Preparing for the future – Mothers’ Union Worldwide Mothers’ Union Leadership Conference 2016

Shape of the session Vision for Mothers’ Union Realising the Vision – worldwide membership engagement Questions and answers Realising the Vision – constitutional framework Group discussion Questions and answers Worldwide Council business meeting

Mothers’ Union Vision-by 2021… Truly global, growing grassroots Christian movement with faith at its core and 6 million members worldwide Can demonstrate that it is having a positive impact on over 1 million lives each year Is a successful and respected advocate on chosen issues globally, nationally and locally within family and community life

Mothers’ Union Vision-by 2021… Has a streamlined governance and organisational structure of volunteers and professionals which enables highly cost- effective support to members in transforming communities Has developed funding to deliver ambitious sustainability

Recurring questions What is the essence of Mothers’ Union ? What does it really mean to be a member? How do we really engage at grassroots level, and across the worldwide family? What are our big collective priorities? How can we capture, share and celebrate activities and achievements? How can we resource and organise ourselves to deliver the collective ambition?

What if….. During Mothers’ Union held a series of strategic conversations worldwide to explore in depth? In Britain and Ireland, and across Regions facilitated, structured Each Conversation starts regionally, has 6 months of active engagement with grassroots, feeds back regionally Closes with feedback to Worldwide Board and Provincial Presidents

What if….. Strengthens communication across the worldwide family Sets the future agenda “bottom-up” Funded: Each Region, Central Support Funds, Special Regional Meetings fund

“ The Worldwide MU family has grown enormously in the last decade and it is obvious that new ways to meet and to move the work of the organisation on demands a truly international approach and to include representation from all our members. Regional meetings could enable the development of the local MU in an exciting way where they produce a vision for the future of MU each working with a broadly agreed framework but identifying what is important/unique for MU in each region. To achieve this it will be essential that a participatory approach be used”

Realising the vision.. Constitutional Framework

Which would you use today?

Mothers’ Union Constitution and Governance today Last reviewed before pages long Mixes Worldwide and Britain and Ireland Governance Lacks flexibility Electoral processes complex Imperfect engagement with worldwide membership Imperfect ability to hold Board to account Lack of ability to engage skillset if needed to meet Charity law requirements

Criteria for a revised worldwide Constitution? Governance framework for a truly worldwide movement Election Process for Board and Worldwide President where all Provinces participate, and a truly representative Board Active body holding Board accountable, providing advice and challenge Board has necessary skills and expertise, can operate in compliance with English charity law Allows flexibility for advisory committees focused on strategic issues of time

Criteria for a revised worldwide Constitution? Enables Britain and Ireland to develop its own, tailored governance Constitution focuses on the running of the “umbrella” organisation but ensures Board provides vehicles outside the constitution for sustainable development of the movement in Provinces Ensures remains under Royal Charter

What if?… Aims, objects and membership criteria for the global movement remained the same The Worldwide Constitution was updated and simplified to focus on the needs of the worldwide movement Britain and Ireland developed governance and ways of working tailored to its own requirements The secretariat continued to support Britain and Ireland in all its requirements as well as the worldwide movement, as before The written Constitution was introduced in 2018, with wording so that how it was applied could develop in line with the needs of the movement over time

What if?... The Worldwide Board had up to 15 Trustees, all elected by Zones, and up to 4 further trustees appointed for specific skills and knowledge ( eg Finance) The Board agreed and appointed Committees for each Triennium based on strategic needs The Board was held to account by a Body (? Called Worldwide Council) made up of Provincial Presidents from around the world, the Board and past Worldwide and Central Presidents The electoral college for the Board and WWP was made up of drawn from across the Zones, agreed in advance for each Triennium There were a single category of membership

What if?…. Britain & Ireland developed its own processes and procedures, including, if desired, an Annual Meeting, Leadership meeting and overall governance, developing from the current Britain and Ireland Board Sub-group Unit committees were no longer part of the Constitution Incorporated membership was no longer part of the Constitution, but existing Incorporated Members were given special status outside the Constitution, and alternative ways of recognising excellent service were developed Representative members ceased within the constitution, but alternative methods of developing talent were developed The Provincial Representative Trustee role ceased to be part of the constitution (role covered by Zonal Trustees)

What if…. Britain and Ireland had the flexibility, over time, to develop a position, within the Movement, tailored to its own culture and context? For example: – Alternative pathway to membership through a faith journey? – Alternative brand?

What if?... There were a rigorous and extensive process of consultation within Britain & Ireland over the next 12 months, to assess options and agree a way forward A parallel process were in place to consult with members of Worldwide Council outside Britain & Ireland

Please consider… To what extent do you agree that it is timely to review? What are the greatest opportunities in this change? What are the areas of potential concern? Do you agree with the proposed approach, to start a deeper consultation with the whole of Worldwide Council?