Tools for Congregational Leaders
Q: What happens to a Women of the ELCA congregational unit if the congregation in which it is based leaves the ELCA?
A: The unit itself will cease. Any assets of the unit, after the payment of its debts, will be transferred to the churchwide organization of Women of the ELCA. See Article X of the Approved Model Constitution and Bylaws, Congregational or Intercongregational Unit.
Women affected by a situation such as this can join a congregational unit in another ELCA congregation.
Also, remember that, technically speaking, one need not be member of an ELCA congregation to participate in Women of the ELCA. See Article V, Section 1 of the Churchwide Women’s Organization Constitution, which provides that “participation in [Women of the ELCA] shall be open to all women in the ELCA and other women who subscribe to the purpose of this organization.”
Women who participate in a unit of Women of the ELCA but are not members of an ELCA congregation cannot hold office in the organization or serve as a delegate to a synodical or triennial convention. Officers, board members, and delegates must be members of an ELCA congregation. See Article VII, Sections 4 & 6 of the Synodical Women’s Organization Constitution and Article III of the Approved Model Constitution and Bylaws, Congregational or Intercongregational Unit.
Women can also become individual partners of Women of the ELCA. For an annual fee of $20, partners receive a subscription to Lutheran Woman Today magazine, Café, and Threads (an e-newsletter for partners), along with the opportunity to stay connected with the organization through resources, events and the like.
Q: What happens if a woman is serving on a synodical board and her congregation leaves the ELCA?
A: The woman is no longer eligible to serve on the synodical board since she is no longer a member of an ELCA congregation. She must step down. Officers, board members and delegates must be members of an ELCA congregation. See article VII, Sections 4 & 6 of the Synodical Women’s Organization Constitution.
The board then must fill the vacancy consistent with Article VII, Section 4, Item 5, and Section 7, Item 9 of the Synodical Women’s Organization Constitution and other related provisions.
If she were to join another ELCA congregation, her service could continue.
If you have any other questions, please call Deborah Powell, associate executive director, at 800-638-3522, ext. 2739.
The model of a board with officers and committee chairs is just one of several ways your unit can organize.
In our
Ways to Organize section, you'll find
five more models to choose from, including the
coordinating committee,
co-leaders, and
team models. And you can modify each and every one to suit your needs!
Review or download the
churchwide,
synodical and
congregational constitutions.
- Form A — for use by Women of the ELCA units when submitting regular offerings and synodical women's organization convention offerings to the synodical treasurer. Download the form, fill in, and make a copy for your files before mailing to your synodical women's organization treasurer. If you do not know her name, please call Vanessa Davis at 800-638-3522, ext. 2702, or by e-mail.
Click here to download Form A now.
- Form B — for use by Women of the ELCA units when submitting Thankofferings, Designated Gifts, Special Offerings and Gifts, and memorials to the churchwide women's organization. Download the form, fill in, and make a copy for your files before mailing to the churchwide women's organization at the address of the form.
Click here to download Form B now.