Celebrating the Full Ministries of Women

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is celebrating many resurrection experiences. Among the greatest pleasures are welcoming women bishops and priests to the diocese and celebrating their work and witness. Most recently, we welcomed back to Fort Worth the Rev. Babs Marie Meairs, who served in this diocese for many years as a deacon but had to return to California to be ordained as a priest. Happily, on Easter II, she returned to the Diocese of Fort Worth to preside and preach at a Eucharist for the first time in this diocese at the Episcopal Church in Parker County.

Our diocese is awakening from a long period of isolation during which limitations placed on women and on the laity deprived us of so many highly gifted ministries. Because so many of us in the diocese have benefitted from Babs’ ministry over the years, it was especially joyful to witness the fruits of her priestly ministry in the diocese.

"It is a humbling and thrilling experience to celebrate in this diocese and especially here in Parker County, where I am impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the faithful people witnessing to Jesus Christ for the Episcopal Church here," said Meairs. She noted the significant work being carried out by lay leaders, and particularly by gifted women who are still discovering their roles in the Church.

"Victoria Prescott is a wonderful example of servant leadership," Meairs said, "and I am so appreciative of her invitation to be at the altar in Parker County and so blessed that our friendship continues."

The Episcopal Church in Parker County meets at McCall Elementary School in Willow Park.

Adversity is often accompanied by unexpected gifts. Many of us who are worshipping in rented space are experiencing renewal in our worship and spirituality that is also fueling our ministry to the larger communities in which we live. Our first outreach project was to provide clothing to local school children. We are now planning an additional ministry of presence to indigent hospice patients.

Meairs served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps before resigning to enter the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1976. After graduating in 1979, she was ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Donald Davies at Trinity Episcopal Church and served in the Diocese of Fort Worth from 1979 – 1991. Meairs served as chaplain at All Saints Episcopal Parish Day School as well as in parish ministries at All Saints, Trinity, and St. Christopher Episcopal Churches. She returned to California for graduate school, and the ordination process she had started so many years before culminated with her ordination as a priest at Grace Cathedral in December 1993. In 2007, she retired from being the Director of the Chaplain Service at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Her career in VA healthcare included specialization in spinal cord Injury, rehabilitation medicine, medical ethics, and end-of-life Issues.

Meairs currently serves as the Field Coordinator for the Office of the Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries (Chaplains). In this role she represents Bishop George E. Packard in various activities involving the recruiting, training and support of chaplains in a variety of settings. In September of 2001 she was called to New York as a member of Bishop Packard's 100 Days Support Mission following the terrorist attacks.

Story contributed by Victoria Prescott