The worldwide Mother’s Union (MU) has been praised by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All Ireland for its continuing focus on unity amid growing divisions between Anglicans.

|TOP|Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams and Archbishop Robin Eames described the MU as the “fifth instrument of unity” in the Anglican Communion, praising the organisation for its focus on issues that unite rather than divide Anglicans despite sharp divisions in the Communion over sexuality.

“This is a powerful statement and a great commission for those of us in the MU,” said Kathleen Snow of the diocese of Fredericton, who is provincial president of the Canadian MU.

“Our bonds of affection are really bonds of understanding that should be mirrored by the entire Anglican Communion – we all need to talk with each other, rather than at each other.”

Ms. Snow and other representatives met with Archbishops Williams and Eames during a three-week trip to the United Kingdom that included attendance at a two-day MU general meeting in Ipswich.

In his New Years speech, Dr Williams looked back on a year of disasters, underlining the fact that human suffering affects everyone, before urging everyone to help others to feel less alone, the BBC reported.

“The challenge for us is to close the gap...to be there alongside the lonely and the suffering,” he said in his message which he delivered while visiting the 999 Club, a drop-in centre in Deptford, south-east London.

"When disasters and tragedies come on us thick and fast - and this last year has seen so many horrors of suffering, natural and man-made - it's painful to accept that we can't just do something straight away to set it all right," he said.

"So we need to see that the one thing anyone can do is to try and close the gap, to let others know that they're not on their own."

He added: "This time last year, there were so many anxious families waiting for news of friends and relatives in the wake of the tsunami.

"This autumn, so many Indian and Pakistani families in this country had to face the same anxiety about their relatives back in the earthquake area.

"Communications make the gap grow narrower in some ways,” he said.

Dr Williams said that the challenge is to close the gap in our awareness and readiness to be there alongside the lonely and suffering.

He referred directly the 999 Club in his speech, which offers support to drug abusers and the homeless, as well as the sick and elderly, to illustrate the challenges people face around the world.

"Those who work here will tell you that the point isn't to solve the problems but chiefly to say to everyone who comes through the door that they don't have to face them alone.
"They have realised that at times the most we can do for each other is to say, 'I can't promise to keep you safe, but I'll do all I can to make sure that there's someone with you in the worst moments'."
Dr Williams went on to say that part of the Christmas message is “not that God solves all our problems at a single stroke, but that through Jesus he is completely alongside us.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury added that we still have to look for the big solutions, the long-term aid and support, and the ‘problem-solving plans’.

"But let's start with what anyone can do, anywhere; never mind the success, simply act and speak as if people were worth taking seriously."