Christian Woman's Board of Missions

The Christian Woman's Board of Missions (CWBM) was a missionary organization associated with the Restoration Movement.[1] It was the first such group managed entirely by women.[1] It hired both men and women, and supported both domestic and foreign missions.[1]

History

The Christian Woman's Board of Missions was created by the American Christian Missionary Society on October 21, 1874.[1] It was a grassroots organization intended to serve women and children worldwide.[1] While many members also supported other 19th century causes such as temperance and suffrage, "CWBM was the 'grand passion' in the lives of many nineteenth- and twentieth-century Christian Church women."[1]

The CWBM's first mission was in Jamaica, where Dr. and Mrs. W.H. Williams were sent in 1876.[1] The first missionary who was a single woman, Jennie Laughlin, was sent in 1876.[1] India became the major focus of the CWBM's overseas efforts, which included evangelistic efforts focusing on women and children, as well as building a variety of social service facilities such as schools, hospitals and orphanages.[1] The organization was particularly effective, both at home and abroad, in reaching women and children in settings where it would be difficult or impossible for men to go.[1]

The CWBM merged with several other organizations in 1919 to form the United Christian Missionary Society.[1][2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Christian Woman's Board of Missions, pages 200-2002
  2. Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on United Christian Missionary Society, pages 750-753