Triennial TODAY WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012
CRAINE HOUSE:
Offering a Safe, Controlled Environment By Laura Orcutt, Diocese of Utah
Michael Cook, the president of
the board for the John P. Craine House in Indianapolis, spoke to the ECW Triennial 5K participants, and explained how the beginnings of a small project to allow incarcerated women to live out the remainder of their sentences in a way closer to the lifestyle you and I enjoy provides for a healthier society.
The John P. Craine House program serves non-violent female offenders with young children. It offers residential, court-ordered housing in a safe, controlled environment. They can even live with their children and receive beneficial services to put their lives back on the right track.
Cook revealed some statistics from the results of the Craine House. While the average inmate in the US is 66% more likely to go back to prison, the probability is less than 20% for a woman who leaves the Craine House. A service such as this not only assists in restoring the individual back to society, thus benefiting the immediate society, it also has a longevity effect in that 70% of the children of women felons in the US are more likely to have a felon in their life while the children of the Craine House will most likely not. Economically, solutions such as this are also very appealing. It costs $50,000 per year to house an incarcerated person and $200,000 per to house a youth. It costs $13,000 a year for a house a woman to include her children at the Craine House. For more information, go to crainehouse.org.
GFS Sets Standards for YOUNG GIRLS The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) is particularly relevant to this 2012 ECW Triennial theme “Many Paths, One Journey.” GFS is definitely one of those many paths on the same journey to spiritual growth and development. The Episcopal Church Women’s (ECW) mission states a desire to empower women to do Christ’s ministry in the world.” GFS/USA is another route to the same goal. The organization empowers women to do Christ’s ministry by working with young girls and young women ages 5 to 21, through worship, study, service, and fellowship. The goal is helping to develop young women who are committed to continuing on their spiritual journey into adulthood, sharing their gifts with GFS, and other organizations that take Christ’s mission to the world. It is a big world, and every path is valuable if we hope to extend Christ’s ministry. GFS’ presence at the convention is intended to reveal its path, not as an alternative, but as an additional opportunity. All are invited to going the GFS path. —Llyn Evan Carter, GFS/USA National President
{province spotlight}
HONORING
the Distinguished W
The Distinguished Woman Award (formerly known as the
Honored Woman Award)* is presented at each Episcopal Church Women’s (ECW) triennial meeting to a woman in the Episcopal Church whose life and involvement in the secular community best reflects “her Christian values.” As part of this time-honored ceremony, diocesan delegates from each province
*The Distinguished Woman Awards were presented on Saturday, July 7. Coverage of this event can be found in issue No.
FROM PROVINCE VII: Susan MacPherson, Diocese of Susan MacPherson is the wife of Rt Rev Bruce MacPherson. They have been married for 53 years. MacPherson works tirelessly in her efforts for ECW. She has given her efforts to the housing and caring for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, and later those who suffered loss during Hurricane Rita at her parish’s church Camp Hardtner and Conference Center in Pollock. Afterwards, cleaning the
Western Louisiana camp, after the evacuees moved on.
MacPherson lived at the camp during the time of the hurricanes to help coordinate the relief efforts--offering care and understanding for the victims of the disaster. She event saw to it that a horse was kept in one of the lodges. She is considered by her church community to be a special woman, who is worthy of the honor of Distinguished Woman.
Women of the Church are asked to submit the name of a woman who represents these qualities. Triennial Today continues its spotlight on honored women from each of the nine provinces of the Church. This issue focuses on Province VII and Province VIII.
. 4 of Triennial Today.
FROM PROVINCE VIII: Marie Greatorex, Diocese of Los Angeles Marie Greatorex, Diocese of Los Angeles, was baptized at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Jersey. In 1946, she married Steve Greatorex, the choir director of St. Peter’s Church in Plymouth, Connecticut. In 1958, Steve and Marie Greatorex moved to California. There, Greatorex returned to school to receive an RN and worked as a pediatric nurse before switching to post-anesthesia care. She was president of the Post Anesthesia Nurses (PANAC), director to the American Society of Post Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN), and editor of the convention newsletter. At St John the Divine in Costa Mesa, Greatorex has been involved in choir,
ECW, Daughters of the King, Girls’ Friendly Society, and has served on the vestry. She is a key member of the ECW diocesan communications team. Rev Barbara Stewart, Greatorex’s rector, calls her the “heart of St. John’s” and her parish, to show their esteem, held a “spring fling” in her honor. She continues to demonstrate the traits of a Distinguished Woman in all aspects of her life.
Tell Us About Your ECW Reported by Laura Orcutt, Diocese of Utah
Nice to get together and feel you are part of something bigger than a parish or dioceses. The workshops are good--they’re my favorite part. I am always looking to steal an idea or ministry. We are rebuilding, so it is great to steal ideas from others. — Deb Wiles, Diocese of Pittsburgh
Too spread out, worship is way over there, and the Exhibit Hall over there and we are in the outer darkness. But I do understand it is financial. Workshops have been great. — Grace Steiner, Diocese of Mississippi
(Piety had written an article for Triennial Today in 03, and it is still on line in the archives.) The meeting was ‘goodish.’ The best part is meeting all the women and connecting with other dioceses. — Evelyn Piety, Diocese of West Tennessee
I was one of those people who got sick. I was lucky and only sick for 1 day, but I have had to rest in the afternoon. But overall, very good. The keynoters were excellent, but too long. — Cai Armstrong, CPC
(Hall would like to see more discussion on b When she became President, the board was 50 women attend a diocesan meeting She ha Province IV women, and hopes the network — Mary Ann Hall, Diocese of Central Gulf Coast
It was a great opportunity to get to know p speakers. I have come away with “3 Cs” -the participation; and commitment - to sti — Leila Mizer, Diocese of South West Florida
W Triennial experience: The run (5K run for the Craine House) was great. It was uplifting, joyous, and spiritual. We should definitely do this again (at next General Convention/Triennial). — Beth Ferguson, alternate Delegate, General Convention,
I feel truly honored by being your Distinguished Woman (for The Diocese of Utah) by each and everyone of you. Thank you. — Diane Lowe, Distinguished Woman Honoree, The Diocese of Utah
St James, The Diocese of Utah
Inspired. The joy of feeling we are one big family. — Rae Armstrong, Visitor, Virgin Island
bv how to improve local ECWs. dysfunctional, now more than as set up a network among the k will be useful.)
We (ECW) have plenty of opportunity for the young women to be involved. Offer a bible study once a week where we as young busy women--who are often mothers and often have career-have the opportunity to gather together to read scripture and digest it, go back home to apply it in our lives, and then return to share, read further, digest deeper, and the cycle of enrichment repeats. — Suzanne Miller, ECW Delegate, Good Shepherd, The Diocese of Utah
people from other places, and to see things they are doing. There were interesting - courage - to try things that are new; connection - to include other people, increase ick with it even if we are moving slowly.
A Morning of Ministries and Mee
As the Episcopal Church Women met on Wednesda
which featured tabletop displays of ECW and United Thank Offering ou
Among the ministries represented were: Diocese of Missouri: Hot Meals for the Homeless Diocese of Chicago: Women of the ELCA/Gather Magazine Diocese of Masschusetts: Support for food pantry, military families, Beijing Circle study, Hispanic caregivers, MGH chaplaincy event Diocese of New York: Social justice Diocese of Louisiana: five different ministries Diocese of Connecticutt: White Envelope program Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania: parish and diocesan projects Diocese of Bethlehem Pennsylvania: School uniforms for Sudan; generator Diocese of Chicago: Parish and ministry brocures Diocese of Mississippi: Children at Risk; Global scholarship; Panama scholarship/liason Diocese of Los Angeles: Girls Friendly Society/USA Diocese of Oklahoma: Angel Tree Project Diocese of Pittsburgh: Christmas boxes for Pittsburgh Rivers Diocese of Upper South Carolina: Diocesan ECW Triofold of women’s projects: World Mission Project, National Mission Project, Childrens Assistance Fund, Diocesan Mission Project—Michael’s Way Diocese of North Carolina: ECW Bicentinnial of NC, 5-year multimedia initiative to collect history Diocese of Colorado: ECW conference of diocese Diocese of Ohio: Flower pens Diocese of Ohio: Dresses for Haiti; comfort pillows for sur-
eting the New ECW Board
ay morning, the plenary room was the site of the 2012 ECW Share Fair, utreach programs from dioceses around the country. gery patients; bra collection for pre- and post-surgery mastectomy patients Diocese of Utah: Food Band Diocese of St Thomas, Virgin Islands: Cathedral Church of All Saints Outreach Ministriies Following the Share Fair, the new board members of the ECW were introduced and presented to the room of attendees. The new board includes: Nancy Crawford, President Shirley Greiman, VP of Program Christine Budzowski, VP for Information & Communication Lisa Towle, Secretary Kathy Mank, Treasurer Deborah Gardiner, Member at Large - Social Justice Linda Guest, Province I Rep Ginger Lief, Province II Rep Dottie Arthur, Province III Rep Kathy Gosselin, Province IV Rep Connie Ott, Province V Rep Mari-Lou Triebenbach, Province VI Rep Lonnie Isaak , Province VII Rep Louise Aloy, Province VIII Rep Connie Skidmore, Parliamentarian Following the presentation of the board members, the meeting was adjourned.
Triennial TODAY was written, edited, and designed by Rogena Schuyler-Silverman and Cristina Paraiso. For the duration of the conference, the office for Triennial Today is located in the Senate 1 Suite, on the 2nd floor of the Westin. If you would like to contribute an article, review, or offer unique insight into the event, please contact TMeditor@ecwnational.org.