Church Women United of Newtown & Greater Danbury elected its board members for 2013-14 during its September 6 meeting. Darlene Jackson of Newtown, a member of Newtown Congregational Church, is returning for another term as president of the local unit.

Also on the board are Jean Conover (St Rose of Lima), vice president; Peg Forbell (NCC), treasurer; the Reverend Sue Klein (Newtown United Methodist Church), secretary; Barbara Gates (NUMC), ecumenical development; Jeane Roberts (NCC), historian; Linda Manganaro (NCC), celebrations chairperson; and Jeanette Mayer (Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Brookfield), Fellowship of the Least Coin.

Church Women United is a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive Christian women’s movement, celebrating unity in diversity and working through worship, prayer, study, and action for a world of peace and justice

Current members of the Newtown/Greater Danbury unit are from the aforementioned churches, as well as Bethel Congregational Church, New Hope Baptist Church in Danbury, San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains, N.Y.; St Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church in New Fairfield, Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown, United Methodist Church of Danbury, and Valley Presbyterian Church in Brookfield.

CWU-Newtown was founded in 1958 by Margaret Winchester and her mother, Pearl Winchester, as a local unit representing women of churches in Newtown. It is affiliated with the national and state Church Women United and has, as its current name implies, expanded to include churches in surrounding towns. CWU contributes to local projects as well as to international missions for women’s and children’s health.

Annual activities include participation in World Day of Prayer in March, May Friendship Day, World Community Day in November, and accompanying Bible studies. World Community Day 2013 by CWU-Newtown & Greater Danbury is being planned for Friday, November 8; details TBA.

The local unit’s next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 11, at Valley Presbyterian Church in Brookfield. Contact Mrs Jackson for additional information about the local CWU unit at 203-426-5192.