Finding Aid of the Church Women United of the Swannanoa Valley Records, ORG.7006

The Church Women United in the Swannanoa Valley Records consist of minutes, agendas, budgets, treasurer's reports, president's report, the newsletter "Valley Spires," correspondence, photographs, calendars, directories, clippings and ephemera. This collection also contains flyers and brochures for celebrations and events and documents regarding the CWU's 65th anniversary.

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The collection is arranged chronologically.

In 1941, with the onslaught of World War II looming, 100 women from three interdenominational women's groups met in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to form the United Council of Church Women (UCCW). The group represented women from 70 Protestant denominations who had been involved with the Council of Women for Home Missions, the Committee on Women's Work of the Foreign Missions Conference, and the National Council of Federated Church Women. UCCW began as a movement of prayer, action, and advocacy by racially, culturally, and theologically diverse Christian women to express their unity and quest for peace through their faith.

In 1966, the organization's name was changed to Church Women United (CWU), in part to encourage participation by Orthodox and Roman Catholic women. The issues currently important to CWU are human rights, hunger and poverty, health and wellness, and diversity and inclusion.


Church Women United of the Swannanoa Valley was organized in 1943 and is comprised of approximately two dozen churches. The group is affiliated with CWU in North Carolina, the Southeast, and nationally. The Swannanoa Valley unit's purpose, as stated in its1999 bylaws, is to function as "an ecumenical movement of Christian women for the purpose of witnessing to their unity and faith in Jesus Christ through worship, study, action, celebration, and global relationships." Through the years, the organization has participated in local, regional and national ministries including adult education, interdenominational youth activities, emergency transportation, and overseas relief. In addition, it has supported other organizations such as the Ministry of Hope and the Swannanoa Christian Ministry.


Today, CWU is a women's movement fundamentally grounded in the biblical principles of the Christian faith and the richness of denominational diversity. CWU is best known for three annual worship celebrations -- World Day of Prayer, World Friendship Day (formerly World Fellowship Day), and World Community Day obeserved in March, May, and November respectively.

Collection Contents

Church Women United in the Swannanoa Valley

Women in church work

Ecumenical movement

Swannanoa River Valley (N.C.)

Minutes.

Reports.

Received in spring 2017.

Processed by Abigail Gamble, May 2017