Ex Vice-President is a Woman of the Year!

Judy Jarvis, Ex Vice-President of Conference, is one of 300women nominated and attending next week's Women of the YearLunch and Assembly at the Savoy Hotel in London.

Each woman attending is recognised as a Woman of the Year. Judywas nominated for her lifetime's service to the church,particularly her work with children.

The Women of the Year Lunch andAssembly has been running every year since 1955, and drawstogether distinguished women from all walks of life to celebratetheir achievements, whilst raising money for charity. 

Judy said: "It is a privilege and a delight tobe recognised in this way and I am looking forward to theevent. Through me, this honour acknowledges the importance ofchildren's work."

She explained: "Children have been, and remain to an extent,underestimated in the life of the church and in life generally. Butchildren have a great deal to contribute, and one way we canintegrate them fully into church life is by recognising the childwithin us all."

Speaking in general about her career and herfaith, she added: "It has been a great honour to serve both in mylocal church and right through the Methodist connexion. I'velearned that what matters most is that we as Christians express thejoy of our faith, and convey that it is good to be in the life ofthe church."

Jonathan Kerry, Co-ordinating for Worship andLearning at The Methodist Church, praised: "Judy has been aninspiration and encouragement to us all, and the Woman of the Yearaccolade is richly deserved. What I appreciate most about Judy isthe sense of joy that she brings into every situation, a joy whichsprings from her deep faith."

Judy, whose Vice-Presidential year ended inJune, became an accredited local preacher at the age of 21. Sheworked as a teacher for almost 30 years, then in 1989 began servingon the Connexional Team, first in the Division of Education andYouth and for the last nine years as Children's Secretary, a postshe retired from last month.

The Women of the Year Lunch and Assembly will be heldon 11 October 2004 at The Savoy Hotel. This year's Assembly debateis titled, 'Fighting Back: Women's Voices in the aftermathof war in Iraq'.