ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- The executive board for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) introduced several resolutions which the organization's Fourth Triennial Convention adopted. Topics included compensation of child-care professionals and the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women.
The Women of the ELCA convention is meeting July 8-11 here 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.
The convention resolved "that Women of the ELCA work toward a Christ-centered, positive environment for children in families, congregations and communities." Delegates supported "working with agencies that strive to help children" and "policies and programs that allow parents to be primary caregivers when it would not endanger the children."
Another resolution urged all members of the ELCA to support the work of teachers and other child-care professionals. It asked women's organizations across the church "to advocate for congregations and social ministry organizations to provide adequate benefit packages to early childhood staff."
A final resolution the board brought to the convention affirmed a letter from the Ecumenical Decade Festival of Churches in Solidarity with Women -- 1,200 women gathered Nov. 27-30, 1998, in Harare, Zimbabwe. That event concluded the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women which the World Council of Churches initiated.
"Although addressed to the World Council of Churches, the letter speaks also to Women of the ELCA's purpose to 'promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world,'" said background information accompanying the resolution. The letter offered specific words of thanks and encouragement to church leaders and to the men, women, youth and children of the churches to eliminate racism and sexism.
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
