ELCA Women and Children Living in Poverty Conference

WOMEN AND CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY

About 125 Lutheran women and men gathered together Sept. 13-15 in
St. Louis to talk about women and children living in poverty.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sponsored "From
Charity to Justice." Conference participants had the opportunity
to talk to several people who work to change the lives of women
and children living in poverty. "In the wake of new legislation
and significant changes in the welfare system, churches are
reassessing their roles in service and advocacy," wrote the Rev.
H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, in a letter to
conference participants. Through worship, speakers, panel
discussions and workshops, participants received the training
needed to "enable them to continue conducting effective ministry
in their local communities at the congregational level,"
explained conference organizers Loretta E. Horton and Charlotte
Williams. Keynote speakers, the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, executive
director for the Division for Congregational Ministries, and the
Rev. David J. Kalke, All Saints Lutheran Church, Bronx, NY,
challenged participants to move from benevolence to supporting
the equal redistribution of resources for all. There are ways of
looking at issues of poverty in which we must challenge the
church and the world to respond, said Kalke. Conference
participants built the groundwork for an organized national
network of ELCA members to address issues of women and children
living in poverty.