CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gave a $514,607 gift to the ELCA for its ministries around the world in 1999. Among other actions, the amount of the gift was announced at the Women of the ELCA executive board meeting here March 16-19.
"Women of the ELCA continues to support the ministry of the ELCA through gifts for designated ministries, as well as for unrestricted support. Gifts have averaged more than $1 million per year since 1988. The gift for fiscal year 1999 is smaller in amount than in previous years, but our partnership with the church is no less than it has been before," said Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director for the women's organization.
"As we embark on a new century and reposition Women of the ELCA to continue vibrant ministry in the future, we have much to build on in the form of legacy of sisters in Christ and strong ministries over the decades preceeding," Braasch said. In addition to cash gifts, Women of the ELCA supports the production of women's ministry programs for the ELCA, she said.
Women of the ELCA budgets a financial gift to the ELCA every year. The 1999 gift includes $258,865 to the ELCA budget and $189,715 to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
In other business, the executive board moved to engage in a "three-year cycle" of consultations on mission, ministry and funding support with its 64 synodical women's organizations.
The consultations are meant to strengthen "good stewardship, which can be thought of as a combination of good faith, good works and good business," Braasch said in her report to the board.
The consultations will involve Women of the ELCA's executive board, staff of Women of the ELCA and synodical leaders. The proposed consultations would involve annual meetings that "cover mission direction and ministry needs and opportunities" and provide a forum for discussions on financial support for Women of the ELCA ministries, according to the board action.
"Women of the ELCA participants have not necessarily benefitted across the board from the continuing expansion of the United States economy. Women of the ELCA participants include those affected by the weak agricultural economy, those who are recovering from major natural disasters over the last several years, and elderly women on limited and/or fixed incomes," Braasch told the board.
The consultations will begin in 2001. They are designed to affirm relationships between the Women of the ELCA churchwide ministry and synodical women's organizations, and to discuss financial support and opportunities for the near future.
Women of the ELCA will host its Fifth Triennial Convention in July 2003 in Philadelphia under the theme "Listen, God is Calling." The executive board and triennial convention conduct the business of the organization. Women of the ELCA is active in 7,832 congregations in 64 of the 65 ELCA synods.
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
