Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW)

What is the ECW?

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is a group of women from all around the nation, focused on empowering women to do Christ's work in the world.
In 1902, the Episcopal churches in Hawaii joined a national group known as the Episcopal Women's Auxiliary. In 1985, Episcopal Women's Auxiliary's name changed to Episcopal Church Women. For more information about the ECW and its history, visit the national website HERE.

Vision Statement

We are Episcopal Church Women
committed to one another
and called to be witnesses for Christ.
Our challenge is to provide a safe place
where every woman is free to become
the person Christ created her to be.
We are called. We are different.
We are one body.

~Adopted by the National ECW Board (Spring 1995)

What Does the ECW Do?

In the Diocese of Hawai`i, the ECW is involved with a variety of ministries, including the on-going collection of Campbell Soup labels that are sent to St. Jude's Ranch in Boulder City, NV. St. Jude's Ranch then exchanges these labels for playground equipment and other items that are used for the children at the ranch. Each year grants are awarded to programs in the Diocese through ECW Specials). The Bishop's Pastoral Fund is a permanent recipient of the ECW Specials.

Throughout the Diocese, women in different parishes have formed ECW groups, providing service in their communities and linking up with organizations such as Easter Seals, Habitat for Humanity, and government agencies to help the unsheltered and needy.

Episcopal Church Women is also the parent group for the major entities of:

United Thank Offering: UTO & You!
Sharing Blessings with Thanksgiving and Love, the United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church. Through the UTO, men, women and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in the UTO giving campaign have discovered that thankfulness leads to generosity. A short prayer of thanksgiving leads to an offering in the UTO envelope. All offerings are used to support grants for ministries at home and oversea as an outreach of the Episcopal Church. Prayers and offerings make it possible for the UTO mission to stretch in unexpected ways. Many Hawai`i churches have been awarded a UTO grant over several years. We hope your church will plan a Spring or Fall In-gathering or both. If your church need blue boxes or envelopes, feel free to contact Louise Aloy and we will send some to your church. Learn more about UTO HERE.

Church Periodical Club (CPC)
The Ministry of the Printed Word "to make the word of God fully known" Colossians 1:25
The Church Periodical Club is an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to the worldwide Ministry of the Written Word and to the Promotion of Christian Mission. It is the only organization in the Episcopal Church dedicated solely to providing free literature and related materials, both religious and secular, through grants to people all over the world who need and request them and who have no other source for obtaining them. Prayer books, books for seminarians, educational materials, medical textbooks, agricultural manuals and books for those in local and global mission are some of the publications The Church Periodical Club supplies. They also sponsor "Miles of Pennies," an ongoing collection that funds a Children's Book Ministry. Since its pioneer beginning, CPC has depended entirely on voluntary contributions to carry out its unique ministry. Your contribution is worth more than words. Learn more HERE.

National Book Fund
The National Book Fund (NBF) is the oldest national granting fund of the Church Periodical Club. Since 1922, this fund has helped meet religious and secular needs by providing printed and audio-visual materials to individuals, churches, seminarians and organizations affiliated with the Anglican Communion. Learn More HERE.

Miles of Pennies Fund
The Miles of Pennies (MOP) funds became the second national granting funds of the Church Periodical Club since 1989. This separate fund is for children only, preschool to 12. In addition to providing printed or taped books and related materials, MOP gives grants for the shipping costs of recycled children's books. The Miles of Pennies Committee distributes the contributions in the MOP fund year round. Learn more HERE.

Christian Social Relations - ECW SPECIALS
Two grant applicants are selected as ECW Specials through the Christian Social Relations Committee by August 15 of each year, and pledges are made by churches and individuals to these programs. These grants help to provide seed money for start-up ministries and also provide funds for the Bishop's Pastoral Fund. (See more about ECW Specials HERE)

UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES:

Listed below are upcoming events and meeting dates for the ECW in the Diocese of Hawai'i.

Stay tuned for more events coming up in 2024.

Contact Louise Aloy for more information on the listed events and activities, and also how you can become a part of this wonderful group! Click here to contact Louise.

The ECW Board of the Diocese of Hawai'i

Louise Aloy
President
E-mail

Georgenette Kam
First Vice President
Program/Hospitality

Fran Thomas
Recording Secretary

Laurie Lee
Treasurer

(Open)
United Thank Offering Coordinator for Hawai'i

Sandy Leialoha
Church Periodical Club Coordinator

ECW In the Diocese:

Several churches in the Diocese have active ECW groups that work hand in hand with ministries in their church and communities, and enjoy opportunities for fellowship. Check with your local church to see if they have an ECW group, or for more information on how you can join the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Hawai'i, please e-mail President, Louise Aloy at [email protected]

Other Affiliated Organizations:

As an Episcopal presence, Episcopal Church Women has served on the committee of Church Women United, whose mission is to be a racially, culturally and theologically inclusive Christian women's movement celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice. Church Women United strives to provide for its members resources and information on a wide range of social justice issues, opportunities for worship and action, and an expansive network of women and women's organizations working to ensure a better world for all.

Anglican Women's Empowerment
Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission
Episcopal Women's Caucus
Episcopal Women's History Project
Girls' Friendly Society
The Episcopal Community
The Order of the Daughters of the King