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
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.
Scholarship
ECW Retreat and Annual Meeting Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 All women of the Diocese of Missouri are invited to our annual retreat and meeting. The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice will be our featured speaker at this year's event. Download the following documents for the annual meeting:
Nominations Sought for ECW's Distinguished Woman Award
Nominations due by January 10, 2022
Do you know a woman whose Christian principles are lived out in both her secular and sacred communities? Nominate her for ECW's Distinguished Woman Award!
ECW Events
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Zoom
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:
