CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Three national leaders acclaimed for their work on justice issues will address thousands of women from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) July 8-11, 1999, at the Women of the ELCA Fourth Triennial Convention in St. Louis. The presenters are Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights worker Medgar Evers; Frances Hesselbein, 1998 winner of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom; and former U.S. Senator Paul Simon (D-Ill.).
The keynote presenters will speak to the convention's theme, "Live God's Justice," based on the Christian Bible verse Micah 6:8. The speakers were announced at the Women of the ELCA's executive board meeting here Oct. 8-11.
Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon will speak of God's justice for children. Simon wrote "Policy and the Poor," an article featured in the September 1998 issue of "Lutheran Women Today," a magazine of Women of the ELCA.
"Senator Simon brings great integrity and credibility to his role as keynote speaker on living God's justice with and for children," said Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director of Women of the ELCA. "His stances on policy and politics have been consistent with his faith."
Simon is a Lutheran and attended Dana College, Blair, Neb., a college of the ELCA. He recently retired after 12 years in the U.S. Senate. He currently serves as director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
A goal of the event is "for participants to think about justice issues that affect women and children today," said Marlene S. Joseph, associate executive director for Women of the ELCA. "Women will come to the convention to strengthen their skills, increase their understanding of justice issues and become more effective advocates for healing and wholeness in all of society."
"Women of all ages and backgrounds should find Frances Hesselbein to be an inspiring, compelling and empowering speaker, especially on the day of the convention that speaks specifically to women living in God's justice," said Braasch.
Hesselbein is president and chief executive officer of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, New York. "She works to imbue other organizations with openness to innovation, willingness to share responsibility and respect for diversity," Braasch said.
"Myrlie Evers-Williams will speak on opening day of the convention," said Sharroll Bernahl, president of Women of the ELCA, Fort Morgon, Colo. "She will help bridge the transition of the current triennial theme, 'Proclaim God's Peace' to the next theme, 'Live God's Justice.'"
Evers-Williams chairs the national board of directors for the NAACP. She spent her life pushing for civil rights and racial equality. In the late 1950s she and her husband, Medgar Evers, opened and managed the first National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Mississippi State Office.
Every three years Women of the ELCA sets a theme for its next triennium. "Live God's Justice," the 1999-2002 theme, will be launched at the convention. Related resources and programs will be introduced at the event.
The triennial convention is the chief legislative authority of the women's organization and the occasion for election of new officers. Besides business, the convention will feature Bible study, theological reflection, festive worship services, discussion forums and workshops.
The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA will preach at the convention's closing worship service. Stacy Kitahata, dean of community for the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, will lead Bible study during the convention.
A Women of Color Gathering will precede the convention July 5-7 in St. Louis. The theme, "For Such a Time as This," is based on the Christian Bible verse Esther 4:13-14.
"This gathering equips women of color to network and create systems of support," said Inez Torres Davis, Women of the ELCA's director for cross-cultural programs. "Women of color share heritages and hopes. They share joys and pain. Women of color learn to lift up the voice of the voiceless."
The 1999 Women of Color Gathering will seek to "access and extend community ... build bridges through common issues and concerns, and flow into the Fourth Triennial Convention," said Davis.
"For such a time as this women of color are required to live and stand faithful to God and the vision of the gospel, which offers solace to the afflicted and refuge to the weary," Davis said. "The 1999 Women of Color Gathering aspires to raise up women who will please and serve God through and within Women of the ELCA and the church at large."
A highlight of the Women of Color Gathering will be the "Wall of Sheroes." Davis said "sheroes" is the feminine word for heroes. "Women will be invited to bring pictures and symbols of women that have spoken words of salvation" to others. The pictures and symbols will be attached to the wall.
Guest speakers for this gathering include Dora Johnson from the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, D.C. Johnson, a member of the ELCA's Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage, is from Beirut, Lebanon.
Women in nearly 9,000 churches and inter-congregational units make up Women of the ELCA, carrying out a partnership with the church as a self-supporting organization.
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director 1-773-380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
