Running concurrently with General Convention, and sharing several celebrations and services, is the 43rd triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), structured around a line from the prayer after a baptism: "The gift of joy and wonder in all God's works."

It is carefully designated a "meeting," rather than a convention, and attendees are "delegates," not deputies. The goal is for "participants to carry what they learn back to the women in their dioceses at home." By definition, ECW's membership is all women in the Episcopal Church. "Some say a million and a half," marveled president Jane Banning, of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Triennial begins, as does General Convention, with the Eucharist on Wednesday morning, July 5. At 1:30 p.m. that day, the Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Bishop of Maine, will offer "an illumination" at Triennial's celebration. The Sunday Convention Eucharist will include the United Thank Offering Ingathering; the closing Eucharist on July 13 will include for the first time the commissioning of the 2000-2003 national officers of ECW and UTO. The Presiding Bishop "has been the force behind this happening," according to the ECW Worship Committee. Delegates will also join bishops, deputies and guests in daily Eucharists and Bible study.

The opening celebration is something of a surprise, "a gift to the church," said Maine's Barbi Tinder of the worship committee. It is open to all, though it is "focused around the delegates. They need bring no notebooks, no program books, just bring themselves." It will take place in the Triennial plenary room, next to the meeting space of the House of Bishops. "We'll have the bishops wanting to join us by the end of the week," Ms. Tinder said. "They'll hear the energy and the music."

Music for all ECW services and events will be provided by WhiteStone.

Throughout the 10 days of Triennial/Convention, ECW delegates will participate in workshops, "lunch-with"s, business hearings and plenary sessions.

The three lunches, on July 6, 11 and 12, will feature "a conversation about Christian ethics in daily living" with Leah Martinez, a recent college graduate, and Tom Chappell of "Tom's of Maine," a natural products firm; "The Fierce Friendship of Miz Dixon and Miz Rehm;" and a discussion on "the journey," with Nancy Grandfield of the Council for Women's Ministries, and Catherine Braasch, Women of the ELCA. A special "Conversation a.k.a. 'Girl Talk'" invites "all women to sit down informally with Phoebe Griswold ... to share their stories as Episcopal Church Women."

"Delegates wanted more workshops," Ms. Banning said. Of the 31 slated for July 7 and 8, the problem for many delegates will be choosing three to attend. Friday's offerings include "Nuts and Bolts:" Church Periodical's granting programs, Women and the Internet, Christian Witness, Trust Fund Management, Episcopalians and Ecumenism. Saturday's morning and afternoon subjects include journal keeping, centering prayer, physical prayer, the Anglican rosary, the labyrinth, the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Women in Poor Countries, and Nurturing Workplace Creativity and Spirituality. Most but not all the leaders are women. Monday's Networking workshop is for all diocesan and provincial presidents.

On the evening of Thursday, July 6, the entire convention is invited to "An Evening of Entertainment ... featuring the Episcopal Chorale Society of Los Angeles," a black gospel group who recently sang for the consecration of that diocese's bishop coadjutor.

This year's United Thank Offering Gift and Ingathering will benefit Native American children. National treasurer Pam Tourangeau, of Indianapolis, wrote, "Native American people are in great need of our support and are deserving of our respect for the history they represent ... Our research reveals a very surprising fact — there is now only one Episcopal School for Native American children. It is the Lillian Vallely School in Blackfoot, Idaho, serving children who live on the Fort Hall Reservation ... Currently the school has 33 children in kindergarten through grade 5."

The meeting is also about knowing better individuals and communities within the church. Each delegate is asked to bring news of "Gifts of Joy" by writing a page about her diocese's outreach ministries, and a video to "tell your women's stories."

Jane Banning said, "ECW is recording women's stories. Instead of some entertainment no one wanted at our opening dinner, Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island will be interviewed."