CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gave a $700,000 gift to the ELCA for its ministries around the world in 2001. Among other business, the amount of the gift was announced at the Women of the ELCA executive board meeting here March 14-17.
Women of the ELCA budgets a financial gift to the ELCA every year. The 2001 gift includes $307,980 to the ELCA budget; $155,516 to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; and $35,969 to Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development agency of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The gift also supports domestic ministries of the church.
"The gift represents the passion and commitment of women throughout the church," said Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director for the women's organization of the ELCA. "Second and third-mile gifts are yet another sign of God's active presence in the lives of women and congregations," she said.
In a separate report, the executive board learned that gifts to Katie's Fund have totaled more than $277,000. Katie's Fund is a permanent endowment fund named after Katharina "Katie" von Bora, a former nun who married Martin Luther, the 16th century German monk whose work led to the Protestant Reformation. In addition to her traditional roles, Katie managed the family's finances.
Interest from the endowment supports Women of the ELCA programs, resources and opportunities for women in the areas of "global sharing," leadership development and "living theology."
The first allocation from the fund is being used for "Young Women Seeing Visions," a program designed for "women of all ages to support young women in their ministries," said Braasch. A special "Young Women Seeing Visions" track will be held at the Women of the ELCA Fifth Triennial Gathering in Philadelphia, July 8-14.
Katie's Fund was established in 1997 to mark the 10th anniversary of the women's organization. Women of the ELCA became an official organization when 2,500 women from three former Lutheran church bodies gathered in a constituting convention in Milwaukee, July 11-14, 1987.
Women of the ELCA has more than 7,800 "local units" in congregations and institutional settings across the United States and Caribbean.
The board received information about the first Women of the ELCA "special unit" on a college campus.
"The first special unit on a college campus was formed at the Lutheran Student Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln," said Karen S. Tjarks, director for stewardship and fund development, Women of the ELCA.
Tjarks said there are about 10 students who worship together and share meals there. The special unit at the university is "one more expression of Women of the ELCA. As congregations have discovered the value of having a women's organization within the congregation, so too this student congregation will benefit," Tjarks said.
"Whether students are new to Women of the ELCA or were already participating in the ministry through their congregations back home, their campus unit can offer opportunities for sisterhood in Christ, growth in faith and service in Christ's name," Braasch said.
Authorized in July 1999 by the Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA, special units provide an important link in women's ministry from generation to generation and place to place, said Braasch. Special units are also being added on seminary campuses, nursing homes and other institutional settings.
In other business the executive board reviewed four priorities for the 2002-2005 triennium that will guide the development of resources and programs by the churchwide women's organization staff. Within the context of the organization's purpose statement and new mission statement -- "to mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ" -- the priorities are family, leadership development, spirituality and stewardship. The priorities will be introduced and examined at the Women of the ELCA's Fifth Triennial Gathering this summer. -- -- --
Information about Women of the ELCA Fifth Triennial Gathering is maintained at www.elca.org/wo/events/tg on the ELCA's Web site.
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
