The churchwide executive board of Women of the ELCA met October 16-17, 2009, and addressed the 2010 budget and the organization’s upcoming triennial convention and gathering, among other things. Spokane, Wash., is the site of the 2011 triennial convention and gathering. The board toured the city as well as the convention center.
Triennial themeThe board set the theme for the 2011 Triennial Gathering, to be held July 14-17, 2011, as “Renew, Respond, Rejoice!”
2010 operating budget adopted, churchwide staff reduced
The board adopted an annual operating budget for 2010 that anticipates total revenue and support of $2,475,300, with the two largest contributions coming from regular offerings ($671,084) and Thankofferings ($1,188,065). The anticipated revenue and support is about $376,000 less than expected in the current year.
Due to the decrease in anticipated revenue and support, and at the direction of the executive board, the executive director announced a reduction in and restructuring of the churchwide staff. The reduction and restructuring eliminates seven positions as of January 31, 2010. The staff will then number 13.
"It was with deep regret that a reduction in staff was necessary in order to ensure that we can continue our ministry to women across the church,” said churchwide president Beth Wrenn. “Please join the executive board in holding these seven women in prayer as they discern the future. We express tremendous gratitude for their work and dedication to Women of the ELCA."
Other budget mattersThe board passed a $788,706 budget for the 8th Triennial Convention (July 12-14, 2011) and a $874,452 budget for the 2011 Triennial Gathering.
In 2009 the churchwide organization received two estate gifts, totaling approximately $800,000. The executive board received this news with great appreciation for the generosity of the donors and determined that the money would be used in several ways to support growth in the organization and for the church as a whole.
Two scholarship funds will each receive approximately $50,000, including the Chilstrom fund that supports women in seminary. Approximately $100,000 will go into the Katharina von Bora Endowment fund, a Women of the ELCA fund that supports ministries of global sharing, leadership development, and living theology. The board looked to the future of the organization by devoting approximately $100,000 to a fund for planned giving and approximately $400,000 to a reserve fund. Smaller amounts were designated for marketing research for Lutheran Woman Today magazine (approximately $20,000) and a gift to the annual operating budget through a Thankoffering (approximately $80,000).
The board received a positive report on the first annual campaign for the Katharina von Bora Luther Fund, an endowment fund of the organization popularly known as Katie’s Fund. As of early October, over 600 gifts to the fund were received for a total of more than $36,000. Donors were given a new option in 2009 that allows them to make a gift to current needs or to the endowment. So far the gifts have been fairly evenly distributed between the two options. Also through this first annual appeal, the number of individual donors to the churchwide women’s organization has grown by more than 50%.
Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls seed grantsLooking to the future, the executive board approved the creation of seed grants as part of the Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls health initiative of the organization. The grants will provide seed money to congregational units of Women of the ELCA for health initiative programs that intentionally involve women across generations and are easily replicable by other units. The grants will be funded with $50,000 raised as part of the health initiative. Additional details about this new grants program will be provided in late winter 2010.
"Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls is such an important focus for Women of the ELCA,” commented president Wrenn. “My hope is that women will come up with creative ways to use the seed grants to encourage women and girls to make their health a priority."
Executive director offered third 4-year termThe board extended an offer of a third four-year term to the organization’s executive director, Linda Post Bushkofsky. She is the fourth installed executive director of the organization and already has served longer in that post than any previous executive director.
Stewardship educationDuring its stewardship education time, the board learned about a women’s drop-in center in Spokane that received a $2,800 grant from Women of the ELCA this year. Women’s Hearth, a program of Transitions, provides homeless and low-income women with a safe space to gather in community. An average of 100-150 women visit Women’s Hearth every day. The center offers therapy-oriented life skills classes, many of which use art as a healing tool, as well as a job training program.
Ginny O’Bryen Edwards, who addressed the board, had found solace at Women’s Hearth several years ago. Ginny, a recovering addict out on parole, had learned of the center from two streetwalkers. “I am part of a large family, but I never felt I belonged anywhere until I walked into Women’s Hearth,” Edwards told the board members. She ended up participating in nearly every class offered at the center and found her voice in writing poetry. Today she is an apartment complex manager, has been in recovery for 9 years, and has served on a regional committee on homelessness. “Everything I get to do is leading the way for women to come behind me,” said a grateful Edwards. Speaking to groups like the board, she concluded, “feeds my soul.”
Other business
Betsy Baguhn, of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, was installed as an executive board member. She had been appointed by the executive committee September 1, 2009, to fill the unexpired term of Marge Dykstra, of Akron, Iowa, who had resigned in late August. The board heard reports from its standing committees and advisors along with a report of the synodical convention coordinator, a board member who organizes the presence of board members at synodical conventions. The board participated in a two-hour anti-racism education time, as it has committed to doing at every board meeting.
The board’s next meeting is April 22-25, 2010.
View the video of President Wrenn's address
here.
The churchwide executive board of Women of the ELCA held its spring meeting April 24–25 in Chicago. Among the many items discussed were items related to the 2011 Triennial Convention and Gathering, including a revision to the rank order process that will be used for electing delegates to the Triennial Convention; a downward revision to the 2009 budget of the churchwide organization; and a stewardship development policy for the board. The board also considered recommendations forwarded to them by the Conference of Synodical Presidents, which took place in February.
Triennial Convention and Gathering
In 2008, the Triennial Convention passed a memorial on the selection of sites for the convention and gathering that asked the executive board to reconsider having the events move across the country based on time zone. The memorial proposed having every other triennial at a site centrally located within the United States.
After reviewing an analysis of all the factors that go into selecting a site—including sufficient meeting space, number of double rooms within 2 blocks of the convention center, safety, tour opportunities, cost, and accessibility—the board voted to continue our practice of moving the convention and gathering through the U.S. time zones. In the discussion, it was noted that the centrally located cities with facilities appropriate for our event are not necessarily the most cost effective, and that airfares are impossible to predict three, six, or more years in advance of an event. Also, while we know that fellowship is a primary reason women attend, the popularity or location of the city can have a significant impact on the decision to attend as well, as evidenced by the high interest in local tours at the last two triennial gatherings.
The board also requested that triennial gathering promoters (TGPs) visit Spokane, Washington, site of the 2011 Triennial Convention and Gathering, sometime this fall. The executive director and staff are working on an itinerary for the TGPs that will help them promote and be able to answer questions about the convention center, hotels, local area and attractions, and will offer training to assist them in being successful promoters.
Registration for the 2011 Triennial Gathering will open on September 15, 2010. An early registration discount will be available through December 3, 2010.
The executive committee heard a report from the executive director regarding a referral from the 2008 Triennial Convention asking that a woman of color gathering be re-instated. The executive committee reported out to the board that it has requested further research and analysis, to be reported back at the October 2009 executive board meeting.
In response to a request from the synodical convention of the Southeastern Synodical Women’s Organization, President Wrenn appointed a committee last fall to review the rank order process for electing triennial convention delegates. The board voted on and approved revisions to the rank order process, an election process that takes into account various criteria (e.g., age, education, experience, involvement, geographical location) as well as the constitutional requirements regarding the election of first-time delegates and women of color or whose first language is other than English. The revised process has been shared in detail with synodical presidents.
Churchwide budget
he budget and finance committee engaged in a thorough review of the 2009 churchwide operating budget, taking into account trends in offering support over the past several years and reasonable estimates of anticipated income for 2009 and beyond. The committee recommended, and the board adopted, a revised 2009 budget that eliminates a currently vacant staff position and reduces expenditures by 20%. In planning for the 2010 budget, the board instructed the executive director and the executive committee of the board to begin strategic planning for an operational reconfiguration that will likely result in the elimination of several staff positions for fiscal year 2010.
Board stewardship policy The board adopted a stewardship policy for board members that encourages each woman to commit to and engage in a number of stewardship goals. In presenting the policy, it was made clear that it is not intended to exclude valuable women from executive board participation but to ask each board member, as a national representative of the organization, to contribute what she considers to be personally significant. While acknowledging that board members continue to support the organization through their congregational units and synodical organizations, and that all give freely of their spiritual gifts and personal time, the policy encourages board members to, among other things: give an annual offering to the churchwide organization to the level of her ability; pay registration fees for triennial gatherings and other events sponsored by the churchwide organization; identify, cultivate, and thank donors; and participate in stewardship development training and education.
Conference of Presidents recommendationsIn response to a recommendation from the Conference of Presidents regarding training for synodical board officers, the board acted to recommend that the job descriptions that are part of the Synodical Leaders Guide, as well as other helpful information on each position, be added to the “For Synodical Leaders” section on
www.womenoftheelca.org. They further recommended that synodical leaders refer to Article 7, Section 5 of the synodical constitution for specific responsibilities of each office and to consult with the churchwide staff for additional assistance.
In response to a recommendation from the Conference of Presidents that would change the alternate delegate selection procedure—allowing any alternate delegate to fulfill the voting duties of any delegate that cannot attend the triennial convention—the board voted not to adopt the proposed change. Enacting this change would affect the total number of delegates, may impact the number of at-large delegates that would need to be appointed, and would disrupt the delegate balance as set forth in the constitution.
Two other Conference of Presidents recommendations, related to disseminating triennial gathering information as soon as possible and to conveying the importance of the churchwide expression of Women of the ELCA, were referred to the executive director.
Other business
As part of its regular business, the board received reports from the ELCA Conference of Bishops, the Presiding Bishop, the ELCA Church Council, and Lutheran Men in Mission. The board, as is its practice, devoted two hours to anti-racism education.
Finally, the board spent significant time reviewing materials and training for going out to synodical conventions as the president’s representative. At every synodical convention, a board representative is present to bring a report from the churchwide president.
Also at this meeting, Sydney Brinkman, of Allison, Iowa (Region 5) was installed as a new churchwide executive board member. She replaces Marlene Bergum, of De Pere, Wisconsin (Region 5), who resigned from the churchwide executive board prior to the spring board meeting.
The first part of the agenda for this meeting of the newly elected board of Women of the ELCA was devoted to orientation on the role of the executive board. The members of the board reviewed how the women’s organization relates to the ELCA and the scope of their responsibilities as the policy-setting body for Women of the ELCA between triennial conventions. They also learned more about the budgeting process and how the organization’s finances are organized and reported, and discussed the role and responsibilities of board members at synodical conventions. With 14 new and 7 returning board members, time was also spent getting to know one another and learning each woman’s gifts and interests.
Triennial convention and gatheringOne of the first items of business for the board was to consider the reports on the 2008 triennial convention and gathering and make a decision on whether to continue with the schedule used for the first time this past July—a midweek convention followed by a weekend gathering. After discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of several models, including placing the convention after the gathering, the board decided that the 2011 convention and gathering in Spokane, Wash., will be held as they were this past summer in Salt Lake City: The triennial convention will be held Tuesday through Thursday, July 12-14, and the triennial gathering will follow Thursday evening, July 14, through noon Sunday, July 17.
The board also received positive preliminary financial reports on the convention and gathering. Although the accounting of income and expenses is not yet final, the preliminary reports suggest that expenses have been held at or under budget.
The board reviewed and acted on referrals from the triennial convention. The board further referred some of those resolutions to the executive director. The referrals include resolutions on: reinstating financial support for Church Women United; holding a women of color event prior to the 2011 triennial gathering; providing support to families of special needs children by offering links from our Web site to support resources; and selecting sites for triennial gatherings.
Executive director's reportThe executive director’s report to the board included information on her pending sabbatical. The March issue of
Interchange, the Women of the ELCA newsletter, features more details of what Linda Post Bushkofsky will be doing from late January through early April as part of her effort to build a comprehensive history of the women’s organization and its predecessors. She hopes to present this history not from the perspective of churchwide leadership but from the perspective of women in individual congregations who have carried out our mission and ministries since Lutheran women’s organizations were created. You’ll also be able to follow some of Linda’s research and interviews here, on our Web site; look for her new column here in the News section beginning in late December.
Post Bushkofsky also presented a reconfiguration of the churchwide staff that the board approved. See the February issue of
Interchange to learn more about individual staff members and what their responsibilities will be. The new configuration retains all current staff; the shifts in roles and responsibilities are intended to position the churchwide organization for meeting the changing needs of the organization as we head into the future and to better facilitate our work together with leaders in synodical organizations and congregations.
Stewardship
Ever mindful that faithful stewardship is what enables this organization to carry out its mission and ministries, the board adopted a position description for a board stewardship development committee. The committee will be made up of at least two current board members and at least two non-board members appointed by the president and executive director, with a staff liaison as needed. This committee will serve in an advisory role regarding stewardship for the board by, for example: defining long- and short-term funding needs for the organization; involving all board members in assisting with churchwide annual funding appeals; and committing to annual personal giving to the churchwide organization and encouraging all board members to do likewise. This reflects a change in how the churchwide executive board understands this aspect of its role and responsibilities.
A stewardship policy for the board was also presented but is being reworked to reflect discussion at the board meeting. A revised policy will be presented at the April 2009 meeting.
Other businessThe board also acted on a referral from the Southeastern Synodical Women’s Organization. A proposed constitutional change regarding nominations for triennial delegates was referred to the constitution committee, and an ad hoc committee has been formed to review the rank order process for electing delegates and to bring a recommendation for board action by the end of the year.
The board continued its commitment to anti-racism education and will spend time in anti-racism training at each of their board meetings throughout the triennium.
Diane Brauer will be the synodical convention coordinator for the board, a job handled during the last triennium by Susan Humphrey. Diane will help schedule board members as the president’s representative for synodical conventions and help ensure that all goes smoothly for both the board member and the SWO.
Finally, the board voted to make Women of the ELCA a Book of Faith organization by endorsing the ELCA’s Book of Faith initiative. The purpose of this churchwide initiative is to increase biblical literacy and fluency so that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word. Given the long, rich history of Bible study in our organization, it is most fitting that Women of the ELCA sign on in support of this initiative.
The next meeting of the churchwide executive board is April 24-26, 2009, in Chicago.
The 2008–2011 churchwide executive board of Women of the ELCA, elected at the Seventh Triennial Convention, July 2008.
Pictured from left to right, back row: Sharon Heck (Whittier, Calif., 2B); Vickie Murph (Columbus, Ohio, 6F); Glynis Reid-Megargel (Old Bridge, N.J., 7A); Charleen Walker-Horton (York, Pa., 8F); Marjorie Dykstra (Akron, Iowa, 5E; resigned prior to the fall 2009 meeting and replaced by Elizabeth [Betsy] Baguhn, Mount Horeb, Wis., 5K; not pictured); Kristine Brugamyer (Dickinson, N.D, 3A); vEnessa Acham (Lebanon, N.H., 7B).
Middle row: Diane Brauer (Lincoln, Neb., 4A); Marlene Bergum (De Pere, Wis., 5J; resigned prior to the spring 2009 meeting and replaced by Syd Brinkman, Allison, Iowa, 5F; not pictured); Cam Martin (Minocqua, Wis., 5G); Jennifer Michael (Tampa, Fla., 9E); Phyllis Rude (Anchorage, Alaska, 1A); The Rev. Rosalind Brathwaite (Astoria, N.Y., 7C); Sandra Lange (Choteau, Mont., 1F), Jo Ann Fuchs (West Columbia, Texas, 4F).
Front row: Marie Tesch (Waseca, Minn., 3I); Anjanette Hodges, treasurer (Christiansburg, Va., 9A); Betty Brandt, secretary (Grand Rapids, Minn., 3E); Beth Wrenn, president (Kill Devil Hills, N.C., 9B); Charlene Spillmann, vice president (Kyle, Texas, 4E); Diane Frederick (Oak Park Heights, Minn., 3H).