Lex was a charismatic man who could have gathered admiring women around himself and used them to carry out social ministries while he personally wielded power in the church’s political structure. Good works would have been done and few women would have complained. But this was not his way. He perceived that the gifts of men and women should be equal in the sight of man. (He knew that quoting scripture about the sight of God doesn’t always lead to earthly change.) By striving himself for the so-called feminine qualities of service, warmth and empathy, Lex validated these traits. But he also wanted women to learn to use the political power traditionally reserved for men. His overriding concern was for the powerless in our society.

(Source: Colleen Hartsoe, “Remembering Lex and his work: Validating ‘feminine’ traits,” The Communicant, February/March 1986, p. 6. In this special tribute issue Colleen Hartsoe was identified as an ECW member and member of the Task Force on Women’s Issues, which the recent Diocesan Convention had voted to make a permanent commission.)