Task Force on Women Meets in Washington
Episcopal News Service. May 8, 1980 [80165]
New York -- Plans for a third national conference on women's ministry were a top agenda item when the National Task Force on Women met in Washington April 27-28.
The Task Force, one of the components of the Lay Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church Center, also considered the results of an informal survey conducted by Mrs. Vicki Reid of Dayton, Ohio, on the participation of affluent, well-educated black women in church activities and heard reports of activities across the church.
Reid's survey respondents are typically over 40; well educated -- college and advanced degrees; earning over $30,000 a year. Most are members of black parishes and have been Episcopalians for at least 20 years, with eight having been members of the church for over 50 years. The survey showed that while the women were generally well-informed of the parish and diocesan activities (although not about the national church) they chose not to take active roles. If they did so, their participation was generally limited to their parish.
The results were shared with the Office of Black Ministries and the Task Force voted to cooperate with that office and fund Reid to continue her exploration of black women's participation in the total life of the Church.
Task Force convenor Mrs. Marge Christie of the Diocese of Newark announced that the next Task Force conference will be held in Indianapolis at the invitation of Bishop Edward Jones and the Diocesan Commission on Women. The dates are Nov. 4-8, 1981. The theme of the conference will be "Coming of Age...."
In addition to Christie and Reid, Task Force members include Mrs. Anna Margaret Feild, assistant presiding officer of the 1979 Triennial, Mrs. Lynn Glover of the United Thank Offering, the Rev. Patricia Park of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, and at-large members Mrs. Dorothy Brittain of Central New York, Mrs. Janette Pierce and Mrs. Hope Sellers of Pennsylvania, the Rev. Mary Robert of Tennessee, and Carol Freund of Ohio. Dr. Anne Harrison, women's lay ministries officer, is staff for the Task Force.
Christie appointed a nominating committee to fill the places of Mrs. Eleanor Lewis of Maryland and Mrs. Janice Duncan of Pennsylvania whose terms expired at this meeting.