FAIRFAX, Va. (May 6, 2008) – As Mother’s Day approaches, Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) churches are putting a special emphasis on moms and their contribution to their families and to the church as a whole. The network of 21 orthodox Anglican churches has made strengthening families a top priority since it was formed and is celebrating and providing for mothers in a number of ways.

Within the ADV parishes, Mother’s Day will be greeted with mom-focused banquets, prayers, sermons and events. In addition, throughout the year ADV parishes have numerous programs for church moms that run alongside outreach to mothers in the community. One example of outreach is the Birthmothers Ministry that was founded by members of The Falls Church and created to help area mothers dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. The Mothers’ Union, a worldwide network of volunteers dedicated to fostering healthy marriage and family life, is also taking root in Northern Virginia throughout the Anglican District of Virginia churches.

According to ADV Contact Bishop David Bena, who also serves as a Suffragan Bishop in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, “Mother’s Day is the perfect time of year to focus not only on all the ministry opportunities that are available to area moms, but also to thank the mothers within ADV churches for their hard work and dedication as they serve others. Strengthening families will continue to be a core tenet of the Anglican District of Virginia. The numerous programs designed for moms and kept alive by moms speak volumes to that commitment.”

Focus: Birthmothers Ministry

A team at The Falls Church is dedicated to the Birthmothers Ministry. It serves women and families who face an unplanned pregnancy by training volunteer “friends” to offer one-on-one emotional, spiritual and practical support for birth moms and birth dads.

“Birthmothers fills a unique niche, especially during times like Mother’s Day. While many women are dealing with a flood of emotions stemming from a pregnancy they didn’t expect, we’re able to help out by providing much-needed support and practical care,” said Jim Wright of The Falls Church who is Founder and President of Birthmothers.

More information available at: www.birthmotherministries.org

Focus: The Mothers’ Union

Mrs. Angela Minns, wife of Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), has been spearheading the effort to advance the Mothers’ Union movement in Northern Virginia and CANA churches elsewhere. The Mothers’ Union is a worldwide network of volunteers with strong connections to the Anglican Communion that focuses on fostering healthy marriages and family life. ADV churches are already embracing the organization and recently hosted an Easter party for children of recently released prison inmates.

According to Mrs. Minns, “The Mothers’ Union puts a strong emphasis not only on supporting healthy marriages and families, but on reaching out to those who are hurting and have been met with adversity. I’ve seen amazing results firsthand. Especially as Mother’s Day approaches, the important role of church volunteers in supporting mothers and families cannot be overstated.”

More information available at: www.themothersunion.org

The Anglican District of Virginia (www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org) is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia.  Its members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops.  ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people.  ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community.  ADV is currently comprised of 21 member congregations.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a local ADV church representative please contact Megan Franko (ext. 148) or Caitlin Bozell (ext. 119) at (703) 683-5004.