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In the fall of 1911, deaconesses gathered for a week long retreat at St. Faith’s House for Deaconesses in St. Louis, Missouri and began to create a more formal organization. The National Conference of Deaconesses originated with the Central Committee of Deaconesses that first met in St. Louis, Missouri on October 21, 1916. The deaconesses used this Central Committee as an annual gathering prior to the triennial National Conference. The first National Conference was held in October 1919, in Detroit, Michigan and met every three years at the same time and city as the Church’s General Convention.

From the beginning, the deaconesses lobbied the General Convention for revisions to the Canons of the Church to establish clear requirements and responsibilities for their Order, just as any other clerical office requires. This line of reasoning evolved to the point that the deaconesses desired the same rights and privileges as their male counterparts. The Conference remained active throughout the 1950s. By the 1960s and 1970s, the Conference was advocating a canonical means to allow women deacons to become priests. Following a change to the Canons in 1970 that allowed women to be ordained as deacons the Conference became less active, but remained listed in the Episcopal Church Annual until the 1978 edition.

The National Graduate Training Center (Windham House), which opened in 1928, was one of several training centers that raised up a cadre of women able to minister to people in domestic and foreign venues who were in need of health care, education, and spiritual guidance. Only some of the participants went on to become deaconesses, while most took their vocational interest as a serious lay calling.

The history of Windham House falls into three periods.

From 1928 to 1943 the program of living, worshiping, and studying together was initiated and developed, and some basic convictions and groundwork about the program were established.

From 1944 to 1959 the two-year, fourfold program of study was inaugurated and carried out.

In the years 1959 to 1967 the program took a more exploratory path in an effort to stay current in the midst of rapid cultural change.

The Windham House program was terminated on June 30, 1967 and the property was leased and eventually sold to the Parish of Trinity Church, New York City for the operation of Trinity Institute, a center for the continuing renewal of the ministry of the Church.

Founded in 1951 by Episcopal priest, the Rev. David A. Works, the North Conway Institute (NCI) was an ecumenical organization focused on shaping alcohol policy through education and advocacy rather than promoting abstinence. Initially based in New Hampshire and later in Boston, NCI’s work extended beyond New England, influencing national church bodies and government agencies. Its staff served on numerous boards, and the organization was known for its interfaith approach and emphasis on collaboration.

Works strove for NCI to be a catalyst in the church and society. He encouraged people and groups to come together to face the problems of alcoholism. The Institute sponsored conferences, seminars and created working partnerships with government organizations and private sector businesses. Yearly conferences hosted by NCI brought together leaders within different disciplines to share and discuss information and to propose solutions to problems caused by alcohol. Doctors, clergy members, government workers and business leaders were among those that attended the summer conferences.

During the 1950s and 1960s, NCI worked at the forefront of discussion concerning drunk driving. In 1956 and 1959, North Conway Institute co-sponsored the Governor's Conferences on "Drinking Drivers." In 1963, North Conway Institute worked with the Institute for Safer Living of the American Mutual Liability Insurance Company to host a Conference on Church Action for Highway Safety.

NCI was also instrumental in forming The Ecumenical Council on Alcohol Programs (TECAP). This group created the first policy guide written by an interdisciplinary and ecumenical board which accepts the use of alcohol by church members. The Ecumenical Council on Alcohol Programs involved Protestants, Catholics, Jews and several secular agencies.

During the 1960s many groups concerned with alcohol problems widened their emphasis from care of the alcoholic to include prevention of alcohol problems. NCI was involved in this movement through sponsorship of the 1968 annual NCI conference which explored how the church could help prevent problem drinking. During this same time, NCI worked with the National Council of Churches Task Force on Alcohol Problems to introduce the 1967 Cooperative Commission on the Study of Alcoholism report to the public. This report was the result of a six year study by an interdisciplinary committee funded by a $1.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. The report proved controversial at the time because it supported the changing of drinking practices and attitudes as a way to prevent future problems with alcohol in American culture. Specifically the government report called for a lower drinking age and encouraged the responsible use of alcohol by youth in such environments as church and sporting events.

Much of NCI's influence in government and industry resulted from the experience of its leader David Works who served as a consultant for federal, state and church agencies. Works was once called "the prophet the church did not want to listen to," by the Rev. J. David Else, president of the National Episcopal Coalition on Alcohol. In 1955 Works was appointed chairman of the U.S. Government Commission on Alcoholism among American Indians. This was the first action concerning alcoholism taken by the federal government after Prohibition. During the 1970s Works served as chairman for numerous committees including the National Council of Churches Task Force on Alcohol and Drug Problems, a U.S. Department of Transportation study on drunk driving programs, the Conference for Religious Leaders of the National Safety Council and the Massachusetts Drug Rehabilitation Advisory Board.

NCI also quietly helped hundreds of families and individuals affected by alcohol problems. Many of the resources collected at the NCI offices and brochures published by NCI were shared with pastors, friends and associates who were trying to help a family member or employee with an alcohol problem.

From 1789 until 1919 (except for the brief period from 1792-1804), the senior bishop by date of consecration was automatically the Presiding Bishop (PB). In 1919 the PB was made president of the National Council which serves as the Board of Directors of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Service. Duties established at that time included presiding over meetings of the House of Bishops, acting as the executive head of all programs and mission departments, having authority to appoint interim officials and officers, and maintaining oversight of bishops. In 1964 the office was granted authority to appoint the President and Chair of the Executive Council.

In 1967, the duties of PB were brought together under one canon (Canon 2) and stipulated that the term of office be 12 years or until the PB reaches 65 years of age. It also named the PB as chief pastor and gave the office the responsibility for representing the church in its corporate capacity as well as responsibilities involving initiating and developing policy.

The Standing Commission on Structure studied the office further and reported in 1976 concerning the method of electing a PB. They concluded that the PB should continue to be elected by the House of Bishops and approved by the House of Deputies, rather than a joint session of the two houses. The General Convention gave the PB joint authority with the President of the House of deputies to appoint the General Convention Executive Secretary (this position was changed to Executive Officer in 1982).

The Presiding Bishop is the Chief Pastor and Primate of The Episcopal Church, which includes the United States and dioceses or congregations in Europe, Asia and Latin America that maintain continuing ties to the American province of the Anglican Communion. The Presiding Bishop is responsible for initiating new work, developing Church policy and strategy, leading the staff of the DFMS, and representing the Episcopal Church in major public engagements, the Anglican Communion, and ecumenical relationships. In addition, the PB acts as chairperson of Executive Council, President of the DFMS, and is presiding officer of the House of Bishops.