The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) are women of all ages whose purpose is to assist the women of the church to carry on Christ's work in the world and to take their place in the life and worship of the church. The work of the ECW begins in the local parish and spreads its ministry through the diocesan, provincial and national levels.

Since 1871, The National Episcopal Church Women, ECW, has championed women's rights and the Christian foundation of God and family. We are a ministry of the Episcopal Church and celebrate that Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Every woman who attends the Episcopal Church is an Episcopal Church Woman!

A verger leads a woman in the Cathedral

What We Do

ECW's Long Island Diocesan Board is responsible for and assists in a number of ministries throughout the year. The Diocesan Board assists ECW groups on a parish level, administers Memorial Trust Fund Gifts, offers scholarships for women of the Diocese, participates in Province II and National ECW Triennial meetings, and produces a quarterly newsletter "Voices of Women." In addition, the Diocesan Board organizes events such as the Lenten Quiet Day, Annual Meeting and Luncheon, and the Book of Remembrance Service. 

St. Ann's Pantry

Trust Fund Outreach Ministry Grants

The Board of Diocesan Episcopal Church Women has been charged with the responsibility of managing memorial trust fund gifts bequeathed by generous,dedicated Christians of our diocese. Some funds are restricted and most are dedicated to mission and ministry. Each year the finance committee of the ECW Diocesan Board meets and reviews requests. The recommendations are then presented to the full board for approval.

The recipients are diverse and the amounts vary. Examples of recipients are: Episcopal Relief and Development, Camp DeWolfe, food pantries, tutoring programs, scholarships, disaster relief, and children’s programs in Haiti and Honduras.

All applications must be submitted by  June 1, 2024. 

History

The Diocese of Long Island was involved in the Board of Missions (the forerunner of the ECW) which was formed in 1871 by the general convention of the Episcopal Church. The women's auxiliary of the Board of Missions was dedicated to mission work, supporting missionaries abroad and in the United States. They were supported with "box work" i.e. altar linens, Eucharistic vessels, letters, prayers and even goats and ponies. In the 1920's trust funds were established by some families on Long Island and those trust funds continue to support gifts here and abroad. The women's work has changed and evolved from box work to social services, religious education and keeping the women totally involved in the work and life of the church. 

Two women saying a prayer out of a Book of Common Prayer

ECW Prayer

ALMIGHTY GOD,

we pray that you will bless our work in mission and ministry in the world. 

Help us to pray fervently, labor diligently and give liberally to make known the power of your love given through your son Jesus Christ. 

Let us not forget the lessons from the past nor fear the challenges of the future.

 Anoint us with your grace and shine in our hearts as we reflect your light throughout the world. 

AMEN.

Women making a presentation at the ECW Annual Meeting

Support the Diocesan ECW Board

Contributions from parishes and individuals provide ongoing support to the ECW Diocesan Board so that it can continue its ministry locally and in the world.

Send donations to:
Vernese Smith, Treasurer
227 -40 109 Avenue
Queens Village, NY 11429

Leadership

Debbie Richberg
President
debbierichberg@yahoo.com

Jean Ryan
Vice-President
pansypurple@yahoo.com

Vernese Smith
Treasurer
vern.bert@verizon.net

Eileen Buckner
Rec. Secretary
eileenmbuckner@gmail.com

Bonnie D. Ryan
Corr. Secretary
angusmacnj@yahoo.com

The Rev. Marjorie Boyden-Edmonds
Chaplain
ladymadge@aol.com

Sheryl Edwards
Finance
shepenand@aol.com

Ancilla Friday
UTO Coordinator
Friday5@verizon.net

Illanye Longjohn
CPC Coordinator
divineinme@yahoo.com

Pauline Spooner
Brooklyn President
pudspooner@yahoo.com

Phyllis Fibleuil
Queens President
pebowie@gmail.com

Thelma C. Johnson 
Nassau President
54tclarke@gmail.com

Sheryl Edwards
ERD Coordinator
shepenand@aol.com

Angie Morris
S.C.I. Coordinator
ang1m@aol.com

Jane Ames
Altar Guild Coordinator
janeames@gmail.com

Barbara Taylor
Historian
tylbrb@verizon.net

Ministry Areas & Partners

United Thank Offering (UTO)

ECW participates in UTO Blue Box Prayer Collections twice a year in the spring and the fall. Money raised is given as grants to local and worldwide projects ranging from literacy or homeless programs to improvement programs in youth centers, community halls, and diocesan buildings.

Ministry In Action

Ministry in Action (MIA)

Ministry-in-Action (MIA) is an outreach of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Long Island to help those in need both far and near. The funds are received from ECW chapters throughout the diocese, and help to fund "Box Work" activities such as: the Adopt-A-Family program, supplying layettes to unwed mother facilities, supplying lap robe comforters to those afflicted with AIDS and those in nursing homes, donations of food and clothing to homeless shelters, and more.

Church Periodical Club (CPC)

Dedicated to providing written materials, both religious and secular, to people all over the world through grants, bibles, prayer books, educational books, books for seminarians, educational materials, medical textbooks, agricultural books.

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)

Episcopalians responding to natural and man-made emergencies in the US and around the world, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc., and civil unrest, wars. Emergency responders help within hours to whatever is needed and continue to help rebuild, and regenerate communities and provide post trauma services that are often overlooked.

Seaman's Church Institute (SCI)

SCi is America's oldest, ongoing charity, established in 1837 by the Episcopal Church to provide respite, pastoral counseling, worship, maritime education, and Christmas gifts of handmade knitted and crocheted hats, scarves, cowls, vests, and socks to the mariners on cargo ships who stop at our U.S. ports, bringing us the goods we buy in our stores. 

St. John's Episcopal Hospital

St. John's Hospital, Far Rockaway is the only Episcopal Hospital in NY. It is the only hospital providing emergency and ambulatory care to the densely populated, culturally and economically diverse, and medically underserved populations of the Rockaways and Five Towns in southern Queens County and southwestern Nassau County, N. Y. Celebrating over 110 years of community care, the 257-bed facility provides people of all faiths with comprehensive preventative, diagnostic treatment, and rehabilitative services, regardless of ability to pay.