ST. LOUIS (ELCA) Through a series of resolutions, delegates of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Fourth Triennial Convention called on the church to be more attentive to people who are deaf or disabled.
The convention met here July 8-11 at the America's Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," was unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
There were some 4,000 convention participants, including 468 voting delegates.
Delegates voted (410-27) to adopt a resolution that "Women of the ELCA provide educational opportunities on disabilities, obvious and hidden." The resolution also called on members to "prayerfully work in their own lives to become advocates for people with disabilities."
"This shows our participants with disabilities that we care about them," said Nancy P. Giddings, a delegate from Ramsey, Minn. She added that adoption of the resolution "opens the door toward awareness" for the needs of people with disabilities.
In another resolution, delegates resolved (435-5) that Women of the ELCA make its churchwide and local events "user friendly" to women with disabilities. Delegates also said the organization should continue to make women aware of the "needs and feelings" of women with disabilities.
Delegates adopted (441-16) a resolution that future triennial planning sessions have a specific coordinator for people with disabilities, and that "an orientation and training session for companions of people with disabilities" be held at the beginning of each convention.
Delegates also referred to the Women of the ELCA executive board a resolution that calls for the re-establishment of an office for deaf ministries at the churchwide level "to provide advocacy for deaf people." Delegates acknowledged that the concerns in the resolution have been and are continuing to be addressed, particularly by the ELCA Division for Church in Society and ELCA Division for Outreach.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
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
