Charlotte Convocation Report
Annual Meeting 2020

Dear Sisters in Christ,

Greetings from the Charlotte Convocation of the Episcopal Church Women. It has been over two years that I have actively served the women as Convocation Chair. The Charlotte Convocation includes twenty parishes in addition to two local college campuses, UNC Charlotte, and Davidson College. The Parishes represent eleven cities within six counties. The convocation includes well over hundreds of women with only five that have ECW’s that meet on a regular basis. In my visits to the parishes I have come to know that many more women are involved in other ministries that support our Beloved Community. As I mentioned in last year’s report, while committing to tradition is important, there should be no need to be fearful of change as our parishes grow to the needs of a new generation of women living in very different communities and under so many areas of uncertainty since the beginning of 2020. Over the last several years, we have lost many ECW’s along the way. It is my goal is to continue to bring about a sense of renewed spirit and reactivation.

So, what is happening to ECW’s? Generational Values are impacting our organizations. The past, Women Born Before 1945 known as the Silent and Builder Generations to the present, The Millennial Generation: Women born after 1978 has very distinct differences. In my visits to meetings, many have said how they welcome younger women. Meetings held on 1st Mondays at 9:00 am will not have younger women. Many will be interested in being supportive but are not interested and/or are unable attend meetings. Many are not aware of both the history that began in 1872 and the significant role Episcopal Church Women have and continues to play in the work of the Episcopal Church since then. The old stereotype of Episcopal Church Women as “cooks” and “fundraisers” is fading as we move into the future with new ideas, relevant programs and unlimited opportunities for spiritual growth and service. Many are doing just that as we see movement toward social justice, racial reconciliation, economic and educational disparities.

Some even question, “Why Women Only”: I don’t need to tell you that women rule the world. Bishop Barbara Harris led the way as the first American Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Since her consecration on February 11, 1989, many others have followed from all over the country. Women have become integrally involved in the life and work of the Church. Most importantly most offer an environment for spiritual growth and opportunities for ministry. Simply put, women enjoy getting together with other women often just for fellowship.

Women under 50 will only spend their precious free time on activities that address their needs. Older women need to be willing to experience the difficulty of change. Ministry Consultant, Mary MacGregor said it best, “The nature of organized women’s ministries has changed, but the need for Christian women to be together in our Beloved Community will never go away but just get better.

Charlotte Convocation in Review:

St Peter’s, Charlotte
Tour of the Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro Film presentation on the HBCU’s, “We Are Rising”

St Michael and All Angels, Charlotte
Women of the Bible Series honoring March is Women’s Month Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras

Christ Church, Charlotte Advent Luncheon
Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte Involving the following convocation parishes:
Chapel of Christ the King, and St. Peter’s, Charlotte,
St. Albans, Davidson,
St Patrick’s, Mooresville, Holy Comforter,
Christ Church, Charlotte,
St Margaret’s, Waxhaw

Meet and Greet Visitations
Christ Episcopal Church, Cleveland
St Margarets’, Waxhaw
St Patrick’s, Mooresville
St Paul’s, Salisbury

Charlotte Convocation Meeting
This past year, Presiding Bishop Curry has urged people of faith to follow The Way Of Love. It is THE way of fostering a community of people who follow Jesus by forming loving, liberating and life-giving relationships with God, their neighbors, and the environment. This was the theme of our last Charlotte Convocation meeting held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Uptown Charlotte, November 1-2, 2019.

The evening of November 1, All Saints Day, began with evening prayer with Bishop Sam Rodman. Following this Service, we all went to the movie for the premier of Harriet Tubman. During a breakfast meeting the following day, the Convocation welcomed Dr. Catherine Meeks who addressed close to one hundred women on the theme of Love. Dr. Meeks is the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Culture Studies at Wesleyan College and the Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, Georgia. As an author, community wellness activist and midwife to the soul, Bishop Rodman suggest to all clergy, “Dismantling Racism in America”. Signed copies of that book along with her latest, “Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as a Prophet for Our Time” was well received.

Respectfully submitted,
Lois Johnson, Chair Charlotte Convocation Episcopal Church Women