Church Women United in Texas

Church Women United in Texas is an ecumenical community of Christian women in Texas who accept the purpose of the movement as stated in its bylaws. Originally formed in 1934, today CWU in Texas is composed of individual members and local units throughout the state. It is also affiliated with the national organization of Church Women United.

Church Women United in Texas is an ecumenical community of Christian women in Texas whose purpose, as stated in its bylaws, is to encourage church women to come together in a visible fellowship to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and, enabled by the Holy Spirit, to go out together to every neighborhood and nation as instruments of reconciling love wish to manifest their unity through fellowship, study and cooperative action.

Church Women United in Texas was originally formed in 1934. This organization is composed of local units and individual members who accept the purpose of the movement. Local units are organized into 11 geographical areas within the state for ecumenical development and activities. CWU in Texas is affiliated with the national organization of Church Women United.

The state unit's management is vested in its executive board. The board meets routinely in the spring and in the fall, in coordination with the annual state meeting which is open to all members. Other meetings are scheduled during the year for forums, seminars, workshops, and leadership training.

CWU in Texas works to form and nurture local CWU units. It assists local units with their ecumenical celebrations of World Community Day, World Day of Prayer, and May Fellowship Day. It also supports local units' advocacy and service work in their local communities with projects such as prison ministries, literacy and job skills training, and food banks. As a channel or liaison between the local and national levels, CWU in Texas assists local units with national CWU ministries. CWU in Texas also works with organizations with similar goals, such as the Texas Conference of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the United Nations.

The national organization of CWU was founded in 1941. Today, its national headquarters are in New York City, and it has 1200 local and state Units in the United States and Puerto Rico, which represent 25 million Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian women. Members work nationally and internationally in partner groups on common issues and emphases. Annual ecumenical celebrations and international or global relations events are held to further the organization's goals.

Sources: Church Women United website, http://www.churchwomen.org/ ; Organization - Bylaws, Box 1, Folder 1; Organization–Structure, State Unit, Box 1, Folder 3; Activities-Ecumenical Action/Advocacy and Service Projects, Box 12, Folder 3; and Scrapbook Material-Local Units, 47th Anniversary, Box 14, Folder 5.