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
Missouri ECW Offering Scholarship 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:
Scholarship
(posted March 10, 2021)
Women of Diocese Invited to Province V Virtual Meeting
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of Province V will hold their annual meeting virtually on Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. There will also be a Community Conversations pre-Annual Meeting event on Wednesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. that will take the place of the ECW of Missouri’s bimonthly Connections event. Both meetings are free and open to all, but attendees should register on eventbrite.com using this link.
The Province V ECW assists every woman of The Episcopal Church in Province 5 (the province of the Midwest region) to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation, mission and ministry in the community, the nation and the world. This year’s meeting focuses on the topic “Be Not Alone: Finding Answers to Form Beloved Community.” The Annual Meeting will feature sessions on Care and Connection in Community as the Pandemic Exits with Sr. Veronica Mary of the Diocese of Michigan, Care of Surrounding Community with Sean McConnell of Episcopal Relief & Development and Whom Shall I Fear? Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence with the Rev. Rosalind Hughes of the Diocese of Ohio. The Rev. Darlene Kuhn of the Diocese of Western Michigan will lead the closing worship.
More information about the meeting and the work of Province V ECW can be found at ecwprovince5.org, or click here for a brochure.
ECW Events
Wednesday’s pre-Annual Meeting event will feature the Rev. Dr. Maria Evans from the Diocese of Missouri, who will lead a conversation about the current state of relationships.
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.
Applications were due March 1, 2021. They will be reviewed at the board annual meeting with notification in mid- summer. Funds are sent in late summer/early fall 2021.
Information and grant application can be accessed on the CPC website: www.churchperiodical.com.
These grants are part of NBF (National Book Fund).
Further information or questions, please contact Maryfran Crist [email protected] or Debbie Ventura [email protected].
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
ECW Board
Elected officers of the diocesan ECW Board:
