Fears that the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Women's Association (PWA) might be cancelled because of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions proved unfounded. Adhering to the Ministry of Agriculture guidelines and after widest possible consultation with rural branches of the association, meetings took place as arranged last week in Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. PWA is an organisation for Presbyterian women and has about 15,000 members throughout Ireland.
Afternoon and evening sessions with attendances of about 1,500 heard a former missionary in troubled Indonesia speak on "Choice in a Changing World". Dr Moreen Gordon, just returned from five years' service in St Luke's Hospital, Malosa, Malawi, also spoke. She presented grim statistics on HIV/AIDS - 90 per cent of the 36 million HIV-positive people in the world today live in Africa, and Malawi where she works, is one of the worst affected countries. In her antenatal clinic 30 per cent of young mothers are HIV positive and 25 per cent of babies born are HIV positive.
Men and women are dying of AIDS usually between the ages of 20 and 25. Many orphans are left to be cared for in their own communities, an imperative in Malawan society and culture.
During the meetings a new central president of the PWA, Mrs Maureen Patterson (Newcastle, Co Down), was installed. She succeeds Ms Margaret Thompson whose sterling service over the statutory two-year period was warmly applauded.
Projects to be supported by the PWA over the next 12 months were announced. Provision of supported housing for people with learning disabilities currently undertaken by the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness in conjunction with the Oaklee Housing Association will receive support. This housing scheme is in Coleraine, Co Derry. Nine people will be housed. The PWA contribution will mainly provide soft furnishings, fixtures and fittings.
Support will extend to projects in Northern Kenya. It is proposed to "Plant Churches" among Samburu and Turkana peoples.
Christian Aid Week has been observed with clergy and others appealing for funds for support of Christian Aid projects in the world. A focus has been orphaned children in Africa. Ms Margaret Boden, General Secretary of Christian Aid, Ireland commented: "AIDS is fuelled by poverty, and to tackle AIDS we must tackle the poverty that allows it to thrive. World leaders promise a little bit here, a little bit there, but have taken no serious action."
Christian Aid personnel claim that the "world is standing by and letting it happen while 12 million children are orphaned by AIDS across Africa. Financial aid to Africa must be doubled to tackle the poverty causing the AIDS crisis there."
A Presbytery Family Day has been arranged for Saturday, 26th May. This is an informal get-together for anyone associated with the Dublin-Munster Presbytery. However, members of congregations will also be most welcome. Those getting together will meet inside the Castle Grounds, Kilkenny (beside the park) at 12.30 p.m. Packed lunches are to be brought. The afternoon will be spent in the park where there are good children's play areas, and walks for the energetic. The more attending the merrier.
Administrators of the Students' Bursary Fund have produced an attractive and informative bookmark. This provides up-to-date facts about the training of ministers and the cost of it. These are available from reception at Church House, Belfast. They are a useful aidememoire for services of ordination and installation of ministers elders, the offerings at which are for the Students' Bursary Fund.