Pittsburgh Chapter Celebrates Women's Ministries

by Sue Boulden

On Friday, September 27, 2002, approximately 250 people of diverse backgrounds from throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh gathered for the Second Annual Celebration of Women's Ministries. As a chorus of “Sing Praise to Wisdom” lifted high to the rafters of the Church of the Holy Cross in Homewood, PA, the entire assemblage of worshipers processed into the nave of the 100year-old church.

While the Rev. Moni McIntyre, Priest-in Charge, served as Coordinator of Ceremonies and the Rev. Catherine Munz, Rector of St. Brendan's Church, served as Celebrant, the congregation united in rejoicing for the numerous gifts of women's ministries in Western Pennsylvania. The service utilized “Enriching our Worship,” which many had never experienced before. During the offertory time the Rev. McIntyre read many notes of greetings from supporters in the wider church.

The Preacher was the Honorable Kim Clark Hales, an active member of Holy Cross and a Judge in the County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division. Taking for her theme several women of the Bible, Deborah, Miriam, Ruth and Martha, she discussed their strengths and how their abilities can be applied in today's world. She gave several examples from her own work on the bench with the women who come before her.

Four people were honored for their ministry with women in Western Pennsylvania:

Carole S. Parrish, a member of Holy Cross, is a grandmother of ten and despite some very serious health challenges, she has been raising two of her grandchildren, David and Kiah, for the past eight years. She also works part-time as a lunch monitor for the Board of Education and teaches violin lessons at the African American Music Institute. A lady with a wonderful, generous spirit, Carole personifies so much of what women's ministries are about. David and Kiah were with her, serving as acolytes for the service, and obviously taking great pride in their grandmother.

Sr. Ellen Ruft, C.D.P., Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the Provincial (President) of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence. For twentyfive years her mission has been to free women from physical, mental or emotional oppression by working in therapy, workshops, and directing a Separated and Divorced Group. She enabled the Sisters to take back control (from mostly male Boards) of La Roche Col lege and Divine Providence Hospital. Sr. Ruft chaired a Tri-Diocesan Sisters Leadership Council for four years and during that time thirteen religious communities in Western Pennsylvania collaborated in funding a housing development for single women and children called Sisters Place.

Brooke Eaton-Skea has worked for many years with women and children, first implementing an art program for women and their children in a shelter in Texas. Called to Christ's service in 1987, she took a master's in counseling and entered seminary in Pittsburgh.

Since then she has worked as a caseworker for children and youth services, an assistant US coordinator of an indigenous mission in Haiti, a youth minister at her parish, a counselor for Crime Victim Services, and has completed her pastoral counseling certificate from Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute. Once a month Ms. Eaton-Skea hosts a worship service for battered women at her parish that often includes a potluck, followed by lectio divina with discussion, and inclusive language.

Flaccus M. B. Stifel, a long time resident of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, has been in the forefront of equal justice for women and a supporter for years of the Episcopal Women's Caucus.

As a member of the Commission on Ministry, following the 1976 Convention, Mr. Stifel helped to ease the way for those first women as they challenged the church to live up to its revised canon and grant them equal treatment and full participation in the Episcopal Church. He was a prime mover in bringing to the Diocese of Pittsburgh a chapter of the EWC, which he helped to found and which he has carefully nurtured as its Treasurer and Business Manager. He is one of those exceptional men who realize that support for and encouragement of women's ministries is productive and fulfilling for the entire church.

Following the presentation of these very deserving honorees, the service continued with “Faith of our Mothers” and the Holy Eucharist, with Hymn 529: “In Christ there is no East or West” as the Recessional.

After the service a reception was held in the Choir Room where stood a gorgeous floral arrangement sent to the Chapter by the National Officers of the EWC. The Pittsburgh Chapter of the EWC expressed its thanks to all the various people who made such a glorious service possible and its gratitude to the clergy and laity who took part in the evening's worship.