ST. LOUIS (ELCA) Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected 17 women July 10 to serve three-year terms on its executive board. Executive board members and four officers work to carry out the ministries determined by triennial conventions of the organization.
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.
Elected to the board on the first ballot were Jackie Hinkle Chattopadhyay, Tustin, Calif.; Mary G. Seale, Roosevelt, N.Y.; Janet V. Calico, Dallas; Donna L. Haack, Pomeroy, Iowa; Cynthia E. Cowen, Iron Mountain, Mich.; Diana Ceballos, San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Irene E. Lee, Brimfield, Mass.
Jane Herre Erdahl, Salt Lake City, would have been elected on the first ballot but was declared ineligible because the Women of the ELCA constitution limits the number of representatives to the executive board from each ELCA region. Chattopadhyay and Joyce M. Opjorden, secretary-elec= t, are from the same region as Erdahl, and the region is limited to no more than two members on the executive board.
Elected to the board on the second ballot were LaVaun L. Danielson, Franklin, Minn.; Mary E. Bridges, Russell, Kan.; Nancy A. Hoffman, Lancaster, Ohio; and Robin L. Kieffer, Apple Valley, Minn.
Executive board members elected on the third ballot were Christie C. Whitaker, Newberry, S.C., and Carolyn R. Cook, Forest Grove, Ore.
Board members elected on the fourth ballot were Nancy B. Christian, Fertile, Minn.; Mary Ellen M. Kiesner, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Arlene K. Roth, Ames, Iowa; and Ida Jeanne Smith, Chambersburg, Pa.
Earlier in the convention, Women of the ELCA elected its four officers to three-year terms. They are Linda M. Chinnia, Baltimore, president; Janet L. Brewer, Anchorage, Alaska, vice president; Sally C. Frank, Beaver, Pa., treasurer; and Opjorden.
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
