1. The Fellowship of the Least Coin The Fellowship of the Least Coin A Global Ecumenical Movement of Prayer for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation

2. Fellowship of Christian Women in Prayers and Setting Aside Least Coins as Token

3. The Beginning of FLC: Mission In 1956, an International Mission Team, sponsored by the Presbyterian Women, with the leadership of Margaret Shannon, came to the Pacific for healing the hurts of war and seeking peace and reconciliation among women whose nations were torn by conflict.In 1956, an International Mission Team, sponsored by the Presbyterian Women, with the leadership of Margaret Shannon, came to the Pacific for healing the hurts of war and seeking peace and reconciliation among women whose nations were torn by conflict.

4. Mission Team 1956 : Margaret Shannon, Marian Wiltsie, Amy Carl, Ellen Lang, Shanti Solomon, Teruko Ohashi

7. felt the suffering, pain and danger in Hiroshima, Japan. Not allowed to enter Korea, she stayed in the Philippines where she also saw the destruction of war. Shanti Solomon of India

8. Reflecting on the Scripture: James 4:1 “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?”“Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?”

9. Matthew 18:21 “Peter said,... ‘how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?“Peter said,... ‘how often should I forgive? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, not seven times but I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

10. Gift of Vision God gave Shanti a vision of women of different nations, church traditions, cultural background, economic status and abilities belonging to a fellowship for peace, justice, and reconciliation.God gave Shanti a vision of women of different nations, church traditions, cultural background, economic status and abilities belonging to a fellowship for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

11. CHURCH WOMEN IN PRAYER

12. “When women... pray for peace and reconciliation... (they) put a coin in a money box... a pledge to make their prayers concrete....that their prayer would be followed by action... that their prayer literally cost them something.”“When women... pray for peace and reconciliation... (they) put a coin in a money box... a pledge to make their prayers concrete....that their prayer would be followed by action... that their prayer literally cost them something.” Shanti Shanti “When women... pray for peace and reconciliation... (they) put a coin in a money box... a pledge to make their prayers concrete....that their prayer would be followed by action... that their prayer literally cost them something.”“When women... pray for peace and reconciliation... (they) put a coin in a money box... a pledge to make their prayers concrete....that their prayer would be followed by action... that their prayer literally cost them something.” Shanti Shanti

13. “This act of praying for peace and reconciliation would be repeated by women in their homes as often as they felt the need for it.” Shanti Shanti

14. “The poor village woman and her urban sister would pray and offer equal amounts. This was how the movement for peace came to be called the Shanti “The poor village woman and her urban sister would pray and offer equal amounts. This was how the movement for peace came to be called the ‘Fellowship of the Least Coin.’” Shanti

15. NETWORKING AMONG CHURCH WOMEN

16. Shanti shared the vision with the Filipino church women leaders who readily accepted it. And the Mission Team, which gathered again, embraced Shanti’s vision. Thus the FLC was born in 1956!

17. Birthing of Asian Church Women’s Conference In 1958, Margaret Shannon brought together a group of Asian women at Stony Point, NY, prior to attending the meeting of Presbyterian Women, and enabled them to plan the first ACWC in Hong Kong.In 1958, Margaret Shannon brought together a group of Asian women at Stony Point, NY, prior to attending the meeting of Presbyterian Women, and enabled them to plan the first ACWC in Hong Kong.

18. First ACWC, Hong Kong, 1958 ACWC accepted responsibility for promoting FLC within national ecumenical structures. FLC needed structure! ACWC accepted responsibility for promoting FLC within national ecumenical structures. FLC needed structure!

19. Started in 1962, in Hong Kong, as meditation guide for women of FLC. Written by women from different regions and published every other year. Circle of Prayer

20. FLC LOGO Rayann Ma of Hong Kong designed the FLC logo—the folded hands in prayer, encircling a small plum flower, form a lotus flower.Rayann Ma of Hong Kong designed the FLC logo—the folded hands in prayer, encircling a small plum flower, form a lotus flower.

22. Growth From Asia to all regions of the worl d From Asia to all regions of the worl d

24. Participating Regional Ecumenical Organizations All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Asian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC) andAsian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC) and Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC)Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) Ecumenical Forum of European ChristianEcumenical Forum of European Christian Women (EFECW) Women (EFECW) Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI)Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Women’s Inter-Church Council in Canada (WICC) and Church Women United CWU-USAWomen’s Inter-Church Council in Canada (WICC) and Church Women United CWU-USA Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC)Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC)

25. Participating Global Ecumenical Organizations World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of Churches Women in Church and Women in Church and Society Society World Day of Prayer International CommitteeWorld Day of Prayer International Committee

26. INGATHERING SERVICE The church women gather in prayer and bring their least coins or their equivalent in bills The money gathered nationally are sent to FLC Fund for Peace care of World Council of Churches in Geneva.

27. Int’l Committee for the FLC, formed since 1979,  Serves as administrator of FLC movement and FLC Fund  Composed of 15 women from different regions of the world.  Meets annually

28. STEWARDSHIP

29. Block Grant The Fellowship of the Least Coin supports block grant for each regional and global ecumenical organization’s Women’s ProgrammeThe Fellowship of the Least Coin supports block grant for each regional and global ecumenical organization’s Women’s Programme

30. Project Grants Annually, FLC supports 35 -50 projects for justice and peace among most needy women and children all over the worldAnnually, FLC supports 35 -50 projects for justice and peace among most needy women and children all over the world

31. Emergency Grants for disaster relief and rehabilitation

32. Fellowship of the Least Coin Scholarship Award for Young Women Aimto provide support to young Christian women from FLC regional countries in their educational pursuit of the knowledge and skills needed to benefit and realize FLC’s vision of peace, justice and reconciliation Aim: to provide support to young Christian women from FLC regional countries in their educational pursuit of the knowledge and skills needed to benefit and realize FLC’s vision of peace, justice and reconciliation

33. c/o Union Theological Seminary Dasmarinas City Philippines 4114 www.flc.net.ph ICFLC OFFICE

34. By God’s Grace, the FLC Movement goes on.... With you, through you, in response to the love of God in Christ! With you, through you, in response to the love of God in Christ!

35. James 3:18 “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

36. Thank You! Thank You!