Home

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Feminism

Viewpoints

Quote of the Month

Quarterly Newsletter

On-Line Discussion Forum

Letters to the Editor

Mission

The Persecuted Church

Ecumenical Connections

How You Can Help

The VOW Budget

Contact VOW
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I have been asked many times during the last year about Church Women United's Fellowship of The Least Coin. For your information, VOW is posting the contents of the "Least Coin brochure," which is subtitled A Global Movement of Prayer for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation We are also posting CWU's financial statement indicating how the money was spent in 1998. 

I encourage you to read these documents carefully and analytically. If you have questions, direct them to the appropriate people as identified below. Then let me know the conclusions to which you have come. 

The Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) is a worldwide ecumenical movement of prayer for peace and reconciliation. Through this movement, Christian women around the world seek fellowship with each other and are reminded to live a reconciling and forgiving life with others. Though "least coins" are given with each prayer, it is not a fund raising project, but a movement of prayer, peace and reconciliation. Anyone who wishes to join this movement makes a commitment to spend time in prayer whenever she has a strained relationship with another person, and to uphold in prayer others who are victims of jealousy, hatred, violence and injustice. Each time she prays for justice, peace and reconciliation, she sets aside one "least coin" of her currency as a tangible token toward her prayer being answered. These coins are sent regularly to her country's FLC collection point, where it is forwarded to the FLC Fund. The amount collected by each country is never publicized; only the total sum collected each year is announced. It is important that only the "least coin" of each currency be set aside so that even the poorest women of each country can be a part of this fellowship of love and care. 

THE FLC LOGO

The idea for the FLC logo — the praying hands forming a lotus flower-came from the late Mrs. Rayann Ma from Hong Kong. She was the first Chairperson of the first Assembly of the Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC). The actual design was the gift of her brother-in-law, James Ma, a commercial artist. 

HOW AND WHEN IT BEGAN

The idea for the Fellowship of the Least Coin emerged as a vision from God to Mrs. Shanti Solomon of India. In September 1956, she was part of the Pacific Mission Team of seven women from different countries that traveled in Asian countries after World War II. It was organized by Dr. Margaret Shannon of the National Office of Presbyterian women in the U.S. When Shanti Solomon was refused a visa to Korea in the middle of the trip, she went to the Philippines to wait. While there, she reflected on the experiences of their travel in the war-tom countries of Asia and the national and economic barriers that kept women apart. 

Upon the return of the team, she suggested that prayer could transcend every national boundary. She challenged the Christian women of Asia and of the Presbyterian Church of the U.S. to launch a project of Christian prayer and positive action in which every woman could participate, no matter her economic position. Every time a woman prayed she was to set aside a "least coin" of her currency. It was an encouragement to the women of the team to demonstrate their unity, in Christian faith, regardless of their country or economic circumstances. They all accepted it as a way to express their solidarity with suffering humanity and with women of every nation. 
The East Asia Christian Conference (EACC), now the Christian Conference of Asia (CAA), administered the FLC fund from 1958-1970. In 1958, the first Assembly of the Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC) held in Hong Kong agreed to administer the Fellowship of the Least Coin. At the second Assembly in Thailand in 1962, ACWC voted to make the promotion of FLC their basic outreach programme. In 1970 Mrs. Shanti Solomon, the founder, was named the Executive Secretary of the FLC and ACWC. She was followed by Mrs. Shirin Samuel of Pakistan (1987-1997). Since that time the Executive Secretary has been an Asian woman, active in the ACWC. 

FLC GROWTH

The idea of the FLC quickly gained acceptance, not only among the women of Asia to whom it was first presented, but also among women of all the continents in the world. In 1966, when the FLC celebrated its tenth anniversary, women from 24 countries participated in the movement. By 1980, at the time of its Silver Jubilee, women from 75 countries had already joined the FLC. In 1996, 70, women from more than 80 countries around the world celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the FLC. 

CIRCLE OF PRAYER

Feeling the need to reaffirm prayer as the vital element of the FLC, the ACWC asked the women of Hong Kong to prepare a booklet of prayers to be used as the "least coin" is set aside. Since then, the Circle of Prayer booklet has become an important part of the FLC. Twenty-four meditations and prayers are written by women around the world and published by the International Committee for the FLC every two years. 

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE FLC

Because the FLC prayer movement became truly world-wide and the grants were made to programmes and projects all over the world, an International Committee for the FLC (ICFLC) was formed in 1979 to administer the promotion, the interpretation of the movement and the allocation of the FLC grants. The International Committee comprises representatives of world-wide ecumenical women's organizations and of regional ecumenical Conferences of the Churches. Year after year the ICFLC learns to trust God more and more and to work in faith. The Committee meets every year to share the miraculous works of the FLC around the world and to decide on FLC grants for the following year. Application forms for project grants are received four months prior to the meeting. The members of the Committee study the application forms, pray about them, discuss and decide on each project without knowing how much FLC funding will be available for the grants they wish to allocate for each year. The "least coins" from around the world come in with prayers, quietly and gradually, to meet the needs for each year. Our gentle, loving and compassionate God never fails us. God does great works through the humble, the least, the marginalised and the poor. That's the strength, the promise, the beauty, and the surprise upholding the FLC prayer movement. 

Every year ICFLC is invited by different regions to hold its meeting in their country. An exposure and a visitation programme is added to the regular business meeting in order for the representatives to know more about the region and to be aware of the issues and the concerns of the people there. ICFLC meetings have been held recently in: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (1995); Christchurch, New Zealand (1996); Helsinki, Finland (1997); and Chiang Mai, Thailand (1998). Every four years the committee meets immediately following the ACWC Assembly. 

FLC GRANTS

Each year about 35 to 50 projects are given grants, Each Regional Women's Desk of Ecumenical Conferences, the Women's Desk of the World Council of Churches and the World Day of Prayer International Committee are given block grants to enhance their work and to strengthen ecumenical solidarity. Emergency grants for disaster relief and rehabilitation are also given. 

In allocating grants, the ICFLC keeps in mind the following categories: 
 

• Opportunities for awareness-raising and/or educating women on gender issues 
• Programmes of literacy, health, social concerns and leadership development 
   recommended by recognized Christian groups 
• Programmes enhancing justice, peace and reconciliation for women and 
   families, communities, countries and the world 
• Opportunities for women to meet ecumenically in regional, national and 
   world-wide gatherings

• Normally not to exceed U.S. $6,000 
• Usually non-recurring 
• Not given for constructing buildings

The FLC Prayer Movement is simple, yet significant and unique: 

1. It brings Christian women together in a fellowship of prayer without any discrimination of race, nationality, color, culture or denomination. Christian women have solidarity through their common concern and love for humankind. Women of the world are bound together by both giving "least coins" and by women of every region receiving grants. 

2. The offering is unique because all, whether rich or poor, educated or illiterate, urban or rural, give only the smallest coin of their currency. All are within the same discipline and share the common concerns of women around the world. 

3. It is stewardship, both of the idea and of the Fund. When "least coins" are put together, along with the individual prayers offered by members throughout the world, they become a strong force in bringing about justice, reconciliation, and peace. 
The "least coin" teaches us to be humble, to value the least, and to trust that nothing is impossible for God who can do great things from out of the least and the unexpected. 
Least Coins may be sent at any time to: 

1. Gbonkolenken Progressive Youth Organization, Freetown, Sierra Leon .... $4,000. 

 A Training Centre for war displaced women and children from the Northern Province has been established for those now residing in Freetown. It is a registered, indigenous, non-governmental organization which encourages, educates and promotes the welfare of youth from these displaced persons. Skill training has enabled 60 people to become self-sufficient in soap making, hair dressing and tailoring. Female adult literacy classes are taught. Maximum training session is two years. The Centre is developing the lives of traumatized war victims and bringing them hope.

 2. St. Bridget's Mother and Child Health Centre, Nairobi, Kenya  $5,000.

The Centre assists the poor people of this overcrowded and very low income
area with health care. This grant will add equipment for laboratory tests.

 3. Provision of Equipment: Income Generation, Freetown, Sierra Leone  $3,000.

To provide materials and equipment for use at the women's training center in
Kissy, one of three centers which the United Methodist Women have established
to enable drop out girls and women to become self-sufficient.

 4. Work Angels - Kenya (WAK) Project, Nairobi, Kenya  $4,000.

WAK is a non-profit Christian group set on raising standards of waste material
collectors who rummage the city's garbage dumps for survival. This recycling
project creates employment and generates income to street families by assisting
them in collection, delivery of waste papers, plastic, bottles, scrap metal, etc.,
and marketing the materials directly to recycling plants for sale. The project
enables collection of recyclable materials to be a dignified, meaningful, paying
job which will eventually make the 100 participants self-sustainable.

 5. Rural Sunrise Youth Group, Ngiya via Siaya, Kenya  $3,000.

This project will help single mothers and young girls who live in this village of
grass thatched structures to become self-reliant by learning dressmaking,
tailoring and other skills. The one year course will emphasize marketing,
creation of clothing and other items to be produced and sold.

1. Establishing the Children's Nursery Centre, Sulawesi, Selatan, Indonesia. ….$2,500. 

 This project will establish a centre for children of working mothers to enable the constancy of women who work and help children develop socially and mentally while their mothers are at work. It will inform society about the importance of assisting working mothers and raise awareness of the need for safe places for play, rest, bathing and the constant care of children from three to five years old.

2. Slum Ministry Project of Bowen Methodist Telugu Church, Mumbai, India…..$5,000. 

 The slum ministry centre is an offshoot of the Bowen Memorial Methodist Telugu Church, situated at the gateway of India. The area consists of 2000 families having 6000 children. The programs focus on self-employment schemes, adult literacy classes, the Balwadi/Child care centre, health and hygiene awareness programs, family planning, counseling, environmental education and nutrition. The centre has begun to focus on especially needy women and children, not only in the Christian community, but also of other faiths who live in the centre's vicinity, "so that the true essence of the gospel becomes relevant."

 3. The Brenton Carey Hostel, Karachi, Pakistan  ..$5,000.

This project will provide accommodations for Christian girls enrolled in one of the two nearby schools (classes 1 -10) operated by the Church of Pakistan. Without this hostel, the girls would not have opportunity to go to school. It is named after Miss Brenton Carey, a Church of England missionary who opened up the hostel in 1885 for children who were orphaned after a plague. Now it houses 115 girls, ages 6 and up, (younger if they are orphans), for education, nurture and safety
for girls of single parents who cannot leave them at home while they work.

4. Greeting Card-making Training for Handicapped Girls, Tiruchirapaiii,lndia………$3,000.

This will instruct 20 poor and handicapped girls in the skills of greeting card manufacturing and embroidery to enable them to become economically independent after the 12 month training course.

 5. Women in Church History in Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  …$4,000.

A project to collect Asian Christian women's stories, celebrate their lives and lift up role models that have been invisible, unknown or unpublished in other books on church history in Asia.

 6. Young Aboriginal Women's Self Esteem Program, Sydney, Australia   $4,000.

Young aboriginal women will leave the inner city environment for a camping
atmosphere where the cycles of racism, discrimination, drug abuse, violence,
teenage pregnancy and lack of health care may be broken even as their health,
self-esteem and abilities to cope are built up.

 7. Training Workshop for Poor Urban Women, Metro Manila, Philippines   $2,850.

This project will develop basic leadership skills for 25 urban women from poor communities who will then establish women's organizations. Participants will contribute to existing leadership courses and devise newer models which will be instrumental in forming other women's committees within the city.

 8. Somali refugee Women's Sewing Group, Sydney, Australia  ….$4,000.

Project will provide recently arrived refugee women, mainly from Somalia, with
an opportunity to learn to use electric sewing machines and to sew clothing
and other household items for their families. It may also lead to possible
employment. In a supportive atmosphere, under the leadership of the New
South Wales Ecumenical Council, they will practice English even as they learn
of other ways to understand and adapt to Australian society.

9. Asian Church women's Conference Assembly, Chiangmai, Thailand …………….$6,000. 

 Every four years the Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC) initiates a gathering of church women from 17 countries in Asia. In 1998, ACWC will celebrate its 40th year with a conference designed to bring women together for mutual support, to develop skills in leadership, communication and blend each other's traditions. This grant will enable more women to attend.

 10. A Colt in Nishiokamoto, Kobe Hygo, Japan  ….$2,000

  Since 1995, a group of Christian women who are known as "A Colt in Nishiokamoto" from the 
Japan Baptist Union's Kansai District, has been volunteering services to help the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. This project will enable "A Colt" to continue supporting senior citizens and those with handicapping conditions, who lost relatives and housing in the earthquake, with temporary housing, food, shopping and letter writing services and other daily needs which government aid does not provide.

11. Education On Korean Prostitutes/US Military Camps, Seoul, S. Korea ……….. $2,000. 

 This educational program will publish pamphlets about Korean prostitutes and mixed blood Koreans in US Military camps after investigating the present situation on the 15 principal military bases in South Korea. Educational materials will be published for an awareness-raising program for students of the Korea Council for Christian Youth and women college students in Seoul. It will also promote the program to eradicate crime committed by US troops in Korea.

 No grants were requested from the Caribbean for 1998.

 1. "Forward to the Promised Community" Conference, Durham, England  $3,000.

As an outgrowth of the Ecumenical Decade, Churches in Solidarity with Women,
a gathering of women and men from churches, a few secular organizations and
interested individuals met in April 1998 to sum up the results of the Decade and
begin planning for the next Millennium. This grant enabled under-resourced
women from minority churches to attend.

 2. Miriam, Changing the World Together, Phase 11, Lubosz, Poland  $3,000.

The project will build relationships between the young, well educated people and
the homeless and poorest who are rejected by society. As they share common
work together, they will exchange. spiritual. and cultural experiences in order to
increase young people's sensitivity for the realities of poverty and create homes
for the homeless. The work camp will be in the village of Chudopezyce where
Phase I was held. Fifty persons from different European countries will work with
the formerly homeless people who participated in Phase 1. Together they will
renovate two newly received buildings into homes for the homeless participants
in this Phase. They will integrate the whole village in many of their activities.

 3. Gardening our community, Geneva, Switzerland  $800.

This grant will provide scholarships for refugee women in Geneva who wish to
participate in ecumenical and cultural encounters with others living in Geneva.

 4. Workshop by Eastern Delegate General Assembly, Madrid, Spain  $3,000.

During the General Assembly of the Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women, a workshop will be held by the Eastern Delegation to show the problem of trafficking women from Eastern Europe to Western Europe and the increasing violence in families against women and children. Skills in non-violent conflict resolution skills will be taught to help women regain self-respect and the courage to change their situation. Practical strategies will be developed to
counter sex trafficking.

 5. General Assembly, 1998, Madrid, Spain  $3,000

Four yearly assemblies gather 300 women ' from all regions and many religions in
Europe to exchange experiences and skills in non-violent conflict resolution,
leadership training, new computer technology, empowerment of women and
worship. The meeting of June 4-9, 1998 was partially funded by this grant.

 1. Halfway Shelter for Women - Casa Albergue, Cochabamba, Bolivia  $5,000.

The project challenges Christian women to work together to undergird those who
have suffered abuse, violence, drugs or alcohol and raise their self-esteem and
dignity through an "older sister" mentoring experience with the half-way shelter
program. This involves work at the Casa Albergues with the women as well as
inviting them to their home to participate in family meals, some activities of a
normal family and assisting them to leave the shelter and function in real life.

 2. Health Center for Violence Victims, Metropolitan Lima, Peru  $3,000.

Poverty has grown in Peru, increasing sexual abuse, discrimination and other
problems for women. The effects of such violence on women's mental health
can be as serious as the physical injuries, as they suffer from anxiety,
depression and severe emotional imbalance. - This-,project will- educate women
about the effects of domestic violence, enable them to find help or to leave their
situations.

 3. Health and Welfare Program for Women, Buenos Aires, Argentina  $4,000.

Five years ago, two women anthropologists of the State University of Buenos
Aires began working with prostitutes in an area of Buenos Aires having the
largest percentage of prostitutes. Prostitution is not illegal in Argentina and
unskilled women are finding it one of few labor alternatives left as
unemployment is massive and growing. Recently a Methodist clergywoman
joined the team when she discovered that many of the boys and girls attending
her parish were children of women in the anthropologist's program. A social
worker and psychologist joined the team which promotes health care, educates
about sexual diseases and AIDS prevention. They hold workshops on Health
and Human Rights and offer social and pastoral counseling. The team does not
promote prostitution, but cares for the women who feel compelled to this kind of
life. They offer safety, health care and respect for the women and their families.
The grant will enable the team to publish the results of its study, start a civil
association for women and to begin work with other prostitutes in the city.

 1. Care for the Physically Disabled, Cairo, Egypt  $3000.

The project provides an opportunity for physically handicapped persons to enjoy
spiritual and social events through tailored retreats. Programs are designed to
help persons accept their disability through faith, self-esteem workshops, skill
development, story telling of their experiences and learning crafts and hobbies.

 2. Skill Development for School Girl Dropouts, Assuit, Egypt  $5,000.

Twenty girls a year will acquire skills in sewing, embroidery, arts, handicrafts,
preparing food products, cooking and marketing products in order to become
self-reliant. The grant will provide furniture, materials, trainers and transportation
for these young girls.

 3. Armenian Evangelical Women's Conference, Beirut, Lebanon  $5,000.

Women's conferences are held each year in Syria and Lebanon. In 1996, a joint
conference was held with approximately 150 women attending from the different
Armenian Evangelical churches in the two countries. This grant will train women
who attend the conference in leadership and spiritual skills so they can have a
leading role in their families and churches when they return to their areas.

 4. Women's Image in Arab Media, Beirut, Lebanon  $3,500.

Women's image is distorted in the Arab media and doing great harm to women.
The women faculty of the Near East School of Theology in cooperation with the
Presbyterian Beirut women and other women's associations are organizing a
series of lectures and workshops about women and media to try to improve that
image in the media and among local organizations. A six-month plan will
include workshops, lectures, writing articles in daily papers and issuing
pamphlets on various topics, such as women in Islam, women in Christianity
(Biblical perspective), women in God's creation, women and men as equals in
the eyes of God, women's rights in Arab society, and women and the media.

 5. Uplifting the Poor, Damascus, Syria  $4,000.

The project will enable young Palestinian women in the Yarmouk refugee camp
near Damascus to obtain vocational training and handicraft skills so they can
make a living. They live in poverty and lack education beyond elementary
school, so this project will teach skills even as they learn more about
themselves as young women and their role in society. Approximately 220 young
girls will learn carpet working, knitting, sewing, artisan work along with ways to
function in this male dominated camp.

 6. Dynamics and Prospects for Peace, Cyprus  $3,000.

The future of the peace process is uncertain. The Middle East Council of
Churches will sponsor a regional workshop on peace education training in a
multi-faith context for Christian men and women living in communities plagued
with hostility and violence.

 7. Assisting the Displaced and Forgotten, Amman, Jordan  $3,000.

looking for hope. This grant will enable five nuns from Iraq and the Women's Association of the Syrian Orthodox Church to assist families and women to plan for their future, help them return to Iraq or find adequate jobs, provide counseling, and encourage Christian education and empowerment programs.

 8. Justice and Only Justice, Ayia Napa, Cyprus  $2,000.

Ayia Napa Conference Center is an ecumenical organization of Orthodox,
Protestant and Catholic Churches who will bring women from Cyprus and a few
neighboring countries to reflect on the situation of conflict in Cyprus. The
workshop will include reflecting on reasons for the conflict, the effect of injustice
on women and children, sharing of stories, planning for ways to build awareness
about women's role in promoting justice, and printing a leaflet with these findings
for further education of church women.

 9. Leadership Training for Women in Iran, Ayia Napa,. Cyprus  $2000.

The churches in Iran - the Armenian and Assyrian Orthodox and Protestants -
live under Shari'a law, and were for a long time not able to hold their own
meetings to discuss issues or hear from others, which led to almost total
isolation from the rest of the world. The Fellowship of the Middle East
Evangelical Churches (FMEEC) developed a leadership program for Iranian
laity, pastors and Sunday School teachers to enhance their faith and learn ways
to transmit their knowledge to others. However, it was held in Cyprus; it was not
easy for women to travel outside of Iran. To do so, they needed special travel
arrangements, permission from their husbands and also from the government.
That meeting was not satisfactory. This grant will enable the training model to
be taken to Iran and planned with Iranian women so it will be accessible,
relevant and transferable for the women there to teach to others in their country.

 1. Asia Pacific Islander's in US and Canada, Seattle, Washington, USA   $4,000.

This project will develop and provide resources on response to and prevention of
domestic violence and sexual abuse in the Asia Pacific Islander communities in
the US and Canada. It will collaborate with US based immigrants' rights groups
on issues affecting battered women and children, make available culturally
relevant training and materials on the mail order bride industry, and host events
featuring visiting Asian theologians and religious leaders.

 2. Daring Hope/Oser Lesperance, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada  $4,000.

The project will help fund the Canadian national ecumenical event to celebrate
the Decade for the Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988-1998). This event
will be held in August, 1998. It will bring women, men and youth from every region of Canada to celebrate the achievements of the Decade, analyze the gains made in visible women's leadership and women's valuing in social and theological perspectives, and the level of awareness of gender dynamics of issues of violence, poverty, racism and education. Planned by the United Church of Canada, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian communities, approximately 1000 people, racially and economically diverse, including artists, dancers and writers, will imagine and experience new ways of being the church in the world of the new millennium.

 3. Church Women United Web Site, New York, NY, USA  $3,000.

To build a world wide web site and network to connect CWU members, national,
regional, state and local events, programs and information, and enable a global
ecumenical women's network.

No grants were requested from the Pacific for 1998.

 1. "Talitha Kumil Young Woman Stand Up," New York, New York, USA  $10,000.

The World Day of Prayer International Committee will bring young women from
Asian countries together in Indonesia, early in 1998, to share the history and
vision of several women's ecumenical movements. They will explore dynamics
that could help young women to stand up and be partners with their older sisters
and take responsibility in the next century. The grant includes monies allocated
to co-sponsoring organizations to assist their delegates to attend the workshop,
specifically the Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC) $2,000, and the
Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) $3,000. The Christian Conference of Asia
(CCA) is also a co-sponsor, but needed no funds for delegates. These
organizations will jointly plan and conduct this ecumenical workshop as part of
the preparation for WDP 2000, which has the same theme.

 1. North Korea, North Korea  $3,000.

From the 1997 FLC Emergency Grants, money was sent to buy corn, rice, milk
and other food to ease the suffering of North Koreans who are in a critical food
shortage after excessive flooding washed away much of the harvest for the last
two years. Women from South Korea initiated the "One Dollar Per Person"
campaign which this grant will supplement.

 2. Bolivia  $2,000.

For earthquake victims.

 3. Papua New Guinea  $3,000.

For the families and communities devastated by the tidal wave, July 1998.

4. Funds Remaining for Other Emergencies  $2,000.

 All Africa Conference of Churches Women's Desk (AACC)  $10,000.
 Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC)  $20,000.
 Christian Conference of Asia Women's Desk (CCA)  $10,000.
 Caribbean Council of Churches Women's Desk (CCC)  $10,000.
 Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women (EFECW)  $10,000.
 Latin America Council of Churches Women's Desk (CLAI)  $10,000.
 Middle East Council of Churches Women's Desk  $10,000.

 North American Women's Desks:
 Church Women United, USA (CWU)  $5,000.
 Women's Inter-church Council of Canada (WICC)  $5,000.
 Pacific Conference of Churches Women's Desk (PCC)  $10,000.
 World Council of Churches Women's Desk (WCC)  $10,000.
 World Day of Prayer International Committee (WDPIC)  $10,000.