Tools for Synodical 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.
To ensure good stewardship of the offerings entrusted to us, the churchwide organization has instituted the following policy.
All requests for bulk shipments of resources and other materials provided by the churchwide organization--for a synodical convention, for example--must be submitted at least 7 business days before the date the materials need to arrive. We will ship your request UPS Ground at no cost to you.
For requests made less than 7 business days in advance, the synodical organization will be responsible for the cost of shipping on items that need to be sent 3-day, 2-day, or Next Day. An invoice will be included with your order. Payment is due within 10 days.
To place an order, please contact the ELCA Resource Information Service at 800-638-3522, or email
RIS@elca.org
The Active Unit Assessment is an online tool that allows every synodical women's organization president (or someone she designates) to enter data and contact information for the Women of the ELCA units in her synod. This area is password protected. If you are an authorized user of this area and have any questions, please contact Linda Post Bushkofsky at 800-638-3522, ext. 2740 or
Linda.Bushkofsky@elca.org for assistance.
Access the active unit assessment.
Review or download a copy of the
churchwide,
synodical or
congregational constitutions.
Synodical women's organization treasurers should use this form when submitting regular offerings, synodical convention offerings, thankofferings, designated gifts, special offerings, and other offerings to the churchwide women's organization.
Remember to make a copy of the completed form for your files before mailing your offerings to the address on the form.
Download the form.
When planning your Women of the ELCA-sponsored synodical event (i.e., a meeting, conference or cluster gathering, convention, retreat, board meeting), a Certificate of Insurance may be required. Certificates of Insurance are used to provide vendors, locations, and other interested parties with proof of insurance.
If a property owner (school, retreat house, etc.) requests evidence of liability insurance, please submit a completed Women of the ELCA Certificate of Insurance Request Form,
at least 30 days prior to the event, to:
Vanessa Davis, Insurance
Women of the ELCA
8765 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
You may also fax the form to 773-380-2419, or email it to women.elca@elca.org.
Download the form.