You are here
Our 1st Awards Celebration for the RISE UP! campaign
We were delighted to host so many of our wonderful members in our very own chapel at Mary Sumner House in Westminster for our first RISE UP celebration service on Wednesday 22 May 2024.
Joined by members from the dioceses of London, Southwark, Rochester, and Chelmsford, we reflected on the success of our RISE UP campaign against domestic abuse. On our last count, a remarkable 89 branches/dioceses have achieved the bronze level, 3 have already been awarded silver and a further 3 have reached the Gold level since RISE UP was launched in late 2023.
Members didn't let the grass grow under their feet, as they rolled up their sleeves and immediately went to action.
It demonstrates the commitment our members have towards those in their community, and their desire to bring this issue of the shadows into the light. We’re so thankful for every diocese and branch who have taken on the RISE UP challenge so wholeheartedly, and know that it is making an impact in homes, churches throughout the country. In other words, as our Patron The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury says ‘Mothers' Union is the heart and love of the Church.’
The service kicked off with introductions from our membership team, who are at the forefront of rolling out RISE UP nationally, before we take it to the international stage. We were grateful for the support of The Very Rev Rod Reid, MU diocesan chaplain for the Diocese of Chelmsford, who preached a provoking sermon on the importance of listening to survivors in a world full of good and evil and thanked Mothers' Union for rising up to the challenge of tackling this issue.
We also took the opportunity to pray together for the continued support of Mothers’ Union members in bringing this issue centre stage in our churches and communities.
While this marks a significant moment in our campaign, our work is far from over yet. While the message of RISE UP has reached tens of thousands, we must keep working tirelessly to ensure that every individual can live free from domestic abuse, around the corner and around the world.
Want to find out how to bring RISE UP to your Mothers’ Union or church? Here you’ll find all the resources you need to ensure that your RISE UP campaign is a success and reaches the hearts and minds of those around you.
Tune into the live-stream of the service here from our Facebook channel.