ELCA Women Adopt Budget, Amendments, Resolutions

PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Delegates attending the Fifth Triennial Convention of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a budget for 2003 and acted on proposed amendments to the organization's constitution. Delegates also acted on resolutions from synodical women's organizations and individuals.
Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering is meeting here July 8-14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Listen, God is Calling," is being unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business sessions and elections. Nearly 3,200 women from throughout the ELCA and the world are attending.
With little comment, delegates adopted a $3,681,438 budget for 2003. The budget includes spending guidelines for program services such as anti-racism and cross-cultural ministries, periodicals and products, women's ministry programs, evangelism and related services, stewardship and fund development, grants and scholarships and special funding initiatives. The budget also includes expenditures for executive and organizational services, operations, governance and a planned $700,000 gift to the ELCA. Women of the ELCA provides a significant financial gift to the ELCA churchwide organization annually.
Delegates narrowly adopted a constitutional amendment with a 314- 105 vote, and 46 abstentions, which established an "anti-racist identity" as a principle of Women of the ELCA. The amendment said: "This community of women shall regard an anti-racist identity as an institutional asset and actively seek full participation and shared power in determining its mission, structure, constituency, policies and practices." Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote to adopt.
Before voting, some delegates expressed concern about wording in the proposed amendment. Karla McKenzie, delegate from the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, said she favored the principle but expressed concern about the word "regard," saying she preferred a different word.
Perri McCary, delegate from the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, said she opposed wording in the amendment, though she said most of the delegates -- including her -- seemed to agree on the ideas expressed in the amendment.
"The good news is that we are all on the same side. The bad news is that we see things differently," often because of a person's skin color and experiences, McCary said. Delegates could do a better job with the wording, she suggested.
Stronger language was needed in the proposed amendment, said Vicki Fink, delegate from the ELCA North Carolina Synod. However, she said, "I see this amendment as an opportunity to build on our journey together."
Delegates soundly defeated two proposed amendments. One called for officers of synodical women's organizations to begin their term Feb. 1 following election, and the other called for members of executive boards of synodical women's organizations to begin their term Feb. 1 following election. During discussion, many delegates complained that most synods hold elections at spring conventions. Adopting the amendment would leave many months before newly elected leaders could begin their term.
Several memorials -- resolutions that ask for specific actions of the churchwide women's organization -- were adopted by the delegates:
+ An action to designate a Sunday "to bring sexual exploitation of women and children into the light by focusing media attention and educating congregations about the sex industry" was approved. The event is to be called "Day Full of Light." The memorial directs the churchwide women's organization to distribute materials for study, and it also asks the organization's executive board to report on the budgetary implications of the action by the 2005 Triennial Convention.
+ The convention encouraged individuals, households and congregations of the ELCA to "reduce personal, household and workplace consumption of water and other non-renewable resources by 10 percent." It also encouraged women to study Biblical, theological and practical issues related to stewardship of water.
+ Delegates encouraged congregational units to pray for their youth "that they may grow in faith and have healthy, safe lives." It encouraged synodical women's organizations to provide support to congregations "who wish to be safe havens for children." The memorial also asked that materials on the subject be distributed locally.
+ Delegates resolved that Women of the ELCA participants be encouraged to support the work of Lutheran World Relief by serving "Equal Exchange Fairly Traded Coffee" or other "fairly traded" coffee at Women of the ELCA functions.
Delegates acted July 12 on resolutions offered by individuals:
+ A resolution encouraging promotion, awareness and understanding of the National Interfaith Hospitality Network Affiliate programs was adopted. The network serves homeless families nationwide.
+ It referred two resolutions regarding the structure of the Triennial Convention and its activities to the executive board for consideration in planning the 2005 gathering. -- -- -- Editors: Photographs from "Way-Making Women: A Way to Unity" and Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering are maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html on the Web.

News releases and other information about the gathering are maintained
at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/news.html on the Web.

For information, contact: Melissa Ramirez, newsroom manager, (215) 418-
2045 or mramirez@elca.org

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html