The Advocate July - August 2006
ECW Triennial gives to 'Darkness to Daylight'; grants
By
Jul 28, 2006, 12:51

We arrived in Columbus with high expectations for our Triennial and were not disappointed. We experienced 10 days of living with other Episcopalians in an atmosphere of a loving community. Representing the Diocese of Lexington were Susan Baird, Katherine Harper, Lisa Hawkins, C.C. Johnson, Diane Gabbard and Marie Rogers. As no official business was conducted until Tuesday, we had time to register and visit the exhibit hall on Monday.

Our chaplain, the Very Rev. Marilyn Engstrom from the Diocese of Wyoming, led our worship and entertained us with stories about Razor City, a fictitious town in Wyoming. The stories always began with, “Razor City, a pretty sharp town,” and ended with, “It might be small but not dull… after all.” Dr. Horace Boyer, our exceptionally talented musician, impressed us with his teaching and playing.

Phoebe Griswold spoke of her concerns over how few women are members of decision-making groups, a situation she said should and could be improved. She also described her global women’s network and their representation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Her talk will be reproduced in the “Communiqué” next month.

One of the highlights of our meeting occurred when Bishop Gray of Mississippi and Bishop Jenkins of Louisiana talked about “Darkness into Light,” a group working on restoring the Gulf Coast devastated by the hurricanes of last season. After the Bishops’ talk, our chaplain asked us all to contribute $10, or whatever we could, for their help, and our treasurer said that the ECW would match the gift. In one hour, more than $10,000 had been raised. Katherine Harper then asked the Bishops to challenge both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies to match the ECW contribution.

At the Province IV Breakfast, the inability to get in touch with our sisters in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina was discussed. We developed a system of diocese praying for diocese, through which the Diocese of Lexington prays for the Central Gulf Coast, and Central Florida for us. We want to be available for aid if needed and to pray for each other and visit each other.

The United Thank Offering grants were announced and, again, Lexington received a grant for an amphitheater at St. John’s in Corbin. The United Thank Offering Ingathering took place at the Eucharist on Saturday. The offering from that service, over $20,000, was directed to the UTO Committee to be awarded to yet other requests.

The last few days of Triennial featured a variety of workshops, and it was while involved in these that the announcement came that a new Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, had been elected. As we hurried to the House of Deputies, big smiles lit the faces of everyone we passed.

Prayer, singing, laughing, learning and being in community shaped the memorable experiences of this Triennial.