B17 Quick and Dirty Parish LGBTQ+ Inclusion Self-Assessment
 
Sure, Episcopal churches are "LGBTQ+ affirming"...but is your parish really *inclusive*? The AuSable Inclusion Center offers full-service consultation services to help parishes move towards being truly LGBTQ+ inclusive. For parish leaders wanting to "dip their toes" into the process or have a more "self-guided" experience, this workshop will provide an opportunity to take a self-assessment (and receive an extra, blank copy to take back to your parish) along with a "next steps" guide for further discernment. This assessment helps to reveal areas for improvement, especially easy-to-miss practical matters that can make a big difference for LGBTQ+ people in your midst.
 
Presenter
Beck Leclaire, AuSable Inclusion Center, Diocese of the Great Lakes

Rooted in scripture, this workshop invites participants to explore what women’s ministry can look like in today’s Church. Through personal testimony and lived experience, Lisa Bortner, President of the National Episcopal Church Women Board, shares how God’s love—and the steadfast support of faithful women—carried her through profound loss, spiritual trial, and renewal. Together, we will reflect on the essential role of women’s ministries as places of authentic community, Christ-centered support, and transformative love. Women’s ministry is not a social club—it is a sacred space where women can safely talk about faith, life’s complexities, and God’s sustaining grace. This workshop will also highlight the many ways the National ECW supports local ministries, including leadership development, speaker resources, grants, scholarships, and guidance for starting or revitalizing women’s ministries. Participants will leave encouraged, connected, and equipped to imagine how God may be calling them to serve, lead, and strengthen the community of women in their own congregations. Come discover why women’s ministries matter—and how the National ECW can walk with you in building a vibrant, faithful, and hope-filled future.
 
Presenter
Lisa Bortner, National Episcopal Church Women