April Carter
Nominee for: Mission Council, Lay Person
Please describe your current involvement in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut using first person, narrative language.
I am a lifelong Episcopalian and an active member of St. Monica’s Episcopal Church in Hartford. My involvement in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut is rooted in parish leadership, worship, stewardship, fellowship, and service.
I currently serve as the Vestry Clerk, a role that requires me to maintain accurate records, support the work of the Vestry, preserve institutional knowledge, and help ensure that important decisions and responsibilities are communicated clearly. I also serve as Co-Chair of St. Monica’s Stewardship Committee. In that role, I help plan and coordinate our annual campaign, develop educational and devotional materials, encourage participation, and invite our members to understand stewardship as an expression of time, talent, treasure, prayer, and presence.
In addition, I serve as a member of the Harvest Committee, helping to organize one of our parish’s important annual celebrations of worship, thanksgiving, and fellowship. I am also an active member of the Episcopal Church Women, where I participate in efforts that strengthen relationships within our parish and respond to needs in the surrounding community.
Through these ministries, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the connection between parish life and the wider Church. I am committed to helping St. Monica’s remain faithful to its mission while participating more fully in the shared ministry of ECCT.
Much of my community involvement takes place through St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, where we seek to be the hands and feet of God in the Greater Hartford community. I believe the Church is called not only to worship together, but also to recognize practical needs and respond with compassion, dignity, and care.
Through the Episcopal Church Women, I have participated in community outreach efforts such as collecting and donating sanitary and personal-hygiene products for young girls attending a local Hartford middle school. Access to these essential items can directly affect a student’s health, dignity, confidence, and ability to participate fully in school. This ministry reminded me that meaningful community engagement often begins by listening carefully and responding to needs that may not always be openly discussed.
I also support St. Monica’s broader ministries of hospitality, food assistance, pastoral care, and community connection. Whether we are welcoming neighbors to a parish event, supporting individuals and families experiencing hardship, or collecting needed supplies, I value opportunities to build relationships rather than simply complete projects. I am fortunate to have flexibility in my schedule to help with members who need transportation assistance.
My approach to community engagement is grounded in the belief that every person should be seen, welcomed, and treated with dignity. I am especially interested in helping the Church strengthen partnerships that connect congregations with schools, service organizations, and other community institutions throughout Greater Hartford and across ECCT.
As a lifelong Episcopalian and member of St. Monica’s, I have experienced the Church as a place of worship, formation, family, service, and belonging. I have also witnessed how congregations must adapt to changing circumstances while remaining grounded in their faith and identity. These experiences have given me both a deep love for the Episcopal Church and a practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing local parishes. The Church supported me while I was a young single mother to three children, and I will forever be grateful.
My service as Vestry Clerk, Stewardship Co-Chair, Harvest Committee member, and member of the Episcopal Church Women has strengthened my skills in organization, communication, planning, collaboration, and relationship-building. My professional experience in hospitality and insurance and now as a small business owner has also taught me to listen carefully, work with people from different backgrounds, manage important details, and approach problems with patience and practicality.
I would bring to the Mission Council the perspective of an active urban parish member who understands the importance of faithful leadership, responsible stewardship, strong lay participation, and meaningful community engagement. I am comfortable working behind the scenes to organize details, but I am also willing to ask thoughtful questions, contribute ideas, and advocate for congregations whose voices and experiences should be represented.
Most importantly, I would approach this ministry with a willingness to listen, learn, collaborate, and serve. I believe my knowledge of parish life, commitment to the wider Church, and desire to help our congregations thrive would allow me to make a meaningful contribution to the Mission Council and to ECCT’s shared mission.