Women's missionary societies

The missionary sister and others eating at the Women's Retreat (Mennonite mission)

Women's Missionary Societies are religious organizations focused on missionary work, primarily initiated and managed by women. These societies have played a significant role in the spread of Christianity and the promotion of social services, education, and health care in various parts of the world, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Women's Missionary Societies have been instrumental in empowering women, both as missionaries and as beneficiaries of missionary efforts.

History

The emergence of Women's Missionary Societies can be traced back to the early 19th century, a period marked by a surge in evangelical zeal and the expansion of the British Empire and the United States. Women, who were largely excluded from the public sphere, found an outlet for their religious and social aspirations in missionary work. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) established in 1810, saw its first women's auxiliary society in 1800s. Similarly, in Britain, the Church Missionary Society (CMS) saw the formation of women's groups supporting overseas missions.

Purpose and Activities

The primary purpose of Women's Missionary Societies was to support missionary efforts through prayer, fundraising, and by raising awareness of missionary needs and challenges. They organized bazaars, lectures, and prayer meetings, and published newsletters and magazines to spread information about missionary work and to solicit donations. Additionally, these societies were directly involved in sending female missionaries abroad to establish and run schools, hospitals, and orphanages. They focused on women and children's education, believing it to be key to improving societal conditions.

Impact

Women's Missionary Societies had a profound impact on the societies they worked in. They were among the first to provide formal education to girls in many parts of Asia and Africa. In healthcare, missionary nurses and doctors introduced modern medical practices and established hospitals. These activities not only spread Christianity but also brought significant social changes, including the promotion of women's rights and the abolition of practices such as sati and foot binding.

Notable Societies

• Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1869, was one of the first and most influential women's missionary societies in the United States.
• Women's Missionary Association of the United Presbyterian Church, established in 1871, focused on missions in Egypt and India.
• British Women's Missionary Society (BWMS), established in the late 19th century, worked extensively in Africa and India.

Challenges

Despite their successes, Women's Missionary Societies faced several challenges. They struggled with limited resources and had to constantly advocate for the importance of their work to secure funding. Additionally, they often encountered resistance from traditional societies and sometimes even from male-dominated missionary boards. The changing political landscape in the 20th century, with the decolonization of Africa and Asia, also posed challenges to their operations.

Legacy

The legacy of Women's Missionary Societies is evident in the ongoing work of contemporary missionary and charitable organizations. They laid the groundwork for the involvement of women in global missionary work and set a precedent for the integration of social services with evangelism. Their contributions to education and healthcare have had lasting impacts on many communities around the world.

See Also

• Missionary
• Women in Christianity
• Evangelicalism
• Social Gospel