The Main Event

" I find that Holy Week is draining; no matter how many times I have lived through his crucifixion, my anxiety about his resurrection is undiminished -- I am terrified that, this year, it won't happen; that, that year, it didn't. Anyone can be sentimental about the Nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don't believe in the resurrection, you're not a believer."

from A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

I can't believe that there are only 11 days left until Kanuga! Are you registered? We have a great conference planned and it's not too late to squeeze in a few more. Visit the Kanuga website to register. I'm really excited about our speaker, Jo Bailey Wells, who is director of the Anglican Studies program at Duke Divinity School. In addition, I've just learned that Lauren Winner will be joining us as a conference participant. Along with her busy speaking and writing schedule, Lauren is currently a postulant for the priesthood in the Diocese of Virginia pursuing her M.Div. at Duke. She's looking forward to a short break while she's with us, but she'd love to sign any books you may bring or buy in the Kanuga bookshop. If you have any questions about the upcoming conference, or anything else, give me [Lydia] a call at 843-813-1861. See you there!

Have you seen this?

Western North Carolina Website

Get to know the board of the ECW in the Diocese of Western North Carolina by visiting their website at WNC ECW.

There you will learn that ECW President Mary Ann Ransom lives in Lake Lure, North Carolina where she is a member of the Church of the Transfiguration, Bat Cave. She currently serves on the board of the Highland Episcopalian.

Mary Ann is also a member of the following: Global Mission, Outreach & Justice, Commission to Dismantle Racism, Companion Diocese Exploration, Episcopal Communicators, and serves as president of Hickory Nut Gorge Community Church Outreach, Inc. a non-profit organization which does outreach in the Gorge community where she lives.

She has served as a vestry person at her church. She writes poetry, short stories and is a self-taught photographer. She enjoys hiking, reading and walking with her husband Dick.

Contact Mary Ann at her email and look for her at Kanuga! mransom1@bellsouth.net

Shirley White Represents ECW at UN

Shirley White, vice-president of the Episcopal Church Women, was one of 92 delegates representing the Anglican Consultative Council while attending the 50th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York in late February and early March. Women from each of the 9 provinces in ECUSA and all 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion took part in this meeting which brought several thousand women from around the globe to New York to address the challenges that face women and their families.

The two themes of the 50th session of the UNCSW dealt with women in decision-making and women in development, issues that lie at the very heart of the Anglican Communion, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Millennium Development Goals.

The delegation from the Anglican Consultative Council was the largest non-governmental organization to attend this UN event. This group has grown from four delegates in 2003 to 92 through the efforts of Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE), a group founded by Phoebe Griswold, the Episcopal Church's Office of Women's Ministries, and the Anglican Observer to the United Nations.

The Anglican Consultative Council Resolution 13/31, calling for equal participation of women in decision-making, was discussed in depth and the importance of implementing this resolution was reinforced. The delegation to the UNCSW called on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to join them in working for:

Equal participation at all levels of decision-making.

The use of the Beijing Platform for Action with companion diocese relationships and investment and mission strategies.

Active and ongoing condemnation of violence against women as part of the curriculum for training for ministry.

Addressing the discrepancy in salaries between ordained women and men which is a justice issue.

A statement drafted by the ECUSA delegates concludes, "Our attendance at the 50th UNCSW meeting has taught us that, although there are significant gender issues in our own country and women who need our ministry, our opportunities, freedoms, and security are great. We have felt the call at this gathering to use the resources that have been given us to help our sisters around the world. New mission and ministry projects have been conceived here."

"We leave with more to pray for, more work to do, and more people to love. We thank God for the ways we have been changed and challenged by this meeting."

For the full text of the ECUSA delegation's statement to the Executive Council: Statement on UNCSW