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Dozier, Kelleran, Hunter To Address Women's Triennial

Episcopal News Service. July 21, 1976 [76239]

Eugene Niednagel

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- "What makes me me at my own center? ... What vision and joys give me strength? ... What sustains me when dreams fall apart, when those around me, upon whom I have built my life, are no longer present? What is it like to stand in the midst of my life with Christ?"

What is my healing ministry with those around me? ... How can I care enough to really listen to anyone in a busy, noisy world? ... Can I accept the ministry of others? . . . What is ministry, anyway, and how is it different because I stand in Jesus Christ?"

"What of those whose hunger, suffering, and death are only meaningless statistics to me? ... What is the connection between their lives and mine? ... Is there some way that I can stand with Jesus Christ in the midst of the whole world?"

The participants from this diocese to the 1976 Triennial Meeting of the Women of the Episcopal Church, Sept. 11-22 in Minneapolis, will learn how three persons have faced these questions and will have the opportunity to share their own spiritual quests with others. The participants from this diocese are: (List Diocesan Participants Here.)

Miss Verna Dozier, Mrs. Marion Kelleran, and Mrs. Carman Hunter have been invited to share their personal stories of how they have Christ-centered meaning while standing in the midst of their own lives, their lives with others, and their lives in the world.

The theme, "Standing in the midst of. ." was developed by the Triennial Program Committee, composed of people elected by the last Triennial Meeting in 1973 and by province groups, according to Mrs. Carter Chinnis, presiding officer of the Meeting.

Individual program tracks will be presented by the three resource leaders. Miss Dozier will speak Sun., Sept. 12, on "Standing in the Midst of My Own Life. " Mrs. Kelleran's topic will be "Standing in the Midst of My Life with Others" on Thurs., Sept. 16, and Mrs. Hunter will speak on "Standing in the Midst of My Life in the World" on Mon., Sept. 20.

Miss Dozier retired last year after 30 years as a teacher and assistant director of English in the Washington, D.C., public schools. She then became a free lance consultant to the Church. A recognized authority on the Bible, she leads Bible study conferences across the United States and is chairperson of the education committee of Inter/Met Seminary in Washington, D.C. She is also a member of Standing Committee, chairperson of the Commission on Ministry in the Diocese of Washington, and a member of the steering committee for the Church's New Teaching Series.

Mrs. Kelleran retired in 1973 as professor of pastoral theology and Christian education and head of the department of pastoral theology of Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia. She was elected in 1974 as chairperson of the Anglican Consultative Council, the only regular international gathering of the Anglican Communion. Mrs. Kelleran has served as director of Christian education in the Diocese of Washington and in theological and educational posts with the national Church. She has been a member of the national Executive Council, focusing on the Church's world mission, and continues a program of consultation, speaking, and conference design.

Mrs. Hunter began her focus on world mission by teaching at St. Hilda's Episcopal School in China and then worked with women of the Church in Brazil, joining with a Brazilian priest to develop the national program for Christian education there. Back in the United States, she undertook a series of international assignments with Christian educators as a member and later as director of the department of Christian education of the national Church. Her work then broadened to responsibility for developing communications channels, funding patterns, and relationships in mission among the provinces of the Anglican Communion.

"My vision of Triennial, " commented Mrs. Chinnis, " is a blend of worship, program, and legislation to build community and make us aware of our unity and diversity. " In addition to the program, Triennial participants will allocate and present the 1976 United Thank Offering and vote on a proposed structure for future Triennials, she said.

One day of Triennial is set aside for a Resource Fair, a sharing of resources and programs of the dioceses and national Church that are available for participants to use in their home dioceses.

Highlights of the 1976 Triennial include:

Sept. 11 -- Opening service for General Convention

Opening session of Triennial with the Rev. John B. Coburn, president of the House of Deputies

Sept. 12 -- "Standing in the Midst of My Own Life," Verna Dozier

Sept. 13 -- Structure proposal presentation

Sept. 14 -- United Thank Offering grants presentation

Sept. 16 -- "Standing in the Midst of My Life with Others, " Marion Kelleran

Sept. 17 -- Resource Fair Day

Sept. 19 -- General Convention Eucharist and UTO presentation

Sept. 20 -- "Standing in the Midst of My Life in the World," Carman Hunter

[thumbnail: Miss Verna Dozier] [thumbnail: Mrs. Carman Hunter] [thumbnail: Mrs. Marion Kelleran]