2026 President's Message

Uplifting Women in Christ's Ministry: The Impact of ECW

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) continues to carry out its mission of Uplifting women in fulfilling Christ’s ministry throughout Connecticut and the wider community.  Our vision is to cultivate a dynamic coalition of women from all ages and backgrounds, uniting as a force of peace, healing, and service within the Church. 

As I embark on the second year of my journey as President of the ECW for Connecticut, I am even more aware of the job entrusted to us as a group of Christian women in a world where change is constant and the need to serve is great. I recognize that the work ahead is substantial, but also filled with promise. We must work collaboratively to expand ECW membership throughout the State of Connecticut.

Our vision continues to be inclusive, reaching all six regions: Northwest Region, Northeast Region, North Central Region, Southeast Region, and Southwest Region. By broadening our reach, we can strengthen our network and build a more inclusive community that reflects the richness of our Episcopal tradition.

Last year we honored 15 women but all the 6 Regions were not represented. As such we can proudly declare as a group that today we have met the goal to have at least one parish represented at our Annual Meeting from all six regions.Today we are honoring 10 women with at least one from each of our six regions. Extraordinary women whose faith is steadfast, whose service is selfless, and whose impact is deeply woven into the life of their parishes and communities. These honorees represent the very heart of the Episcopal Church Women: resilient, compassionate, and committed to advancing Christ’s ministry in both visible and unseen ways. They are mentors, caregivers, leaders, and quiet servants who give generously of their time, talent, and spirit. In lifting them up today, we not only recognize their individual contributions, but we also affirm the collective strength and sacred calling of women who continue to shape and sustain our Church.

I firmly believe that when we work together, we can achieve extraordinary results. My guiding philosophy remains: “Whatever the mind conceives, we can achieve.” With this growth mindset, the sky is truly our limit.

We should therefore continue the recognition of long-serving women in our churches.Through this initiative, we honor the dedication of women who have contributed so much to our churches and strengthen our network by inviting more women to join our mission. A tradition we plan to continue under the present board and hope this will encourage other parishes who did not submit a nomination this year will consider doing so next year. Let us continue to celebrate our hard working well deserved unsung heroes who work tirelessly without seeking any compensation for their dedication. Women such as the late Betty Silva, our immediate past-president who served this organization for many years. On April 17th our organization and the Church community lost a dedicated and faithful leader.

The Executive Board continues to welcome your ideas, suggestions, and recommendations to increase our membership and encourage broader Church participation in the ECW. By sharing your insights and working together, we can develop innovative ways to engage our communities and inspire more women to join our mission.

Let us join our hands and hearts together to continue Uplifting Women to ensure the success and the continued growth of the ECW throughout Connecticut.

Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Paulette Blythe-Russell
ECW President