Trinity Church, Covington
On Saturday, November 1, 2008, women from around the diocese gathered at Trinity Church, Covington to worship, fellowship, eat, learn, network and be inspired . . . and we were not disappointed! The Rev. J. Joe Pennington and the Rev. Anisa Cottrell-Willis celebrated Eucharist in Trinity’s handsome worship space with lovely music and inspiring preaching and praying. The group then held a brief business meeting which included reports from the Executive Committee on the past year’s activities and plans for 2009 including:
- Discussion of next year’s Women’s Weekend at the Domain, May 15 - 17
- The Province IV Altar Guild program at Kanuga in June and how to join the National Altar Guild
- Diocesan ECW project with the Camp & Conferences Board to build a young-child playground at the Domain using the Bishop Moody Fund
- Reminder to those who might be interested, or know someone who is interested, to apply to the Bishop Hosea Fund for educational grants.. Application deadline is February 1, 2009 (click here for application)
- Continuation in 2009 of the ECW Matching Grant Program. This program provides Diocesan ECW funds to match those raised by ECW’s around the diocese for their projects. Application deadline in February 1, 2009. (click here for application)
- Approval of revised Bylaws and the 2009 Budget
The group then enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Old Towne Catering.
The subject of the program was ‘Women and the Millennium Development Goals.’ Anisa reviewed the Millennium Development Goals and said that these goals have a lot to say about women’s issues, particularly women’s health. She related the story of her second pregnancy and the several health challenges that she faced – all of which she and her doctors were able to meet and overcome. Anisa then shared a video with us on obstetric fistula, a problem all too common in developing countries where medical care is not readily available. Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labor without prompt medical intervention, usually a Caesarean section. The woman is left with chronic incontinence and, in most cases, a stillborn baby. But for want of a $300 surgery, these women are left to live the rest of their lives as outcasts, often divorced by their husbands and living in communities of other suffering the same plight. Those gathered were very moved by the presentation and you may email Anisa to borrow the DVD. You may also contact the organization, Campaign to End Fistula, which produced the DVD. The ECW budgeted $100 in 2008 to contribute to achievement of the MDG’s. This amount was added to the service offering and sent to One by One, an organization whose mission is to “Inspire People. Empower Solutions. End Fistula.”
