Women's Triennial Approves New Structure
Episcopal News Service. September 22, 1976 [76309b]
Barbara Benedict
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Adoption of a flexible and on-going structure for the Triennial Meeting of the Women of the Episcopal Church was one of the most significant actions taken by that body at its recent 12-day meeting in Minneapolis.
The Triennial closed its 1976 session Wednesday noon, September 22, just 24 hours before the end of the 65th General Convention. The 12-day meeting was longer than in the past so that delegates could engage in a Christ-centered program and participate more fully in convention activities, as well as deal with legislative matters.
At the 1973 meeting the women voted to continue regular meetings at the time and place of the triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church. The new structure calls for a 19-member program and planning committee, an action subcommittee and a committee for nominations. Election of five at-large members to the program and planning committee for 1979 was announced just before adjournment.
Elected by the 445 delegates were Susanna Cockrell of Michigan; Betty Connelly of Los Angeles; Anna Margaret Feild of New Jersey; Sally Messick of Delaware; and Roberta Montgomery of Olympia.
Allocation of the United Thank Offering, which in 1976 amounted to a record $1,628,001.12, is a traditional high point of Triennial. Offerings already on hand were augmented with $9,202.15 presented at the Convention Eucharist and UTO Ingathering when the Archbishop of Canterbury preached.
Grants were made to 75 different projects, spanning the globe from Appalachia to Zambia. Two grants to the Episcopal Women's Caucus were not approved. This caused some surprise, for a day earlier Triennial had voted by more than two to one margin to memorialize General Convention supporting the right of women to seek and accept ordination to the priesthood and episcopate.
A program segment was integral to the Triennial experience. With the theme, "Standing in the Midst," delegates looked at their own lives, their lives with others, and their lives as members of the global community.
Leading them on what was described as a "wilderness experience," were Verna Dozier, Marion Kelleran and Carman Hunter. Bishop William Frey of Colorado also addressed the assembly.
"The wilderness is a time of testing, trying, growing and moving," said Kelleran. "We're all in the -wilderness together."
After being challenged and inspired by the speakers, delegates broke into small groups to share their feelings as well as to discuss issues.
"Response to the small groups was fantastic," says Pam Chinnis, presiding officer. "There the delegates were able to build community within community."
She had special praise for the group facilitators.
A day-long Resource Fair also gave delegates opportunity to exchange program ideas.
Although legislative aspects of Triennial have been de-emphasized, the 445 delegates -- all but four of them female -- adopted a number of resolutions and memorials.
These included, in addition to the structure resolution and ordination memorial, resolutions calling on participants to simplify their lifestyles because of the world hunger crisis; to write their congressmen urging re-examination of the penal code, prisons, parole, etc.; to work for removal of architectural barriers to handicapped people in all buildings, particularly churches; to continue to support the Church's work in refugee resettlement.
Procedural guidelines for the UTO Committee were also adopted; the printing of prayer cards for women authorized; support and participation in Church Women United affirmed, and support given the Church Periodical Club. A final resolution urged that, in the future, diocesan groups submit memorials directly to General Convention rather than go through the Triennial Meeting.