ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Delegates of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) dealt with resolutions received from six of the church's 64 synod women's organizations. Topics included women's health issues, anti-racism training, closer relations with women's organizations of other Christian denominations and spiritual growth.
The Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA is meeting here July 8-11 at the America's Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," is unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
A committee prepared resolutions from synodical women's organizations for the convention and recommended action. The committee asked the convention to defeat one of the resolutions, combined two resolutions by offering a substitute resolution and recommended editorial changes for two resolutions.
Convention delegates defeated a resolution from the ELCA's Central-Southern Illinois Synod asking that board members of synodical women's organization be considered voting members of their conventions. The rationale for defeating the resolution was that board members are to carry the will of the convention and already have input into the direction of the organization.
The ELCA's Southwestern Washington (state) and Minneapolis Area Synods brought similar resolutions asking Women of the ELCA to "place priority in its emphasis and in its budget on anti-racism training, education and awareness," to work to dismantle "its own systemic and institutional contributions to the perpetuation of racist practices, and to help Lutheran women become "anti-racists in their own lives."
The convention adopted a substitute resolution that blended the language and substance of the two resolutions. It called for a report on these activities to the Fifth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA in 2002.
The ELCA's Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod brought a resolution that Women of the ELCA work with women's health organizations to promote spiritual and physical health. It urged Lutheran women "to seek early detection programs, affordable testing and awareness education."
Delegates adopted an edited version of that resolution which called for "action related to health issues facing all women, particularly women and children who live in poverty, in their communities as well as around the world."
A resolution from the ELCA's Upstate New York Synod asked Women of the ELCA to work more closely "in ministry and fellowship" with counterpart organizations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ -- churches with which the ELCA entered into a relationship of full communion. Delegates adopted it with some editorial changes.
The convention also adopted a resolution from the ELCA's Nebraska Synod after adding a paragraph. The Nebraska resolution asked the organization to rededicate itself to the spiritual growth of its participants. The new paragraph thanked staff of Women of the ELCA for preparing materials and programs to help participants "grow in faith."
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
