Episcopal Church Women
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is one of our oldest church organizations and is open to all women; all women of the Episcopal Church throughout the United States are considered members of ECW.
The Diocese of Missouri ECW Board strives "to offer every woman in the Diocese of Missouri an environment of support and encouragement, education and opportunity for ministry by providing: fellowship, communication, resource materials, and outreach to the diocese, nation, and world."
ECW activity occurs on several levels. In addition to work done in our parishes, ECW members in the diocese collaborate on common projects throughout the year and gather annually for a retreat and meeting. ECW holds meetings at a provincial level (Missouri is a part of Province V), and every three years, the ECW national organization meets concurrently with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
Diocesan ECW Connections events are held every other month (February, April, June, August, December). The Annual Retreat & Meeting will take the place of the October Connections Event. We normally have a guest speaker and group discussion then come back for a general discussion after breakout sessions. If there is a topic you believe is of interest to the women of the Diocese, please contact Deborah Caby with the information.
Among the means of supporting women in the Diocese of Missouri, ECW offers a scholarship for women who are members of an Episcopal congregation in the diocese and who will be in their second year of post-high school education studying toward a degree or certificate in a field of service to others. The deadline is June 1 prior to the next academic year.
Episcopal Church Women were first established in 1872, at that time called “The Woman’s Auxiliary.” Mary Emery was hired by the Board of Missions to be in contact with all parishes and encourage women to create their own Auxiliary Missionary Society “to aid with sympathy and prayers, time labor and money to the extent of her power.” In 1958, at the 29th Triennial Meeting in Miami Beach, the name changed to the Episcopal Church Women (ECW).
Today, we are Episcopal women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds who hold a variety of views. However, we have in common a belief in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God and the wish and desire to do His work.
History
The Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Missouri (ECW) supports women in furthering their education in an area that focuses on service to others by awarding a $1,000 scholarship to one woman each year.
The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who best meets these criteria:
The deadline for application for this year's scholarship is June 1, 2022.
For more information, please contact Kay Fletcher, Scholarship Chairperson.
2021 ECW Scholarship Awarded
The Diocese of Missouri Episcopal Church Women (ECW) awarded its annual scholarship for 2021 to Abigail Robertson, a member of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Lake St. Louis. ECW scholarship coordinator Kay Fletcher presented the award to Abigail at Transfiguration on June 27.
Abigail, a graduate of Ft. Zumwalt West High School and rising sophomore at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., plans to become a bilingual physician. She is a double major in Biochemistry and Spanish, who maintained a high GPA while playing division II softball for Drury. Additionally, she has participated in various philanthropic activities, including a relationship through her sorority with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. She plans to study abroad in Spain next year.
Abigail hopes to serve her local and the global community by combining her love for medicine and Spanish. She feels her faith and hard work will get her through the challenges that may arise on the path to becoming a physician. “Nothing worth having comes without grit, dedication, determination and perseverance,” she says.
The Diocese of Missouri ECW offers a scholarship each year to a female member of an Episcopal Church in the diocese who is studying in an area of service to others, excels academically, exhibits leadership potential, and participates in community service. ECW is proud to support Abigail in pursuing her dreams.
Pictured above, left to right: ECW scholarship recipient Abigail Robertson, the Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, and Kay Fletcher, Diocese of Missouri ECW scholarship coordinator.
2022 Scholarship
Diocesan ECW Retreat and Annual Meeting After two years of virtual retreats and annual meetings, the diocesan Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will hold this year's Retreat and Annual Meeting in-person at the Pallottine Renewal Center on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15, 2022. The theme of this year's retreat is "A Story Told Anew," and all women in the diocese are invited to come share in an experience of learning, fellowship and renewal.
Starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, attendees will have a chance to explore the grounds and amenities of the beautiful Pallottine Renewal Center in Florissant (North St. Louis County). The Annual Meeting will be held after a shared dinner, and the evening will end with a bonfire and compline.
Saturday's program allows attendees to step into a world of Cosmic Events, the world of God's creation, and learn their part in the great unfolding universe. The day of storytelling, quiet time, and fellowship will end with a community Eucharist in the afternoon.
All Episcopal women are automatically members of ECW, and the diocesan ECW Board hopes all will join them for this special overnight event. Attendees must register by September 20. Registration forms are available to download below and have been emailed to congregations.
Downloads:
ECW Events
The Church Periodical Club (CPC), an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, is dedicated to the worldwide Ministry of the Printed Word and to the Promotion of Christian Mission.
The CPC provides books, magazines, tapes, videos and computer programs free to those who cannot otherwise obtain them and raises the money to provide this ministry.
National Book Grant Applications
National Book Grant applications are available for enhancing, supporting and developing your ministry with written materials including books, ebooks, CD, audio books, etc. for adults.
Information and grant application can be accessed on the CPC website: www.churchperiodical.com.
Miles of Pennies
Grants for materials for children aged birth through 18 years are supported under Miles of Pennies (MOP) and may be applied for throughout the year. More information on these grants and the application can be found on the CPC website: www.churchperiodical.com.
News from the Church Periodical Club
Diocesan ECW Board
Elected officers of the diocesan ECW Board:
- Kathleen McDonald - St. Francis, Eureka - Laura Rose - Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis
- Karen Watts - St. Paul’s, Carondelet
