Women of ELCA Executive Board Adopts Churchwide Mission, Goals

CHICAGO ELCA) -- The executive board of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a mission statement and five goals that will guide the organization's work through at least 2002, when a new three-year ministry emphasis begins. The board asked for review and comment on the recommendations from synod women's organizations and other interested parties for possible further action at its October 2001 meeting.
The executive board met here March 22-24.
The mission statement and goals emerged from an extensive organizational self-assessment of Women of the ELCA beginning in November 1999, using a process developed by the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, New York. A 22-member assessment team developed the recommendations, relying on data gathered from surveys of 1,303 congregational units of Women of the ELCA, workbooks completed by 63 Women of the ELCA volunteer leaders, staff and other partners in the ELCA and related organizations, and 46 personal interviews with leaders throughout the ELCA.
The mission statement adopted by the board is "to mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ."
The five goals adopted by the board for the churchwide organization of the Women of the ELCA are:
+ to achieve sustainable intergenerational connections that are meaningful and relevant.
+ to build communities that are cohesive, diverse, dynamic, compassionate and just, based on common interests, concerns and commitments.
+ to authentically name, voice and respond to issues affecting women through awareness, education, action and advocacy.
+ to assess the present structure, relationships and programs of Women of the ELCA in relationship to the mission; to mobilize women to boldly act upon their faith in Jesus Christ.
+ to use demographic information and organizational research as a basis for all planning.
In addition to adopting the mission statement and goals, the executive board asked its president -- in consultation with the executive committee and executive director -- to form an ad hoc committee to oversee strategic planning activities of the board. It also asked its constitution committee to consider constitutional implications of the mission and goals to and report back.
The board's actions set the stage for development of a more detailed strategic plan, said Linda Chinnia, Women of the ELCA president, Baltimore.
"It is essential for us to move into the future," she said in an interview. "We are becoming more focused, and the center is the mission."
Though the board will receive comments on the mission and goals, Chinnia emphasized they are not likely to be changed. "The intent of sharing this is not to change the recommendations," Chinnia said to the board.
"Self-assessment is a practice that we want to become part of our ministry culture -- a good habit that will keep us focused on Jesus Christ and the future that God has in mind for women's ministry," said Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director, Women of the ELCA.
"Organizational self-assessment is like looking into one of those convex mirrors that, when mounted in corridors, give a glimpse of what's coming around the corner," she said. "Synodical and churchwide leaders alike are called to be both visionary and practical. The Drucker Foundation's process helped us to focus on the future while assessing our ministry in the past and present." Following a report on the organization's self-assessment results, several board members expressed their enthusiasm for the mission and goals. "This is something we must do," said Mary Seale, Roosevelt, N.Y. Mary Bridges, Russell, Kan., said she wants her granddaughters to experience what Women of the ELCA has meant to her. "If we want to keep going with women's ministry, we have to change and we have to be bold about it," she said. "This is a pathway to success, and God will bless your endeavors," said Charlie Schwartz, advisory member of the board. Schwartz, Fredericksburg, Texas, is president of the ELCA's Lutheran Men in Mission. The board's action to seek comment was in response to a request from the presidents of its 64 synod women's organizations. In February Women of the ELCA's Conference of Presidents called for recommendations of the self assessment to the executive board "be simultaneously fully shared in printed form" with them for comment. The executive board discussed and acted on several other issues: + Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, will be printed in a larger format beginning with the September 2001 issue, said Arlene Roth, Ames, Iowa, a member of the board's printed resources committee. More color will be used in the magazine, she said. Also, a draft of a new working arrangement with Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, will soon be ready for executive board review, Roth added. Augsburg Fortress publishes Lutheran Woman Today, as well as other ELCA resources. + The board adopted a series of goals and guiding principles for the 2002 Triennial Gathering to be held in Philadelphia. + The board agreed that a Women of Color Gathering will be held in conjunction with the Triennial Gathering. The first Women of Color Gathering was held in conjunction with the Fourth Triennial Gathering in 1999 in St. Louis. Board members also agreed to a proposal that an activity be planned at the Triennial Gathering for women living with disabilities, their families and friends. + Women of the ELCA's annual gift to the ELCA was $608,953 for the fiscal year that closed Jan. 31, Braasch said. The organization designates a portion of the gift for specific ministries. For the next three years, the executive board agreed to designate portions of the gift to the ELCA World Hunger Program, Lutheran World Relief, plus programs that emphasize outreach with the gospel, missionary support, and education work skills and leadership empowerment for women and girls. + The executive board adopted a proposal regarding human sexuality. It expressed its commitment "to hospitality with all persons, regardless of sexual orientation." The board encouraged people to use Women of the ELCA and ELCA resources "to hold conversations about ministry with persons of various sexual orientations and to create opportunities for women to explore issues of gender and sexuality."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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