Timelines. How Artemesia Bowden was added to the Calendar of Saints. Summer 2017

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1 To promote and encourage research, writing and publication in all matters touching upon the history of women in the Episcopal Church; To promote and encourage the collection and preservation of records and other artifacts of interest pertaining to such history; To foster and promote public knowledge of interest in such history. Summer 2017 Timelines a quarterly newsletter How Artemesia Bowden was added to the Calendar of Saints By Susan Johnson I first came across Artemisia Bowden at the 2007 Tri- History conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. She was one of a number of notable Episcopal women whom the Episcopal Women s History Project pictured on postcards for distribution. It was only later I learned the extent of her involvement with the diocese of West Texas and St. Phillip s College. At the 2010 Tri-History conference in Raleigh, North Carolina came the idea of trying to see Bowden honored for her work. That came about when seeing how Raleigh had undertaken to see Pauli Murray honored with information, murals, and area symposiums about the Raleigh lawyer and priest. It was at this conference we visited St. Augustine s college and I learned Bowman had been a student there prior to her travel to San Antonio. Courtesy Diocese of West Texas The next Tri-History conference was in San Antonio in 2013 and it seemed natural to follow the road map of the travel of Artemisia Bowden from Raleigh to San Antonio. During the intervening time, The West Texas Historical Commission began looking into the possibility of securing recognition in Holy Women and Holy Men. On our committee was David White who had participated in the recognition of Thurgood Marshall in Washington, D.C. and provided insight into how that process worked. Coniunued Page 2... EWHP Board EWHP is managed by the Board of Directors of not less than three nor more than 15 directors. They are elected at an Annual Meeting and the term of office with bo Director serving more than two consecutive full terms. President... The Rev. Dr. Matilda Dunn Vice-President... The Rev. Rose Mary Joe-Kinale Secretary...The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Barker Treasurer... The Rev. Cecily Sawyer Harmon Grants Chair... Susan Ann Johnson Members Elizabeth Campbell, Alice Webly Harris, Nan Peete, Robin Sumners Timelines, Summer 2017 Page 1

2 Timelines, Summer 2017 Page 2 Coniunued from Page 1... We had another member, Mark Barnes, who had been an archivist at St. Phillip s College. Barnes had knowledge of Bowden due to his friendship with her nephew. Barnes also had a desire to see Bowden honored in some way. I wrote to the Liturgy and Music committee about the process for honoring Bowden. Upon learning that home town recognition was important, I contacted St. Philip s College and began conversation about how Bowden was and could be honored by the college and community. We were invited to be part of Bowden Day recognition and secured close cooperation between the school and our committee. We enlisted Bishop Reed to work with Barnes to put together the background information and other parts of the package to send to Liturgy and Music to honor Bowden at the 2012 General Convention. The 2012 convention did not take action on the proposal and we determined to do all we could to see Bowden carried through to San Antonio was the location and host for the 2013 Tri-History Conference and we had a whole day on the campus of St. Phillip s, which included a presentation about Bowden, and many references regarding Bowden. One of the participants was a member of Liturgy and Music. He acknowledge his appreciation for Bowden, her work and her legacy. Another participant was an influential member of the Union of Black Episcopalians and eager to see her honored. The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) was informed about the process and added to the list of supporters. At the 2015 General Convention, the Liturgy and Music committee developed new criteria for inclusion. Bowden met those criteria and is now included for August 18 in A Great Cloud of Witnesses (the successor to Holy Women, Holy Men). Susan Johnson is a member of the EWHP Board and lives in the Diocese of West Texas. Matthew P. Payne Photo 2013 Tri-History participants were entertained by the performance of a play about Bowden developed by St. Phillip s College to raise awareness of their founder. facebook.com/ewhpepiscopal EWHP Prayer Written by Joanna Gillespie, one of the EWHP founders O God, Creator of all life, bless the unsung lives of countless Christian women in every century who were your hands and feet, who kept alive your compassionate presence by feeding the hungry, nursing the sick clothing the naked, comforting the sad, praying and petitioning, strengthening those in prison, teaching the stories, sewing and singing, weeping and rejoicing. Grant us the wisdom to discern our ministries in this day as our foremothers found theirs; lead us in new and timeless forms of discipleship; and let us joyfully find our place in this procession of praise, offering our varied gifts and voices together with them and Mary, the Mother of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

3 Timelines, Summer 2017 Page 3 Study Guide on First Black Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander ( ) was born to recently emancipated slaves on Butler Plantation, McIntosh County, Georgia. She became the only African American set aside in the ord er of deaconess in The Episcopal Church. She labored long and hard for the education of poor blacks. She helped establish Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and its parochial school in Pennick, Georgia. She established and helped run St. Cyprian s School in Darien, Georgia. The Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase has prepared a study guide that centers on Deaconess Anna. The diocese designated Alexander as a saint of Georgia in General Convention 2015 voted in to include her Feast Day, September 24, in n A Great Cloud of Witnesses. Learn more and watch a three minute video on Deaconess Alexander at Courtesy Diocese of Georgia deaconessalexander.georgiaepiscopal. Deaconess Anna, the only African org. American deaconess in The Episcopal Church. EWHP Conference raises up women of color Women of Color in the Episcopal Church was the theme of the 2017 Episcopal Women s History Conference held outside Baltimore, Maryland from June 12th to 15th, More than 60 participants joined together to learn more about the past and present of women of color in the Episcopal Church through speakers, panels, and fellowship. Resources from the conference are expected to be available at ewhp.org in September.

4 Timelines, Summer 2017 Page EWHP Grant Awards The Episcopal Women s History Project encourages research and publication about the lives and work of women throughout the history of the Episcopal Church, including the period of the colonial Anglican Church. Grants may be used for travel, the acquisition of research materials, or other research expenses. Proposals may focus on an individual Episcopal woman or on women s organizations, from the colonial period to the present. Projects involving the overseas activities of Episcopal women will also be considered. Previous grants have been awarded for a variety of projects, including the completion of a biography of the Rev. Gladys Lucile Hall, collection of primary texts for a documentary history of Anglican and Episcopal women in America, and identifying and researching pre murals created by Episcopal women. The deadline for research grants applications and other awards is March 1 of the year in which the award will be made. The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris Award for Research and Travel The Frank Segueno Research Award Dr. Mary C Donovan Award For assisting researchers with travel to archives and libraries, copying and gathering relevant materials, transcribing oral histories, and for advancing work in the history of Episcopal women in other ways. Open to all involved in history- gathering projects concerning women in the Episcopal Church. Awarded: Jennifer Mariano of Frederick, Maryland. Her work is to produce information on Mary C. Davenport who was an early leader in the Daughters of the King. Awarded: Karl S. Hele of Concordia University, Montreal, Canada His project is to study the contributions of women missionaries in the Great Lakes. His work in Montreal is First Peoples Studies. Given every three years to someone under- taking significant research on the work of women in the Episcopal church. Awarded: Emily H Wright of Richmond, Virginia. Her work is to examine the original Episcopal Church Women of the Deep South. Named for one of EWHP s Founders, this award is open to all students at Episcopal seminaries. It is awarded to a seminary student for a paper on a subject affecting women. No applications were received. Come and See Vocation Discernment Weekend The Convent of Saint Helena, 414 Savannah Barony Drive, North Augusta, SC, is hosting a Labor Day weekend gathering to provide opportunities to talk with and ask questions of the Saint Helena sisters, to meet other women exploring monastic life in the Episcopal tradition, and to experience their life of prayer and community. If you know someone who may be interested in religious life, please share this information with her. Visit osh.org. To make a reservation, please contact Sr Ellen Francis, OSH, by calling and leaving a message or ing vocations@osh.org.

5 Timelines, Summer 2017 Page 5 Brooke-Davidson consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas Excerpted from the Diocese of West Texas release, Laura Shaver Communication Director Jennifer Brooke-Davidson was ordained and consecrated the sixth bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas on July 29, 2017 in a festive service at Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas. She is the first woman to be ordained a bishop in the diocese. Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry led the service as chief consecrator and preacher. More than 750 people attended the two-hour festive service. During the celebratory service, 25 visiting bishops laid their hands on Brooke-Davidson as Curry ordained her a bishop and consecrated her for her role as Bishop Suffragan. Visiting bishops included five women bishops from other dioceses across the Episcopal Church. Following the service a picnic lunch was served. Brooke-Davidson requested the best church picnic ever as her reception, and homemade pies made by attendees at the service were served for dessert. Brooke-Davidson will serve alongside Diocesan Bishop Reed. Reed was invested as the tenth bishop of the diocese in June, and served previously as the bishop suffragan of the diocese. Brooke-Davidson was Courtesty of John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News chosen at Diocesan Council held in February. She was ordained a priest in 2009 after graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary. She served as vicar of Saint Elizabeth, Buda Texas from 2011 until June of this year. She also served as the assistant rector of St. Stephen s Episcopal Church in Wimberley, Texas, from Prior to ordination, Brooke-Davidson practiced commercial financial law for 12 years. The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas comprises 26,000 members in 87 congregations spread across 60 counties in Central and South Texas and covers 69,000 square miles. The diocesan headquarters are at the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio. Join EWHP or Renew Today We apologize that electronic submission or payment is currently not available. Name (include honorifics): Mailing Address: City / State / Zip: address: Best Phone: ( ) New Member Renewal Annual Membership $25 Printed version of Timelines-U.S. Mail $5 Lifetime Membership $500 Contributions to further EWHP s ability to provide research grants, conferences, and scholarships are appreciated Please complete and return to: EWHP c/o The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Barker 241 Louisiana Circle Sewanee, TN Timelines is published quarterly by the Episcopal Women s History Project. Mail editorial material, comments, Letters to the Editor, manuscripts, news items or photos to the Matthew Payne, 82 Cherry Ct, Appleton, WI or webster@ewhp.org.