ECW Spring Conference

Today was my last day as chaplain to the Diocesan ECW (Episcopal Church Women). Giving it up was a decision that I wrestled with as I weighed the distance to travel, my responsibilites in my new parish and other diocesan commitments, the needs of my young family, and the many gifts that I receive from that work and that community.

This weekend, I got to spend time with the officers, many of whom have been in leadership since I began five years ago; I also got to spend time with some members of my former flock in McComb/Magnolia. As was to be expected, I stayed up way too late with them (and may have had a little more to drink that I otherwise would have), and we swapped stories of our lives and the people that we know and love together. I asked them for advice about my children, particularly my son's newfound skill of always putting his hand down his diaper, and I received multiple stories to illustrate that there's really nothing I can do about that and finally the sage words: "Oh, honey. He's a boy! They all do that!"

We also shared many stories of the fabulous Jeanne Barkley, about how she once left her bra on the table in a restaurant as a tip and about the outrageous things she would say and her amazing zest for life. We had some quiet moments that were our unspoken acknowledgement of how much we miss her presence in this life, and then we'd laugh some more about all the crazy stuff we did with her.

In addition to the community of ECW, my other favorite part of my time with them has been this. Never in my life in the church have I been anwhere else where we can pray the words of the Eucharist in all female voices. The first time I experienced, I was almost brought to tears, it was so powerful to be among a company of all women and being the church to and with one another.

I also like that on the occasions that we would have male speakers come in for our retreats, they seemed to soften in this company of all women, in ways that men in mixed company just don't act.

Tonight, I give thanks for my time with all of them, how they have helped shape me as a priest, as a person, and as a woman.