ECW Women Articles-Poems-Announcements

Faith: Creation Care returns us to the original Earth Day

Caring for the Earth is not new to religions.

New head of Mt. Airy church has come a long way

“It was so remote that we had no electricity or running water,” said Rev. Tanya Regli – Mt. Airy, PA

Harnessing the Power of Interfaith Collaboration to Reduce Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls in Libera

One young woman spoke about how she had been a child bride at twelve or thirteen.

Episcopal bishop of Mass. apologized for removing female priest’s collar during Easter Vigil at Boston cathedral

“It was a devastating and demeaning act…” – Boston, MA

Navajoland seeks to become missionary diocese in resolution proposed to 81st General Convention

The Episcopal Church’s ministry on the 27,000-square-mile Navajo reservation dates back more than a century

Musician Turned to God in Her Grief

Leila Way is a songwriter in residence at Resurrection South Austin, a church of the Diocese of Texas

Faith communities come together to learn about mental health and mental illness

“I think there’s a staggering amount of people in our community, in all communities, that their only companion right now is that darkness.”

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Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe nominated by petition for election as presiding bishop

The election will take place on June 26 during The Episcopal Church’s triennial General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Executive Council welcomes back presiding bishop, as outgoing members prepare to say goodbye

House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris welcomed Curry back with “joy and gratitude” in her opening remarks. “Your presence among us has been missed,” she said

Historic Cincinnati church honored with road renaming

A section of Reading Road was honorarily named for the Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. – Bond Hill, OH

Religious Landscape Study – Pew Research Findings

Is it true that less than 75% of Episcopalians attend church?

Blackwell: GreenGrace team seeks to build a modern-day ark

Green Grounds focuses on projects that create a “calming sanctuary and respite not just for people, but also birds, pollinators and all possible urban wildlife.” – Chattanooga, TN

Episcopal Church’s presiding officers sign documents to create Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice

Ayala Harris called it “a historic step forward in our church’s ongoing work to dismantle systemic racism and build a more just and equitable future for all God’s children.”

Bishop Budde on Courage in Decisive Moments

Budde rightly notes that “we learn from the courage of others.”

Founder of women’s support network visits OKC’s new Magdalene House: ‘Love is the sole force for change’

The new social enterprise was founded by the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

An Unknown History of Central Park: The Story of Hettie Anderson and the Sherman Monument

Hettie Anderson, an African-American woman whose legacy has been largely overlooked.

Social Justice & US Policy committees hear testimony on gun violence, homelessness, religious nationalism, pacifism and just war

Forty-six people attended the virtual hearing of the House of Bishops’ and House of Deputies’ committees.

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Testimony on range of constitutional, canonical proposals includes support for changes relating to marriage equality

“The Holy Spirit was at work in our open and gracious conversations.”

Give us your date

Do you know what percent of parishes in your diocese have, on average, more than 100 people at Sunday worship?

Episcopal Church’s African Descent Ministries hosts 2024 International Black Clergy Conference in Baltimore

“We’re seeing our churches close. We don’t have enough priests to prepare, and we have gentrification going on all over the country, and of course in the church,”

Traditional view of marriage could make a comeback at the US General Convention

The US Episcopal Church has been presented with proposals to protect clerics who hold the view that marriage is intended to be a covenant made only between a man and a woman.

TikTok Turns to Nuns, Veterans and Ranchers in Marketing Blitz

In a TV commercial, Sister Monica Clare, a nun in northern New Jersey, walks through a church…

Proposals take aim at church health plan inequities that left those in Navajoland uninsured

At the root of the challenges to health equity are policies adopted by past General Conventions that limit the Church Pension Group’s ability to adjust insurance rates based on regional variations

Task force’s resolutions affirm ‘big tent’ church despite lingering same-sex marriage divisions

Same-sex blessings and marriage rites have been among the most hotly contested issues at the past several meeting of General Convention.

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Constituting group for racial equity and justice coalition meets in person to advance structural work

As Heidi Kim, one of the Deputies of Color, said, “The opportunity for the coalition is to go local and deep and over time.”

Food insecurity a growing concern in Doylestown

“The need is great, obviously,” said Mary Lou Parry, chair of St. Paul’s outreach committee. “We have difficulty keeping up with it…” – PA

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church offers ‘non-religious, non-denominational’ support for grandparents/relatives raising their grandkids

It’s more common than you may think: grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles raising a relative’s children. – Crystal River, FL

Applications open for 250 priests to join Virginia Theological Seminary’s Thriving in Ministry initiative

This program is being expanded after receiving $500,000, five-year sustainability grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice moves closer to launch as independent nonprofit

The coalition’s goal “is not to supplant or replace the work of the church…”

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Forum will address helping homeless women and children in Great Falls

“Women have to believe they’re worthy….” – MT

The Oldest Church in North Carolina Is Filled With Rich History

The St. Thomas Episcopal Church became one of five parishes in the colony due to the Vestry Act of 1701.

Diocese of San Joaquin nears its renewable energy goal, with 95% reliance on solar power

The diocese has created an organization it calls the Episcopal Renewable Energy Nonprofit.

Presiding bishop says ‘stop the killing’ in Middle East as death toll rises from Israel-Hamas war

“Today I raise my voice for love because more than 10,000 people have died in Gaza, including more than 4,000 children,” Curry said.

‘The need is really still huge:’ Second Harvest preps to help those in need for holiday season

As we near the holiday season, organizations like the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and their partner agencies are preparing to feed people for Thanksgiving.

Celebrating 15 years of shared ministry

What started as an effort by two young boys who collected coins from students during Sunday School – Bethesda, MD

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Episcopal Church Approves Committee to Investigate Forced Adoptions

The committee is to investigate the church’s involvement with forced adoptions that occurred between the 1940s and ’70s.

Historic P’ville Church Welcomes its New Priest to the Community

“When we interviewed her, she had such a positive outlook. In addition to having met all the requirements, she seemed to have an energy about her that would build community and that was really important for us.” – Westchester County, NY

After Texas law forces closure of LGBTQ+ center, Houston campus ministries offer space for students

“just to say no matter what religious messages you’ve heard, no matter what other churches have told you … what our faith teaches us is you are loved.”

Transylvania Habitat initiates Faith Build Program with local churches

The Faith Build program aims to engage congregations of varying faiths in partnership with Transylvania Habitat for Humanity. – Brevard, NC

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The ECW National Board is meeting in Omaha, NE this weekend.

Ms. Beth Agar, Province VI representative set up an event filled weekend to coincide with the board’s visit. Saturday’s lunch is expected to be visited by many members of the local church women. Watch the Facebook page for images and updates.

Using Picture Books for Racial Healing

Registration is now open for Dismantling Racism training sessions in August, September, October, and November. Miriam McKenney leads the trainings, which take place on Zoom.

November  8, 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.). Sign up here.

“The dismantling racism course is terrific,” Lisa Barker of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, says. “The use of storytelling and scripture brings things into focus that, for me, had been unacknowledged. Another wonderful aspect of this course is the formation of community among the participants. Miriam and Emma made the course easy to access, consistent with the Four-Fold Path of Love, and I truly looked forward to the sessions. Our discussion times flew by as the topics were thought-provoking. I highly recommend this course!”

Email Director of Dismantling Racism in Southern Ohio, Miriam McKenney, to learn more.

Episcopal Church Women of North Carolina Annual Meeting 

November 10, 2023 – Online 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

The program will focus on the theme: “Adapting to a Changing Landscape: How Do We Grow Membership and Keep Members Engaged?

Featured presenters include

The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams, Priest-in-Residence, St. Stephens, Durham, “FORGIVENESS IS NEVER GOING TO BE EASY”

The Rev. Lindsey Ardrey, New Canon Missioner for Diocesan Reparations and Restitution Ministry, will discuss resources to support several goals within the diocesan mission strategy priority of Racial Reckoning, Justice and Healing

The Rev. Lisa G. Fischbeck, Priest Associate, St. Philip’s Church Durham, Author, Behold What You Are: Becoming the Body of Christ, founder of Pee Wee Homes, and launching vicar of The Episcopal Church of the Advocate, Chapel Hill

To register for the Zoom link, go to www.ecw-nc.org

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