ECW Celebrates Annual Fall Gathering

by Pam Doty
On Tuesday, September 12, the Episcopal Church Women from around the diocese of East Tennessee gathered in Knoxville at St. John’s Cathedral for worship, work and fellowship.

After Holy Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Charles vonRosenberg, the women and their clergy guests attended workshops on a variety of subjects from the importance of the work of the Altar Guild to missions and the United Thank Offering. Alice Clayton, Canon to the Ordinary, reported on General Convention.

At the luncheon held in the Great Hall of St. John’s, Diocesan President Nancy Tanner welcomed everyone and asked the Bishop to bless the meal.

When lunch had been eaten, Mrs. Tanner introduced the "Honored Woman" from East Tennessee named at the 43rd Triennial gathering of Episcopal Church Women from across the nation at Denver in July. She presented a certificate to the honoree, Mattie Campen from St. James’, Knoxville.

Noble Clark, UTO chairperson for the St. Paul’s, Athens, ECW, was introduced along with her guests, Dr. David Byrd and Mrs. Sheila Martin-Sheffey. Her guests work with the Good Faith Clinic in Athens. Dr. Byrd is one of the founders and volunteers his services there. Sheila Martin Sheffey is a hospital administrator at the Athens Regional Medical Center and president of the board of Good Faith Clinic. The medical clinic, which serves people in the Athens area who have no insurance, was the recipient of a UTO grant this year.

The grant was possible due to the work of Noble Clark in instigating the application and the many members of St. Paul’s who volunteer their time and energy to maintain the clinic’s operation.

St. Paul’s members involved in the operation of the clinic include former board member Becky Green, Treasurer Nelson Green, Dr. Charles Cox, Dr. Wallace Burroughs, Betty Grater and Tammy Muth. Several Boy Scouts who are members of St. Paul’s helped to remodel the clinic’s new location and Gus Bagley was instrumental in getting a grant from ECSET for the clinic. In addition, St. Paul’s Outreach Committee contributes yearly to the clinic’s budget.

The work of the clinic is near and dear to the people of St. Paul’s. As Noble Clark said, "Where our treasure is, there will be our heart also."

Melinda Davis announced the recipient of the Molly Hazen Tucker Scholarship for 2000. Jill Meredith Collins, from All Saints’, Morristown, was awarded the scholarship. Jill is presently attending Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C. where she is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. She works several hours each week in the college press office.

The scholarship fund was established in 1986 in thanksgiving for the lie and witness and service of Molly Hazen Tucker, a member of St. John’s, Knoxville, and former diocesan ECW president. The scholarship is based on need and merit and is awarded annually to deserving Episcopal high school graduates or women entering an accredited college or technical school to assist in their continuing education.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund or to apply for the scholarship should contact Melinda Davis at 865-688-6497.