Blog post
For us, spouses of staff members who traveled a lot, the Ecumenical Women’s Group has been an important support all the years through. The archives of Ecumenical Women’s Group are at those of the WCC.
I was also very involved during the meetings with the WCC and the architects about the construction of the Open House and the relation with the WCC was always good. But the Ecumenical Centre as such also. I always felt myself welcome and still like to go there. I’m glad the WCC has decided to keep the central part of the building, with the chapel, the conference hall and the big hall where for several years we organised a sale of “Magasin du Monde” and later on fruits of “TerrEspoir” from Cameroon.
Do you remember?
Who still remembers the Ecumenical Women’s Group and why an Open House was set up?
When in 1947 and 1948 the Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches (WCC) set up their offices in Geneva, the spouses of the staff members came together and created a group called ‘’The Malagnou Wives.’’ Although some of the women were highly qualified, the Swiss law did not allow them to be employed. When the Ecumenical Centre was opened, the group changed the name to ‘’Ecumenical Wives Group.” They came together in homes or sometimes in meeting rooms in the Ecumenical Centre. After some years the WCC rented a floor in the Château of Grand Saconnex for the Ecumenical Wives Group where they could have their activities. In 1979, the group changed again the name, to “Ecumenical Women’s Group.”
Over the decades the membership and activities of the Ecumenical Women’s Group have been of a rich variety. At one time (1979/1980) there where 241 listed members of 34 different countries and a dozen interest groups. Activities ranged from Bible study, language classes and international cooking to patchwork, painting, and yoga. The Ecumenical Women’s Group was represented in the Worship Committee of the Centre and and the group prepared several times a year the Monday morning service. Often we were asked to participate in the Ecumenical Centre Staff Association, when happenings were organised like barbecues, or tennis competitions at Bossey, for example.
Blossoming where we are planted
But while membership and activities varied from year to year, the purposes of the Ecumenical Women’s Group have always remained the same: fellowship and community; learning from and with each other; outreach and support to one another at times of joy and sorrow; outreach and support in the Ecumenical Centre; outreach and support to the world through projects recommended by Ecumenical Women’s Group members—with a view to all of us blossoming where we are planted, here in Geneva!
When the Ecumenical Women’s Group heard about the construction of Salève wing, the group asked the WCC for a place of its own. The answer was promising. In 1986 the Open House became a reality, opened with an official celebration moderated by Mrs Marga Bürig, one of the presidents of the WCC at that time.
Due to the decreasing number of WCC staff, and because of new rules concerning the information about new staff members by the WCC Office of Human Resources to the EWG, the number of members diminished. Another reason was that it became easier for spouses to obtain a working permit in Geneva.
In September 2012 the WCC took over from the Ecumenical Women’s Group the management of the Open House, the place where for more than 25 years the group held all its activities. And not only the Ecumenical Women’s Group. Many other groups and organisations benefitted from the Open House for their activities, meetings, family gatherings, etc. The Ecumenical Women’s Group was allowed to use the Open House every Thursday all day.
In 2018, due to departures of members and lack of newcomers, the committee decided to propose the dissolution of the Ecumenical Women’s Group and a letter was sent to all the members, former and present. In November 2018 those who voted by letter and the members present, considered that it was realistic to dissolve the Ecumenical Women’s Group.
I hope and pray that we will all agree for a smooth and peaceful closing of such a lovely organization. May the good Lord bless us all wherever we are and that we will continue to inspire others with the joy and love we share at the Ecumenical Women’s Group.
I feel sorry but I agree of course! I think we have had a good time together—I can at least say this: for the 25 years I lived in Geneva. But everything and every group has its time: there is a time to create, there is a time to dissolve…
After 70 years, the Ecumenical Women’s Group was dissolved on 22 November 2018.