Women of the ELCA Move Foward with Anti-Racism Commitment

ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Has Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church made an effective start at becoming an anti-racist organization? "It's too early to tell," said Inez Torres Davis, program director for anti-racism and cross-cultural programming. "Anti-racism is not like littering; it is not a behavior to be changed. We are at a critical point in our history. It can go either way."
Women of the ELCA took a major step in the establishment of an anti-racism network in April 1997. At that time, 98 of the 111 women attending a churchwide training event made the commitment to provide anti-racism workshops from coast to coast and to lend their support to ELCA synods in their anti-racism efforts. Both Women of the ELCA and the church's Commission for Multicultural Ministries anti-racism efforts with synods are undergirded by training from the Crossroads Anti-racism Training Institute.
In an update to the Women of the ELCA Executive Board meeting in St.Louis, Oct. 16-19, Davis and Joan Pope, co-director for anti-racism programming, responded to a question about the focus on anti-racism programming. Davis said, "'Anti' sounds negative; however, anti-racists are beautiful!"
Why not continue to focus on inclusivity? "If we keep on doing what we've been doing," Davis said, "we will keep on getting what we are getting." The ELCA's 10-year goal of 10 percent people of color and/or language other than English by 1998 has not been realized, although there is an increase from 1.8 to 2.2 percent membership among this population.
"We can do cross-cultural programming in a racist context or in an anti-racist context. I do the latter," Davis said. "Learning about the cultures of others does not dismantle systems and structures that keep people of color at the fringe," Pope said. "It takes many practical and small steps." Those steps include looking at policies, structures and official documents of the organization. The change, Davis and Pope said, must come from the core and work outward.
The Women of the ELCA board toured St. Louis and the Americas Center in preparation for the organization's Fourth Triennial Convention to be held there July 8-11, 1999. The theme for the work of Women of the ELCA from 1999-2002, to be launched at the convention, is "Live God's Justice," based on the biblical text Micah 6:8.
A new feature of the 1999 convention will be the introduction of resources and programs for the triennium, including a three-year cross-cultural study series. Participants will return home with resources in hand and/or program ideas for carrying out the theme throughout the following three years. A Women of Color Gathering will precede the convention July 5-7 under the Esther 2:2-inspired theme, "For Such a Time As This."
Catherine I. H. Braasch, the newly-elected executive director, was installed. The board welcomed Eleanore Johnson, Wittenberg, Wis., who is filling the unexpired term of Marilyn Sorenson-Bush. Sorenson-Bush resigned to accept the position of director for Native American and Alaska Native ministries and racial justice with the Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
Braasch and the Rev. Gregory R. Pile, liaison from the ELCA's Conference of Bishops and bishop of the Allegheny Synod, encouraged the board to explore ways to strengthen relationships with synod bishops.
Pile shared his hope that Women of the ELCA would take the lead in congregations with the study on economic life prepared by the ELCA Division for Church in Society. With the organization's emphasis on women and children living in poverty and the "Live God's Justice" theme for 1999 to 2002, he said, "I want the church to know that Women of the ELCA has some materials already in place."
The board asked Braasch, in response to 1996 Triennial Convention actions referred to them, to explore establishment and funding for a Disability Resource Team.
Braasch reported on the Women of the ELCA's 10th anniversary celebration, noting that the Creative Works Contest generated more than 500 entries. Gifts to Katie's Fund, the newly-established endowment to ensure programming in global ministries, leadership development and living theology/growth in faith, exceed $22,000.00 to date, she reported. Braasch also shared the staff's programming plan for the 1999-2002 triennium and announced the appointment of Marlene S. Joseph as associate executive director effective Nov. 1, 1997. Joseph currently serves as director for educational resources.
Women of the ELCA includes 8,254 member congregational/intercongregational units in 64 synodical women's organizations.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html