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| Scottish Baptist Women's Fellowship |
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A Brief History
Women's Auxiliary To The Baptist Union Of Scotland: 1909 - 2002
Women's Auxiliary (W.A.) was the forerunner of Scottish Baptist Women's Fellowship. The desire of the original founding members stemmed from a concern for the women of the churches who had little opportunity for fellowship together and whose potential for serving was largely untapped. Mrs Jessie Yuille, President from 1909-20, in her inaugural address issued a call..." to a deeper spiritual life, to personal service and to the development of the denominational and national outlook among women..."
Throughout the 93 years of its existence the W.A. has fulfilled its Motto, "By Love Serve One Another." Many practical measures were undertaken in the early years and included the provision of the first two fully equipped ambulances to be sent to France only six weeks after the outbreak of war in 1914. Since then furnishings and gifts to the Union premises and to the Baptist College as well as to a vast number of agencies and projects have been the norm for W.A. members. A lasting memorial to sacrificial giving exists in the Cumbernauld church which was built mainly from funds raised to commemorate the W.A. Golden Jubilee.
Concern for women in the busy fishing industry in the north east, and particularly in Shetland, led to the appointment of Miss Jane Henderson as the first Deaconess in 1912. Combining the qualities of nurse/evangelist among the fisher girls she carried out medical, social and mission work at Lerwick in the summer months and served in various churches throughout the winter. She was appointed to the pastorate of Lossiemouth Church in 1918 and three years later returned to W.A. as itinerant evangelist and was greatly used in a fruitful ministry for the next seven years or so.
Fellowship always featured largely in W.A. and was always valued greatly at Annual Weekend Conferences as well as at Spring and Autumn rallies. Excellent speakers provided stimulation and challenges enabling women to return to the local church refreshed and encouraged to continue the various ministries in which they were involved.
As opportunities opened up for women to serve in a wider range of church life W.A. sought to equip and inspire women to develop their gifts and abilities. 'W.A.' soon came to mean 'Women of Action!' Many ministries took place outside of the usual Branch Meeting and ranged from counselling, youth work, lunch clubs, etc. through to Deacons' and Church Secretary's duties.
Acknowledging that fewer women now identify themselves with organised groups but still seeing the benefits of women supporting and encouraging each other W.A. felt it timely to lay aside its honourable past and put in place the basis of a new body which would seek to encompass a wider membership of women in the churches. This led to the formation of S.B.W.F. in 2002.
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