Episcopal Press and News
Triennial Completes L.A. Meeting Plans
Episcopal News Service. May 2, 1985 [85093]
FULLERTON, Calif. (DPS, May 2) -- Of the 400 delegates so far indicating attendance at the Triennial Meeting this fall, over 50 percent will be first-timers, according to Marylyn Adams, presiding officer/vice-president in charge of the Triennial Meeting. "I anticipate the final figures to show closer to 60 percent" she reported during the wrap-up planning meeting of the 18-member committee April 9-17, at Our Lady of Trust Spirituality Center here.
Visitors to the committee included the president and board members of the Diocese of Los Angeles Episcopal Church Women; the Rev. Arnold Fenton, diocesan coordinator of General Convention arrangements; the Rev. Mortimer Ward, coordinator of General Convention worship for the diocese; and past Presiding Officer Betty Connally, member of the Executive Council.
On-site tours of the Marriott hotel facilities, where most of Triennial actions will take place, and the Anaheim Convention Center, were made to iron out final designs.
A pre-meeting inspirational study guide entitled Walking Together will be mailed to its 90 contributors and to the delegates for daily use from May 30 through Sept. 7.
The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2:00 p.m. Later in the afternoon, there will be a presentation of the Council for Women's Ministries, followed by a special Triennial Meeting "Inclusion Night" for all delegates and volunteers.
A richly varying schedule of daily services of worship is planned, including groups or congregations of Hispanics, Native Americans, blacks, and Asians, with much original material within the context of the services. Presiding Bishop John M. Allin will be the celebrant at the closing/commissioning service on Saturday, Sept. 14. The commissioning will be for the new officers and Triennial Committee, pending passage of the proposed bylaws, now being studied throughout the Church. The bylaws have been mailed to every delegate and will be presented for action at the Triennial Meeting. This will be the only legislation other than the United Thank Offering grantings.
There will be 36 workshops, the most ever to be offered. If room permits following delegate selections, these will be open to visitors. Some of the subjects include leadership training, Christian assertiveness, prayer, substance abuse, sexual abuse, youth, "Becoming the Baptizing Community", "Understanding Families in a New Light", "Employed Women -- Finding Their Place in the Body," women with disabilities and many others.
Reflection times have been built into the program in response to requests from previous Triennial Meetings.
There will be four issues and concerns panels on the subjects of war, hunger, violence, and women's concerns. Hunger Day will be observed by fasting and by a special litany.
"Womanspace" and the after-hours "Gathering Place" will provide enlightenment and/or entertainment through exhibits, displays, refreshments, music, and information. Among the notables to be featured during the "Lunch With..." series will be Robert Nobleman performing "Solo Flight", the story of Jeanette Piccard; Ann Allin and Herbert O'Driscoll. One day will feature a "Lunch With Women Deputies". A surprise is planned on Friday the thirteenth at the "Gathering Place".
Ten scholarships for aid to attend the meeting were granted to domestic and overseas applicants, exhausting available funds. As more funds become available, further aid will be considered for those delegates unable to attend the Triennial Meeting without financial assistance.
Following the report on work of an Executive Council task force stating, in part, that a broadly representative group from the Church at large would be formed to review the direction of Women in Mission and Ministry, it was recommended that a resolution be presented to Council saying that the Triennial Committee affirms the establishment of the study and requests inclusion as a part of it.
$8,000 was awarded to the Journal of Women's Ministries to help subsidize the next two issues, publication to be prior to the Triennial Meeting.
A comprehensive history of this triennium and the Triennial Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women is to be prepared, published, andoffered to the Church. A page in the Triennial notebook will begin the process of eliciting material and writers. A fund of $100 has been set aside for postage and supplies. It was further recommended that the 1986-1988 Triennial Committee be encouraged to continue the work of collecting and preserving this history, now widely scattered.
A survey will be taken during the Triennial Meeting in order to determine the constituency of the Episcopal Church Women.