by Mrs. Sarah (Carl) Highfield,
arranged for a meeting of the women from Chicago area churches. About
100 women met at Northside Mission Church in Chicago on January 21,
1916, with 93 women signing the charter to create the Swedish Mission
Covenant Women's Society, later to be called the Covenant Women's
Auxiliary. A second meeting was held February 18 at Englewood Mission
Covenant Church on the south side of Chicago, where 32 women signed,
bringing the total charter membership to 125.
Following is a recap of the organization's history, including key
accomplishments.
January 21, 1916
The Swedish Mission Covenant Women's Society, later called Covenant
Women's Auxiliary, was organized. Ninety-three of those present signed
as charter members. The charter membership was left open until the
second meeting held at the Englewood Mission Covenant Church on the
south side of Chicago, February 18, 1916. Thirty-two additional members
signed the roll, making a total charter membership of 125. The purpose
of the auxiliary: to work for and assist North Park College and the Home
of Mercy. Mrs. Josephine Princell was elected temporary chairperson and
served two years.
1917
Covenant Woman's Auxiliary was accepted as an organization of the
Evangelical Covenant Church, with delegate status at Annual Meetings.
CWA chorus was organized, directed by Mrs. Otto Highfield, with the
group's favorite song being, "Thanks Be to God."
1918
The Princeton Children's Home and Alaska and China missions were
included in CWA's interests.
1918-1928
The Caroline Hall project raised $56,000. Emelia Johnson (Mrs. P.J.) led
the women in achieving the goal.
1921
Phoebe, booklets of Annual Meeting reports in five and ten-year
intervals, was first published. They were published until 1956.
1924
CWA planted a hedge around the campus of North Park College.
1928-1939
Covenant Women's Auxiliary became a national organization and adopted a
new constitution, effective 1934. Marie Eggan (Mrs. M.J.) led in the
transition.
1930
Dr. Mildred Nordlund became the first medical missionary to China. Her
full support was assumed by CWA during her entire missionary career.
1933
Swedish was replaced with English in CWA meetings.
1939-1947
Signe Carlson (Mrs. O.W.) led CWA through the war years. A wing of the
North Park Seminary building received CWA funds.
1945
National CWA Annual Meeting was canceled due to governmental request
restricting wartime travel and representatives only were present.
Balloting for officers was conducted by mail with 301 ballots.
1947-1953
Helen Burgh (Mrs. J. Fredrick) inspired many districts and local groups
to join the national organization and extend the mission outreach.
1953-1959
June Anderson led CWA, greatly enlarging its ministry and increasing
membership to 12,000. The first program packet was published.
1959-1963
A Survey Committee, under the leadership of Ruth Johnson (Mrs. Alfred
J.), was appointed to make a study of the Covenant Woman's Auxiliary to
determine whether, in the light of the changes through the years, the
organization was meeting the needs of the women in local churches. As a
result of the survey, recommendations were presented to the Annual
Meeting (1962) and the following were approved:
- A Unified Plan was adopted whereby each church would have one
organization for women uniting women of all ages and interests.
- The name of the organization would be changed to Covenant Women.
- Three national committees – education, membership, and stewardship –
would prepare resources for local organizations.
1963-1969
Pearl Green (Mrs. Carl N.) led Covenant Women in the decision to call a
full-time director of women's work.
1965
Approval was granted to call a full-time worker to be known as executive
director.
1966
The 50th anniversary was marked by the assumption of a $50,000 National
Project to launch a new Christian education curriculum and establish a
grant-in-aid endowment scholarship for daughters and sons of ministers
and missionaries.
1967
Hazel Anderson (Mrs. Harold E.) assumed the office of executive director
on February 1, 1967, beginning a five-year term. Administration fees
from a percentage of all funds received was approved by the Annual
Meeting to supplement administration income.
1968
Annual Meeting was extended from one day to two. A Special Interest
Missionaries (SIM) program for all Covenant women missionaries was
adopted and Thank Offering boxes replaced the Gleaner envelopes. A new
finance plan also was adopted.
1969
Erma Chinander was elected president of Covenant Women.
1970
Biennial rather than annual meetings were introduced by the CW Board.
1971
Biennial meetings were defeated in favor of an annual-triennial meeting
plan. Jean B. Nelson (Mrs. Henning) from Seattle, Washington was elected
as national president, the first president to come from outside the
Chicago area.
1972
Erma Chinander began a five-year term as executive director. Membership
and stewardship kits were available for the first time. Actual/potential
membership reporting began.
1973
Sara Mendez, president of CW of Ecuador, visited the CW Annual Meeting.
1974
CW's largest project to date, a three-year project to raise $100,000 for
Giving for Growing, was undertaken. Triennial I was held at
Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota. Constitutional provision
was waived and all women present voted. Honorary membership was changed
to Recognition Award.
1975
Executive Director Erma Chinander made an official visit to the 8th
Annual Meeting of the Covenant Women of Ecuador. All three national
committees combined their materials in one publication, Break Free
II. Local presidents were honored and given a gavel insignia.
Membership was 19,797 actual, 6,251 potential with a total of 26,048.
1976
Annual Meeting commemorating CW's 60th anniversary was held in Tacoma,
Washington. Mrs. Ellen (Howard) Slwooko, CW president of Alaska, was
invited as a special guest. A 60th anniversary pageant was given with a
filmstrip made for distribution.
1977
Triennial II was held at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. omen of Zaire, a
two-year national project, was adopted. Mrs. Betty (John) Carlson of
South Bend, Indiana, was elected president. The first issue of
Covenant Women Magazine was published.
1978
Giving for Growing project to raise $100,000 was completed. Women of
Zaire project was extended to Triennial III.
1979
The Board of Women's Work was established by vote of the Covenant Annual
Meeting and recognized as an administrative board of the Covenant. Mrs.
Betty (John) Carlson was elected as the board's first chairperson. First
election of officers under the new constitution was held. Decision was
made that all persons attending Triennial III be voting delegates.
1980
Mrs. Doris R. (Arnold) Johnson was the second Covenant Women executive
secretary and first to be elected by the Covenant Annual Meeting.
Triennial III was held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Assisting Retired Missionaries (ARM) was adopted for a three-year
national project. Continuation of Women of Zaire Project ($10,000/year
for three years) was adopted.
1981
First annual meeting was held using body delegation instead of
credentialed delegation.
1982
The name was officially changed to Department of Covenant Women and
Board of Covenant Women by vote of the denomination's annual meeting.
"Friends of Covenant Women" was adopted as a source of supplemental income.
Mrs. Margaret (Terence) Carlson was elected CW Board chairperson.
1983
Triennial IV was held in Tacoma, Washington, with the theme "Rejoicing
in Hope."
The Pilgrimage of Parenting course was published.
1984
Ruth Cederberg was elected board chairperson. Covenant Women
Magazine became a quarterly magazine. A Centennial gift to the
Covenant for use by North Park Theological Seminary was the national
project.
1985
Women Outreaching to Women (WOW) was the national project, financing
courses addressing societal problems and equipping women to reach out to
those in need. InSpirit became the new name of the magazine. The
largest Covenant Women gathering occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
where 2,300 women attended a brunch during the denomination's centennial
annual meeting.
1986
Triennial V was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the theme "Living
our Commitment." Lois M. Johnson became board chairperson.
1987
A five-year commitment was made to Century Two Campaign (C2C) for
$250,000 to be used in Covenant causes. ECC Women's History Commission
was established. Long-range Planning Commission was established.
1988
Enabling the Disabled was launched as the national project. Special
Human Needs Commission was established.
1989
Deirdre M. Banks was elected as executive secretary of Covenant Women by
the denomination's annual meeting. Triennial VI was held in Fort
Collins, Colorado, with the theme "Celebrate Our God." Ruth West became
board chairperson.
1990
Covenant Women Ministries became the new name for Covenant Women. The
Long-range Planning Commission finished its work. The Board of Covenant
Enabling Residences was established under the auspices of CWM and
charged with establishing residences for developmentally disabled adults.
1992
Triennial VII was held in Fredonia, New York, with the theme "On the
Growing Edge."
Linda Stromberg became board chairperson. Partners in Ministry program
for seminary spouses was established. Ground-breaking for the first
Covenant Enabling residence at Oak Park, Illinois, was held November 22.
1994
Bjorklund House in Oak Park, Illinois, was opened. Betty L. Johnson
became board chairperson.
1995
Triennial VIII was held in San Diego, California, with the theme
"Soaring Beyond."
1996
Donations for the national project, "A Place to Call Home," broke all
previous records.
1997
Joann Larson became board chairperson. Covenant Enabling Residences
expanded to include Duluth.
1998
Covenant Women Ministries Endowment Fund was established with a donation
of $5,000. Administration of Covenant Enabling Residences passed from
CWM to Covenant Ministries of Benevolence. Triennial IX was held in
Duluth, Minnesota, and had a record-setting 1,495 women in attendance.
Norma Kennedy became board chairperson.
1999
Ruth Y. Hill was elected executive director of Covenant Women Ministries
by the denomination's annual meeting. CWM created its own website.
2000
Coordinators Summits - leadership training seminars for local leaders -
were launched.
CWM sponsored its first short-term mission trip (later called
Cross-Cultural Opportunities), taking a group of women to Ecuador.
Ministry Support replaced Responsible Shares.
2001
Triennial X was held in Ridgecrest, North Carolina, with the theme
"Keeping in Step with the Spirit." The executive director's title was
changed to executive minister. Karen Hearl became board chairperson.
2002
Betty Howard became board chairperson.
2003
CWM Board launched an initiative to advocate for victims of abuse.
Marilyn Spartz became board chairperson. Cross-Cultural Opportunities
took groups of women to South Africa, Russia and southern Georgia.
2004
"Meet Me at the River" was the theme of Triennial XI held in Portland,
Oregon. A new constitution was approved by 1,300 attendees at Triennial
XI. The name of the Department was changed to Women Ministries. Alese
Moore-Orbih was selected as project manager for the Advocacy for Victims
of Abuse (AVA) initiative. Sharon Anderson became board chairperson.
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