Womens Fellowship

Thus the Coimbatore Diocese and its work among women came into being on 27th & 28th September 1950.

The CSI WF General Secretary Sr.Carol Graham visited the Diocese and encouraged female missionaries, Presbyter as, Women lay leaders of the Diocese to establish Women Fellowship in each pastorate in accordance with constitution and bylaws of the CSI Women Fellowship. Followed by this the Women leaders and the Bishop appoint a fulltime D.W.F Secretary Sr. Grace violet Aaron from 1950 -1953. M.S. Freeda May Wilson and Miss. Hilda maud Wood supervised the Women’s Work and the Women fellowship work in Diocese.

Thus the Women Fellowship started functioning with guidance of the CSI Women Fellowship Synod’s constitution and under the leadership of the Diocesan Women Fellowship & Women’s work Committee.
The Women’s Work Committee appointed the representatives to all pastorates. It had 19 members with Mrs. Grace Appasamy, the Bishop’s wife, as president and Ms. Hilda M.Wood as its Convener. Thus, Women Fellowship organized took over all the Women’s work carried on among the women, to develop it throughout the Diocese under its president.

The DWF started its function with the basic principle of self-supporting self governing and self propagating under the Chairmanship of the the Bishop.

The objectives of the Fellowship:-

• To motivate members in Prayer, service and witness.
• To set an example of true Christian life
• To uphold the sanctity and of Christian marriage
• To help mothers in their responsibility of Christian upbringing of their children

The office bearers of DWF took all possible ways and means and adopted several management techniques to educate the women of the Church to function and work for the spiritual awaking, revival and growth of each congregation. Since 1953 under the able committed secretary ship of Sr. Grace V. Aaron interested women were trained to be leaders, to plan, to visit villages and Churches, etc.

This committee met during the conference and decided to organize a campaign for the purpose of starting WF’S in every village and in every pastorate. This Sub-committee meeting held on the first day, lead by Mrs. E. Durairaj framed the constitution in accordance with the CSI Women Fellowship constitution and the activities of Diocesan Women Fellowship and the Pastorate Women’s Fellowship. The Second day meeting under the leadership of Miss. K. Suganthi, elected the office bearers. Mrs. E. Durairaj as the Vice-President and Mrs. G. Arulanandan as Treasurer area were unanimously elected and they became the first elected office bearers of DWF

The DWF Function and constitution were approved by the Executive committee of the Diocese. From that day onwrds the women’s fellowship office bearers of the Diocese worked hard to train the women leaders to establish WF branches in all the pastorate to fulfill the aims and activities and there by support the Churches spiritual growth and development. By the end of 1957 it was reported by the Secretary that there were around 200 WF branches were started.

The WF routine works and activities are carried out systematically in the pastorate area and the Diocesan levels. The finance for all the Women’s work of the DWF at the levels is given by the members of the WF, and the supporting members of the WF. Donations and the contributions by the well wishers, diocesan institution collected by the fellowships with Bishop’s authorization and by raising funds through annual sale, Hundi collection during lent days. But the finance spent for the committee meetings of WWC and the Salaries of the women workers are given by the Dioceses.

After 1987 under the leadership of DWF president Mrs. Devarani Moses the work of WWC were bifocal namely spiritual awaking as well as social awareness and service. During that period some important community development works were carried out through decade programmes of 1988-1998. Under the title CSI package development programe for rural and urban women through this progamme many skill training program or courses were conducted as self help groups to be empowered at Coimbatore. St Anns Human Resource Centre was constructed along with crisis center for women in distress as project of DWF, Keremehas – Kendra for Multiple Handicapped Adult sister project was started in 1996 at Coimbatore in same premises of St Anns Human Resource Centre.

The Spiritual growth and development leadership training, poor children education and empowerment programmes, community oriented programmes are given special priority. The spirt of Revival and Evangelism Dioceses is the prime aim of all the activities women and children, tribal women and children in crisis program, the young women Empowerment program are some of the important issues based mission and service being carried on. Rice Bank a special project started in 2002 for needy, poor and Leprosy People. CSI Priority Programme. The Girls Child programme was lauched and carried out in action with many number of beneficiaries. The Nesam Prisoners family welfare programme is also an important one. The Mother and child Health Programme is another milestone through its services.

Under dynamic leadership of Mrs. Anny Hemalatha Ravider our Diocesan Women Fellowship is marching forward in the path of success with the motto “Arise and Shine”.

To God Be the Glory.