The Women’s Commission of the Leeward Islands District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas held its annual meeting in Anguilla at the House of Chandeliers during the period June 1-4. One reason for holding the function in Anguilla is that it was the homeland of the late Reverend Sister Vera Marjorie Richardson, an early pioneer of MCCA Women.

Women from the MCCA at their conference in Anguilla

The meeting was attended by twenty-eight women who represented fourteen of the fifteen Methodist circuits of the Leeward Islands District. They came from Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin. Absent with apologies were the representatives from Holland.

The women met under the theme Called to live as Stewards of all God’s Gifts. As a body whose motto is In Service of Christ, the women expressed grave concern about social issues such as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, incest, rape and abuse of girls and women, drug trafficking, gang warfare and the escalation of crime and violence in their various territories. They condemned these ills and in their meeting sought to discover and plan new and creative ways to combat the social problems and to relieve the pain and suffering around them.

Women from the MCCA at their conference in Anguilla

The women were also challenged as mothers, and as ‘significant others’ in society, to make the nurturing of boys and the ministry to men a matter for urgent consideration in their prayers and planning.

A new executive was appointed in the persons of President Romualda Hyacinth of Dominica, Secretary Mariney Newton of Nevis and Treasurer Marilyn Richardson of St. Thomas.

After enjoying four days of warm Anguillian hospitality, the women left the meeting resolved and committed to action with the help of Almighty God.

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