New Jersey Episcopal Church Women

Who we are

What we do across the Episcopal Church and in the world

Episcopal Church Women Affiliated Organizations

ECW in the Diocese of New Jersey

NEW Read our latest newsletter from April 2012. (Click here to download a PDF)

Check out all our events for 2012. (Cick here to download a PDF)

What to do if you'd like to know more about the ECW and get involved

Contact information for the ECW in the Diocese of New Jersey

If you're a woman and you're a member of an Episcopal Church. . .
Well, then, you're automatically a member of Episcopal Church Women! Spanning all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds — and every variety of theological, liturgical and political view — the common denominator of members is love of God and the wish to do His work. Below you'll see a photo of some of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of New Jersey. You're one of us, even if you're not in this picture!Episcopal Church Women (call us ECW for short) is centered in congregations and empowers women to do Christ's ministry throughout the world. Our vision is to be a vibrant blend of all ages, who come together as a peacemaking, healing part of the Church. We aspire to be a 'Godspark', shining and sharing the love of Christ.

We've been working together a long time; since 1871, in fact. ECW began as the 'Women’s Society and Auxiliary' and we began to publicize our work straightaway through a column in the national Episcopal Church magazine of the time. We called it 'Women's Work'! We began raising money and putting together boxes for Episcopal missionaries round the world shortly thereafter. In 1875, just a few short years after we began, we put together a total of 331 boxes and raised nearly $45,000. That's almost $1,000,000 in 2011 currency!

Soon several other women's and girls' groups you may have heard of grew out of ECW: Daughters of the King in 1885, Girls Friendly Society in 1887, and the Church Periodical Club in 1888.

Throughout the years, in all sorts of ways, women have been coming together and working on behalf of the Episcopal Church, through the parishes, diocese, and province. Read on to see what we're up to today.

A look at some national Episcopal Church Women initiatives and programs
Here are just two of the many programs we sponsor. You'll find far more information on the national ECW website.

Women of Vision: Scripturally-Based Leadership Development A scripturally-based leadership development program, the National ECW Board is offering this program for your local use in a self-service format. The program may be used as you see fit for church groups or secular organizations (from ECW Boards to Vestries to Scout Groups to School classrooms). You can download the various modules of the program right from the national ECW website.

Women to Women The Women to Women program assists women by granting seed funds for the development and establishment of projects providing sustainable income, life-styles improvement and strengthening communities. We give women the tools they need to empower themselves. A few examples

Women’s Poultry Farm, Diocese of Lui in Sudan
Bethlehem Tailor’s Training Centre, Diocese of Kajo Keji in Sudan
Matènwa (small, rural Haitian community) Community Arts Project, Matènwa Learning Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Blanketing Navajoland, Episcopal Church in Navajoland
Anti-Violence Campaign and Curriculum Translation Services Program, Episcopal Cathedral School, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Many local chapters of Episcopal Church Women, along with dioceses and individuals, spiritually and financially support these projects.

Episcopal Church Women Affiliated Organizations
We're affiliated with a number of important groups that began under the umbrella of ECW and are now independent. Here's an overview.

Anglican Women's Empowerment  A membership movement of Episcopal/Anglican women and girls with a broad diversity of backgrounds, interests and skills. We work for gender equity and social justice around the world. Seeking to be faithful to the Gospel, AWE gathers and connects women from the Anglican Communion to share resources and opportunities. We develop tools and training material that promote the transformative work of Christ. AWE enables and supports girls from the Anglican Communion to be equipped and empowered as advocates for equality and justice.
Church Periodical Club A  ministry to supply books, magazines, tapes, videos and computer programs free to those who cannot obtain them and to raise the money to do this. The National Books Fund makes annual grants and responds to requests for books and related materials around the world. The Miles of Pennies fund is exclusively used for the book needs of children; grants are made year round. The Diocese of New Jersey has donated six miles of pennies since 1988!
	Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission The Episcopal Church's broad-based network of organizations committed to advancing the cause of world mission. The network, which was established in 2000, has made important contributions to the church's global mission.
Daughters of the King The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of prayer, service and evangelism. We have made a commitment to Jesus as our Savior, and we follow Him as Lord of our lives. Today our membership includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic churches.
Girls' Friendly Society An international, not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Episcopal Church for girls and young women. The program is parish based and open to girls of any race, religion, or nationality between the ages of 5 and 21. GFS provides a support system for developing the whole person through a program of worship, service to others, study, and recreation, designed to empower girls and to help them grow mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
National Altar Guild Association An organization and resource for parish, diocesan, and provincial altar guild members. What kind of fabric must be used for altar linens? How many candles may be used during the worship service? Must a special plate be used for the communion bread? We are here to provide information and be a resource for altar guilds at all levels.
United Thank Offering (UTO) The United Thank Offering addresses compelling human need through grants to projects that alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally, within provinces, dioceses, and companion dioceses of the Anglican Communion.

In the Diocese of New Jersey, the ECW is divided into nine districts. The diocese is a large geographical area, so having local officers and meetings on a district-wide basis allows for more efficiency. Most districts have monthly ECW meetings. On a diocesan-wide basis, we're happy to provide a snapshot of some of our recent activities.

In March 2010, we combined with the Women's Commission and hosted the women's breakfast at Diocesan Convention.

We sponsored several quiet retreats, with speakers and guided meditations, during Lent and Advent in various parishes around the diocese.

In May 2010, our 135th Annual Meeting and UTO Ingathering was held at Trinity Cathedral. The United Thank Offering was brought forth from 31 parishes of the diocese. And we presented 43 college-bound students with service awards.

Our 136th Annual Meeting was held at Trinity Cathedral on May 10, 2011.

Find out more and become involved
Start by finding out if your parish or church has an ECW chapter. Your rector (or vicar) should know! From there, you can contact the women in your church who are active in ECW and discover what activities, initiatives, and programs they're currently sponsoring.

If your parish doesn't have an ECW chapter, you might talk with your rector about how to get one started. And ECW members at your district level will be glad to help you. Just below you'll find a contact for each district as well as a list of the ECW officers for the diocese.

Whom to contact for more information
Find your city or town in the list below and you'll see the name of the president for your district, along with a phone number. If your church doesn't have an active ECW chapter, the district president should be able to assist you.

Atlantic District
Churches in Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Cape May, Galloway, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Pleasantville, Somers Point, Stone Harbor, Tuckerton, Villas, Whiting
President: Miss Stephanie Rotsaert, 732 350-2904

Burlington District
Churches in Beverly, Burlington, Delran, FLorence, Lumberton, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Palmyra, Pemberton, Riverside Riverton, Vincentown, Willingboro
President: Mrs Nancy Sullivan, 856 829-2726

Camden District
Churches in Bellmawr, Berlin, Camden, Cherry Hill. Chews Landing, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Gloucester, Haddonfield, Haddon Heights, Hammonton, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Magnolia, Maple Shade, Merchantville
President: Ms. Mona Andrews, 856 435-0559

Elizabeth District
Churches in Cranford, Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway, Union, Woodbridge
President: Mrs Eugenia Wilson, 908 925-6854

Monmouth District
Churches in Asbury Park, Bay Head, Belford, Eatontown, Freehold, Keansburg, Keyport, Lakewood, Little Silver, Long Branch, Matawan, Navesink, Ortley beach, Point Pleasant Beach, Red Bank, Sea Girt, Shrewsbury, Toms River, Wall
Acting President: Mrs L. Marie Williams, 732 776-6083

New Brunswick District
Churches in Edison, Fords, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, South River, Spotswood
President: Mrs Deborah Anderson, 732 668-2170

Plainfield District
Churches in Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bound Broook, Bridgewater, Dunellen Gladstone, Lebanon, New Providence, North Plainfield, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Somerville, Westfield
President: [vacant]

Trenton District
Churches in Bordentown, Cranbury, Ewing, Flemington, Hamilton, Lambertville, Mercerville, Monmouth Junction, Pennington, Princeton, Rocky Hill, Trenton, Yardville
President: [vacant]

Woodbury District
Churches in Bridgeton, Clarksboro, Glassboro, Millville, Mullica Hill, Paulsboro, Pennsgrove, Pennsville, Pitman, Salem, Swedesboro, Vineland, Wenonah, Westville, Williamstown, Woodbury, Woodstown
President: Betty Ceto, 856 455-7801.

Officers of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of New Jersey

President (2010-2013): Mrs Eugenia Wilson, 908 925-6854

Vice President (2010-2013): Mrs Suzette Whiting, 609 492-2483

Secretary (2009-2012): Mrs Charlotte Baker, 856 829-5952

Treasurer (2008-2011): Mrs Kathy Stephenson, 732 324-1352

Assistant Treasurer, Procedure and By-Law Chairman (2008-2011): Mrs Edna Haney, 609 386-2032

Worship and Spiritual Development Chair: Miss Stefanie Rotsaert 732 350-2904

Mission Outreach Chair: Mrs. Carol Council 732 752-5734

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