The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Proceedings
Report of the Episcopal Church Women
The president called on Mrs. Anna Lou Flynn, St. James’, Louisa, and president of the
Episcopal Church Women.
Ms. Flynn addressed Council:
Bishop Lee, Bishop Johnston, Bishop Jones, honored guests, sisters and brothers in Christ,
Good morning.
The parents and godparents of the candidate being presented for Holy Baptism respond
enthusiastically when asked “Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you
present is brought up in the Christian faith and life”
As witness to this promise, we also respond: “We will, with God’s help.”
With God’s help we can enthusiastically share our gifts and faith by being hospitable to
those Christians whose lives we have promised to support and guide.
The dictionary defines hospitable as “favorable for growth and development, having an
open mind and being receptive.”
Our annual meeting was held in October at All Saints’, Richmond. The theme was “God’s
Gift of Hospitality. . . Feeding our Spirit.” The women of All Saints’ and the Rev. Bob
Friend welcomed us with their gracious gifts of hospitality. The keynote speaker was the
Very Rev. Martha J. Horne, retired dean of Virginia Seminary.
Because of the women of our Diocese, we have done many things this past year. We
achieved our three-year “Call to Action Project” with the Daughters of Zelophehad,
helping to provide the Dill House for women coming out of prison. The Episcopal Church
Women gave $26,000, which was $11,000 over our goal. We will continue to support the
Dill House through our mission and objective fund.
Our ministries with the Dominican Republic and South Africa continue to grow. We have
sent $11,000 this year to the D.R. for scholarships to enable children to attend school. Both
the Dominican Republic and South African ministries are planning team mission trips
this year. I encourage you to ask the chairs of these ministries to speak at your church;
you will find their passion contagious. The South Africa Committee has just completed
updating the original prayer book and it is available for purchase today at the South
Africa Partnership and Commission exhibit table as well as the ECW exhibit table.
Regions XII and XIV’s participation in an “ECW Meet and Greet” at Trinity Church,
Upperville was a great success. This was all about meeting new women, sharing
hospitality and sharing the Episcopal Church mission and ministry and how they are
now and can continue to be part of that.
Because of the outpouring support of the Altar Guild Fund we continued the tradition of
providing our new bishop with vestments. What a privilege it was for me to represent the
Episcopal Church Women and be part of vesting Bishop Shannon Sherwood Johnston on
May 26, 2007 at the Washington National Cathedral.
Also, contributions to the Altar Guild fund continue to support the needs of the chapel at
Mayo House, Shrine Mont, the continuing congregations and others.
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 103