MU Diocesan President announced
Mothers’ Union in Down and Dromore have announced Mavis Thompson as their new Diocesan President. Mavis will take over from Roberta Macartney who has come to the end of her three–year tenure.
A parishioner of Dromara, Mavis has served for four years as Branch Secretary of the Mothers’ Union there. She has been the Area Representative of Ballynahinch Area for the past few years and in 2020 became a Trustee as Worldwide Representative. “Overseas work has always been part of my life as my late father was secretary of a missionary society and I grew up with missionaries visiting our home”, she says.
Mavis is a native of Lisburn and moved to live near Dromara when she married William 24 years ago. She wasn’t brought up in the Church of Ireland but was active in the parish as a Sunday school teacher and as a Girls’ Brigade officer for twenty years.
Mavis loves travelling and crafts, especially lacemaking in which she holds a City and Guilds Certificate and Diploma.
Of her new role Mavis says:
“I am looking forward to visiting different branches and meeting with members as regulations allow. I would love to see branches grow, especially with younger members as they have so much to offer and can revitalise the more senior members, who, in turn, can teach the younger members.
“God has been with me in my decision to accept this position. Two verses have stood out – Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything” and Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you”. It is reassuring to know that God will be with me and will guide me as I take up this post.”
Both Mavis and the new MU Diocesan Chaplain, Revd Duncan Pollock, will be commissioned at a special service in Dromore Cathedral at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 2 February.