Charlotte Convocation Report
Annual Meeting 2021

Greetings from the Charlotte Convocation of the Episcopal Church Women. It has been a pleasure during these past three years with the most difficult, this past year and a half with Covid. Let me take this opportunity to give my condolences to all families who have lost family and friends within the Convocation. The Convocation includes twenty parishes in addition to two local college campuses, UNC Charlotte and Davidson College. The Parishes represent eleven cities within six counties. With well over thousands of women, only five parishes exist where ECW’s meet on a regular basis. This serves as a reminder, that all Women are Episcopal Church Women. Ministry Consultant, Mary MacGregor said it best, “The nature of organized women’s ministries has changed, but the need for Christian women to be together in our Beloved Community will never go away but just get better.”

In my pre-Covid visits to parishes, I have come to know that many leadership roles are chaired by women. Leadership roles on commissions, vestries, community outreach have had increased visibility for many years now. In addition, it’s great to see women of all ages working together as parishes move into the future of new ideas, relevant and unlimited opportunities for spiritual growth and service. In so many parishes, the focus has changed toward social justice, racial reconciliation, refugee resettlement, economic and educational disparities. The Millennial Generation involvement has become most impactful in our Diocese in these specific areas. During this pandemic, many of the women have met virtually with plans to reorganize.

Charlotte Convocation in Review:

St. Peter’s, Charlotte

Leadership roles are considerable with the Women at St Peter’s. A few notables that have highest impact in the Beloved Community include Commission Chair, Social Justice and Community Outreach, Refugee Resettlement Mentoring, Loaves and Fishes, Urban Ministry Location, Migration and refugee committee, Social Justice, Peace Education and Advocacy.

St. Mark’s, Huntersville

Candice Sullivan is the lead supporter of the Flyin Lion Ministries that allows the opportunity to teach homeless and abused women the skills needed to find and maintain employment in the hospitality industry. In a grant supported new kitchen facility, Candice is looking for candidates to enlarge the opportunity. Please contact her at St. Mark’s for candidates.

St. Michaels and All Angels, Charlotte

The women have not missed a beat. The ECW has met monthly throughout Covid virtually on the first Sunday following coffee hour. Installed as new President is Mrs. AnStaire McKennan. Brought back by popular demand, was the third Celebration of March as Women’s Month, highlighting Women of Faith and Courage. Five Sundays in 2021 introduced to the congregation amazing women: Bishop Barbara Harris, the first Episcopal female and women of color in the United States, Bree Newsome, who courageously scaled a 30-foot pole to take down the Confederate battle flag at the South Carolina State House, Deborah from the Book of Judges, The Black Women of the 6888th during WWII, and Sarah, hero of the faith, best described as beautiful, barren and blessed. Other activities include Mother’s Day arrangements, Doughnuts for Dads for Father’s Day and a May, book study of Bishop Harris and shopping for our new Church.

Christ’s Church, Charlotte

The Christ Church ECW Board has met monthly during the pandemic. While several favorite programs had to be cancelled this year, the ECW did provide lunches for Roof Above and is excited to plan service opportunities for the fall. September 8 will be the 1st meeting since 2020. Christ Church awards grants in January from their ECW Mission Funds, they look forward to the Good News Shop opening later this year.

Holy Comforter, Charlotte

The Darrow-Owens Women’s Guild involves a range of women from the 30’s to 70’s. Meeting monthly on the third Monday, speakers and programs are intended for enrichment, education, spiritual development. The Guild best describes the women as the” doers of the word,” active in a range of activities of ministries from Loaves & Fishes to Room in the Inn. Darrow-Owens provides a place for active women to “abide in Christ”, accepting each woman at whatever point in life or faith she is. Aside from the Women’s Guild, women chair both the Holy Comforter Community Book Studies and the Tuesday Faith Group.

St. Margaret’s, Waxhaw

Two women groups exist at St. Margaret’s, Episcopal Church Women and The Order of the Daughters of the King. While the Order is a spiritual community where women with similar interest can pray, study, share, affirm and support each other, ECW meets monthly, have an annual spring retreat and aid in various ministries and service projects throughout the calendar year. In 2019, they introduced the concept of Circles. Seven Circles were formed with the women signing up according to their interests, and availability. Some met for lunch or dinner, while others had book discussions or went to see a movie. A full ECW meeting is planned in September to appoint a leadership committee, re-organize the Circles and plan for more group gatherings such as making advent wreaths.

Chapel of Christ the King, Charlotte

Situated in the heart of Charlotte between a long-established neighborhood of modest homes and new, higher-end development, Christ the King is turning their very property into a welcoming bridge between the two, extending an invitation of hospitality to all to come together in community. The women including, Deacon, Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough, are a large part of this transformation. In the most recent edition of the Disciple, a 12-page article best describes an edible landscape transforming the property into a communal gathering space. Projects involving building raised building beds, planting, harvesting, and distributing the crops of their labor is the Holy Spirit at work. A sandwich ministry, under the direction of Deacon Rebecca, is very active to the Roof Above. It will soon include neighborhood involvement of residents for greater support.

St. John’s, Charlotte

ECW at St John’s continues to be a work in progress. A small few will continue to do their best to stay active. What we know for sure is that younger generations, many at St. John’s, are quite involved in a variety of activities that seem to meet their interests and availability.

Thanks to all who submitted information! We welcome your contributions so that the ECW Board can continue to support its ministry. To make a donation, see this page.

Thank you!

Announcements:

ECW Annual Meeting Online Annual Meeting Friday, November 5, 2021

Charlotte Convocation Meeting:

Spring, 2022 Date to be determined

Reminder: Names of women who have passed away since November 2020 are to be submitted to Book of Remembrance Curator, Valeria Dove - see the form here. Reading of the names will take place during November 5.

Respectfully submitted,
Lois L. Johnson, Chair
Charlotte Convocation
Episcopal Church Women