Communique’ Fall 2019
Table of Contents
Message from the President – Karen Patterson
Education=Hope – Where will God take you? – Cameron Graham Vivanc
Two stories from our Education=Hope students in Ecuador
Gateway of Grace – The Rev. Samira Izadi
Path to Citizenship -The Rev. Anna B. Lange-Soto
Traducción Española
Interview with Dr. Catherine Meeks by The Rev. Ema Rosero-Nordalm
Traducción Española
Articles appearing within the Communique’ do not necessarily represent the opinions of the National Episcopal Church Women nor the Episcopal Church. The organization works hard to provide a platform for women to present ideas and opinions that affect women’s issues. The editor may be contacted for comments or questions at: editor@ecwnational.org
Presidents Message
Dear Sisters in Christ,
It has been a busy year for this new President of ECW!
In addition to attending our regular National Board Meetings (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in January, Boise, Idaho, in May, and in October, Bellwether Farms outside of Cleveland, Ohio.
I also attended the province meetings in Province 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8. What a wonderful opportunity to meet the women of the provinces! In addition, I attended the Great V meeting in Kalamazoo, which allowed me to also visit with my long time friend, Sue Schlanbusch. Recently I met with the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross here at our diocesan retreat, DaySpring, and met with the ladies of Diocese of Central Florida the first week of November.
This past March I was one of eight women selected to represent Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the 2019 Conference on the Status of Women. All eight women were selected for work with women in various capacities. (I serve as a guardian for women (and men) who have been adjudicated incapacitated in the State of Florida.)
The conference was held over a two week period in March 2019 in New York City at the United Nations. All representatives selected the various presentations each day that they wanted to attend as well as other events such as meeting with the Ecumenical Women’s Group. A group session was held each evening with all appointees as well as staff at the Episcopal Church Office in New York. I attended presentations by Kenya, Afghanistan, the Ivory Coast, the Philippines, South Africa, Japan and others in addition to the various general sessions and meetings with various groups.
In July I attended the Girls Friendly Society National Meeting at a retreat center outside of Philadelphia. Women and girls from various GFS groups across the country attended. It was a wonderful time visiting with all of the ladies attending as well as the girls. Seeing and hearing them talk about their various projects and endeavors was truly a joy.
Also attending was Thembeka Pama of South Africa, who serves as the World President of the Girls Friendly Society.
Karen O. Patterson National President 2018 -2021
Education=Hope
Where will God take you?
By Cameron Graham Vivanco
Not many women on the mission field have made their social debut. I bring this up only to say that you never know where God is going to take you or what is going to become of your life when you hand it back over to God. You may think that you are headed in a particular direction, but then, well, it changes!
Handing life over to God for me has meant that a native North Carolinian has lived in South America for 18 years, and that my children do not eat grits (insert a heavy sigh). It has meant that I have been witness to the whole spectrum, from appreciated privilege to the beauty and pain of those living in extreme poverty.
Two stories from our Education Equals Hope students in Ecuador
From the Episcopal Church Buen Pastor:
A family from the church was home when their home was broken into by armed robbers. The parents were able to hide their children and no harm came to them. However, the parents were badly injured and the father is now paralyzed. He lost his job and only through Education = Hope have they been able to keep their kids in school. In their own words the help and hope that they receive from our community, E=H, this has given them a reason to live and move forward.
Gateway of Grace
Crossing the Rio Grande is one of the scariest things I have ever done. It happened about 20 years ago, a day after learning that the Iranian embassy in Mexico discovered we were in Mexico City. We rose early the next morning and set out to cross the border to apply for asylum in the U.S. In desperation, we found two Mexican men who said they could get us across the border. They told us that we could only carry a backpack and water.
Path to Citizenship
The Reverend Anna B. Lange-Soto
I serve as the vicar of El Buen Pastor in Redwood City, and Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Francisco, both congregations in the Diocese of California. I thank God for the opportunity to walk with parishioners and families in their daily life and spiritual journey. We try to form a community that accompanies its participants, and the community in general, in its battles, triumphs and failures. As a Church, we try to share the source and nourishment of our life, Jesus.
An interview with Dr. Catherine Meeks
Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing
Questions for a life dedicated to inspiring communities to commit to the sacred work of dismantling racism and to embark in the personal journey and in communities for racial healing, justice and reconciliation.
What is fundamental to your work dedicated to teaching, organizing and inviting diverse communities to gather committedly to understand and defeat racism in all its forms and power dynamics?
