CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gave a $816,763 gift to the ELCA for its ministries around the world. The women's organization of the ELCA has given more than $11 million to ELCA-related ministries in the last 11 years.
"Whenever the executive board of the women's organization prayerfully deals with the budget and our stewardship of God's abundance, I am reminded of the women who give generously and have a sincere love for Women of the ELCA and the church," said Sharroll Bernahl, Fort Morgan, Colo., president of Women of the ELCA. "I wish to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their gifts to the women's organization, and I thank the leaders who come forward in faith to lead Women of the ELCA."
"The gospel is a powerful and needed message in this time," said Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director of Women of the ELCA. "This gift reflects God's grace at work through thousands of women and women's recognition of the needs of society today. Women of the ELCA is pleased to be able to share this gift."
Among the ministries supported by the gift are the ELCA World Hunger program, leadership development for women, missionary support, public policy ministry, and rural and urban ministries.
"Women of this church give because they have received much," said Braasch. She said women of the church know the power of Jesus' love and grace in their lives and want to pass that on. "They do pass it on in response to natural disasters and other crises, and in their witness in daily life in ongoing support for the mission of Women of the ELCA, congregations and ELCA synods," she said.
Women of the ELCA budgets a financial gift to the ELCA every year.=20 The organization is active in 8,596 congregations in 64 of the 65 synods of the ELCA.
Women of the ELCA will host its Fourth Triennial Convention July 8-11, 1999, in St. Louis under the theme "Live God's Justice." A gathering for women of color, "For Such A Time As This," will precede the triennial convention July 5-7 in St. Louis.
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[Bonnie B. Belasic is director of communication for Women of the ELCA.] For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 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
