Saint Anna’s recognition in The Episcopal Church is a fascinating process. This page is dedicated to those who are interested in following the legislative process that began in 2010 and will culminate in the 2024 Book of Common Prayer.
October 2010 The 198th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia
TITLE: Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander
SUBJECT: To secure recognition by The Episcopal Church of Deaconess Alexander as a saint of the Church, with a designated feast day.
WHEREAS, Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander is recognized as a saint of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander has a feast day set aside in the calendar of the Diocese of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, along with Hattie Forester Stafford and Pierce Butler Alexander founded Good Shepherd Episcopal Church September 9, 1894 at Penton’s Hill for former enslaved Africans; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander founded the Good Shepherd Parochial School in 1902, and she proclaimed in her treaties on education that “knowledge is the watchword” and encouraged many of her students to further their educations at St. Paul College in Virginia, St. Augustine College in North Carolina, Voorhees College in South Carolina and Fort Valley State University in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander directed the St. Cyprians School in Darien, Georgia and promoted collaborative academic relationships between Good Shepherd, Pennick, Georgia, St. Cyprians, Darien, Georgia and St. Athanasius, Brunswick, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, she was consecrated deaconess in 1907; and
WHEREAS, the diocese segregated Deaconess Alexander’s congregation in 1907, not inviting African-American congregations to diocesan conventions until 1947; and
WHEREAS, it was not until the 1950’s that a woman set aside as a deaconess was recognized as being in deacon’s orders; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander ministered to Pennick and other Glynn and McIntosh County communities for 53 years;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this 190th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia recommends and encourages a resolution be presented to the General Convention of The Episcopal Church in 2012 to recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of The Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this convention of the Diocese of Georgia affirms and endorses the creation of a feast day for Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to bear witness to the role of women and African-Americans in the history of the Church and calls on the Diocese to assemble appropriate materials online to assist the General Convention in considering this resolution.
Respectfully submitted:
The Rev. Deacon Marty Meuschke
26 Oct 2010
http://convention.georgiaepiscopal.org/?page_id=131
October 1992 The 190th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia
TITLE: Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander
SUBJECT: To secure recognition by The Episcopal Church of Deaconess Alexander as a saint of the Church, with a designated feast day.
WHEREAS, Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander is recognized as a saint of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander has a feast day set aside in the calendar of the Diocese of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, along with Hattie Forester Stafford and Pierce Butler Alexander founded Good Shepherd Episcopal ChurchSeptember 9, 1894 at Penton’s Hill for former enslaved Africans; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander founded the Good Shepherd Parochial School in 1902, and she proclaimed in her treaties on education that “knowledge is the watchword” and encouraged many of her students to further their educations at St. Paul College in Virginia, St. Augustine College in North Carolina, Voorhees College in South Carolina and Fort Valley State University in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander directed the St. Cyprians School in Darien, Georgia and promoted collaborative academic relationships between Good Shepherd, Pennick, Georgia, St. Cyprians, Darien, Georgia and St. Athanasius, Brunswick, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, she was consecrated deaconess in 1907; and
WHEREAS, the diocese segregated Deaconess Alexander’s congregation in 1907, not inviting African-American congregations to diocesan conventions until 1947; and
WHEREAS, it was not until the 1950’s that a woman set aside as a deaconess was recognized as being in deacon’s orders; and
WHEREAS, Deaconess Alexander ministered to Pennick and other Glynn and McIntosh County communities for 53 years;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this 193rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia recommends and encourages a resolution be presented to the General Convention of The Episcopal Church in 2015 to recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of The Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men (or Lesser Feasts and Fasts if Holy Women, Holy Men is not approved for use) with the following proposed text and propers:
Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander
Suggested Date of Commemoration: September 24
The only Black deaconess in the Episcopal Church, teacher and minister in southern Georgia. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (1865-1947) was born to recently emancipated slaves on Butler Plantation in MacIntosh County, Georgia. She was the first African- American set aside as a deaconess in the Episcopal Church in 1907. She founded Good Shepherd Church in rural Glynn County’s Pennick community where she taught children to read—by tradition, from the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible—in a one-room schoolhouse. The school was later expanded to two rooms with a loft where Anna lived. She ministered in Pennick for 53 years, leaving a legacy of love and devotion still felt in Glynn County. Deaconess Alexander served in difficult times, however. The diocese segregated her congregations in 1907 and African-American congregations were not invited to another diocesan convention until 1947. Similarly, it was only in the 1950s that a woman set aside as a deaconess was recognized as being in deacon’s orders. However, her witness— wearing the distinctive dress of a deaconess, traveling by foot from Brunswick through Darien to Pennick, showing care and love for all whom she met—represents the best in Christian witness.
A Collect for Deaconess Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church, and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Psalm 78:1-7
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 20-25
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Matthew 11:25-30
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this convention of the Diocese of Georgia affirms and endorses the creation of a feast day for Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to bear witness to the role of women and African-Americans in the history of the Church and offers appropriate materials online to assist the General Convention in considering this resolution.
Respectfully submitted: The Rev. Deacons Sandy Tuner and Marty Meuschke
Note the materials are online at: http://deaconessalexander.georgiaepiscopal.org/
http://convention.georgiaepiscopal.org/?page_id=741
Add Anna Alexander to the Church Calendar
general convention resolution 2012-C112
Legislative History
Resolved, That the 77th General Convention recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of the Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men.
Citation:General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 2012 (New York: General Convention, 2012), p. 553.
Author:Diocese of GeorgiaOriginating House:House of BishopsOriginating Committee:Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church music presented its Report #12 on Resolution C112 (Add Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to HWHM) and moved to refer to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.
Original Text of Resolution
(C112)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of the Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men.
Motion carried
Resolution referred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message # 56)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music presented its Report #15 on HB Message #56 on Resolution C112 (Add Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to HWHM) and moved concurrence with a referral to a CCAB.
Motion carried
The House concurred
Resolution referred to a Standing Commission
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #184)
Resolution Referred to a Standing Commission by Both Houses.
Abstract: The 77th General Convention refers to a Standing Commission a resolution adding Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to Holy Women, Holy Men.
A film produced by the Diocese of Georgia
https://www.episcopalrevivalingeorgia2017.org/deaconess-alexander
2015
General Convention Resolution 2015-C035
Include Anna Alexander in the Church Calendar
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of The Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men (or Lesser Feasts and Fasts if Holy Women, Holy Men is not approved for use) with the following proposed text and propers:
Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander
Suggested Date of Commemoration: September 24
The only Black deaconess in the Episcopal Church, teacher and minister in southern Georgia. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (1865-1947) was born to recently emancipated slaves on Butler Plantation in MacIntosh County, Georgia. She was the first African- American set aside as a deaconess in the Episcopal Church in 1907. She founded Good Shepherd Church in rural Glynn County’s Pennick community where she taught children to read—by tradition, from the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible—in a one-room schoolhouse. The school was later expanded to two rooms with a loft where Anna lived. She ministered in Pennick for 53 years, leaving a legacy of love and devotion still felt in Glynn County. Deaconess Alexander served in difficult times, however. The diocese segregated her congregations in 1907 and African-American congregations were not invited to another diocesan convention until 1947. Similarly, it was only in the 1950s that a woman set aside as a deaconess was recognized as being in deacon’s orders. However, her witness— wearing the distinctive dress of a deaconess, traveling by foot from Brunswick through Darien to Pennick, showing care and love for all whom she met—represents the best in Christian witness.
A Collect for Deaconess Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church, and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Psalm78:1-7Deuteronomy6:4-9, 20-252 Timothy3:14-4:5Matthew11:25-30
Citation:General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 933-944.
Legislative History
Author:Diocese of GeorgiaOriginating House:House of BishopsOriginating Committee:Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #34 on Resolution C035 (Add Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to Church Calendar) and moved to refer the resolution to a CCAB.
Original Text of Resolution:
(C035)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention recognize Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander as a Saint of The Episcopal Church through adding her to the calendar in Holy Women, Holy Men (or Lesser Feasts and Fasts if Holy Women, Holy Men is not approved for use) with the following proposed text and propers:
Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander
Suggested Date of Commemoration: September 24
The only Black deaconess in the Episcopal Church, teacher and minister in southern Georgia. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (1865-1947) was born to recently emancipated slaves on Butler Plantation in MacIntosh County, Georgia. She was the first African- American set aside as a deaconess in the Episcopal Church in 1907. She founded Good Shepherd Church in rural Glynn County’s Pennick community where she taught children to read—by tradition, from the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible—in a one-room schoolhouse. The school was later expanded to two rooms with a loft where Anna lived. She ministered in Pennick for 53 years, leaving a legacy of love and devotion still felt in Glynn County. Deaconess Alexander served in difficult times, however. The diocese segregated her congregations in 1907 and African-American congregations were not invited to another diocesan convention until 1947. Similarly, it was only in the 1950s that a woman set aside as a deaconess was recognized as being in deacon’s orders. However, her witness— wearing the distinctive dress of a deaconess, traveling by foot from Brunswick through Darien to Pennick, showing care and love for all whom she met—represents the best in Christian witness.
A Collect for Deaconess Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church, and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Psalm78:1-7Deuteronomy6:4-9, 20-252 Timothy3:14-4:5Matthew11:25-30
Motion carried
Resolution referred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #243)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Music presented its Report #33 on HB Message #243 on Resolution C035 (Add Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to Church Calendar) and moved concurrence with referral to a CCAB.
Motion carried
The House concurred
Resolution referred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #376)
Resolution Referred to a Standing Commission by Both Houses.
Abstract: The 78th General Convention refers to a Standing Commission a resolution to add Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander to Holy Women, Holy Men.
General Convention Resolution A065
Authorize Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018
Original version
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring,That the 79th General Convention authorize for optional use throughout this Church the revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, prepared by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and published by The Church Hymnal Corporation, last revised in 2006, and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to appoint a person or persons to solicit and collect broad feedback from the Church with respect to this volume, and to utilize that feedback to bring any suggested revisions before the 80th General convention in 2021.
Explanation
The subcommittee on the calendar was given eleven separate resolutions from the last General Convention; nine of these proposed individual additions to the calendar, and two proposed authorizing collections of liturgical commemorations. In sorting through these resolutions, the Sub-committee on the Church Calendar discerned that the most appropriate way forward was to prepare a new edition of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, which would better reflect the diversity of the church, and which could work in conjunction with the resource A Great Cloud of Witnesses, which General Convention “made available” but did not authorize.
The Sub-committee’s efforts at calendar revision have attempted to create a calendar that will better reflect the diversity of the church. It has long been recognized that the current calendar of commemorations does not come anywhere close to meeting this goal, and still skews overwhelmingly clerical, white, and male. General Convention has repeatedly asked for a more diverse calendar, and Resolution A065 fulfills this request.
The Sub-committee asks General Convention to authorize Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 “for optional use throughout the church”. This language reflects the fact that the calendar is an optional document, and that individuals and congregations may choose to make use of all of it, some of it, or none of it. We have deliberately refrained from using the language of “trial use”, because the canons of the Episcopal Church only recognize trial use as pertaining to revisions of the Book of Common Prayer and not to other authorized liturgical resources.
Still, the proposed text is very much “in trial.” In this regard, we ask that the next iteration of the SCLM be intentional about collecting feedback from the members of the church, and that they use that feedback to make suggested revisions to General Convention 2021. We trust that in the process of reception, those things that need to be restored will be restored, those things that should be deleted will be deleted, and those things that need to be revised will be revised.
https://www.vbinder.net/resolutions/A065/original_text?house=hd&lang=en
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