Women Meet for Education, Fellowship

For the 46th time, the Episcopal Church Women will meet for their Triennial, concurrent with General Convention. Triennial is much less legislative than its counterpart, although national ECW officers are elected and changes to bylaws are considered at the meeting.

Generally, Triennial is a time of worship, networking, education, and sharing of ideas and resources through meetings, workshops, and invited speakers. Theme for this year’s Triennial is Grow in Grace from II Peter 3:18.

A special feature of each Triennial meeting is the introduction of diocesan “Honored Women.” Each diocese selects a woman whose life, work, and vocation has been dedicated to work at the diocesan level. Frances MacGregor, a member of St. Dunstan’s, and longtime active member of the Diocesan ECW is the Diocese of Texas’ selection.

The main Convention Eucharist, on Sunday, July 10, will include the ingathering of the United Thank Offering (UTO), and every diocesan UTO representative is invited to participate. UTO donations fund grants for the work of children and women around the world.

The national Daughters of the King will also meet separately just before General Convention, July 1 to 5, in Anaheim. The mission for their 2009 triennial meeting is to gather senior and junior Daughters of the King from every province and beyond for spiritual renewal through corporate worship, study, and fellowship. “To be in the presence of so many women who have taken the same vow is in itself a moving experience,” said Betty Smith, the president of the diocesan Daughters of the King.