PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Delegates attending the final business session July 13 of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Fifth Triennial Convention acted on resolutions related to legislation on the federal welfare program and responses to terrorism.
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.
The federal welfare program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), was reauthorized in the U.S. House of Representatives this year, and the U.S. Senate is to vote next month, the resolution said. The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA), the ELCA's federal public policy office in Washington, D.C., and Bread for the World, a Washington, D.C.-based hunger advocacy organization, have urged people to advocate for "a just TANF reauthorization," the resolution said.
The resolution, adopted overwhelmingly, urged Triennial Gathering participants to write to their senators, and ask them to oppose any amendments that would: increase work requirements; remove the option for states to provide benefits to legal immigrants; narrow the list of activities defined as work; and mandate full family sanctions.
"I can't tell you how important this is," said Sharon Heck, delegate from the ELCA Southern California (West) Synod. In writing to elected officials, Heck said women should ask that money be allocated for child care for mothers who, under terms of the program, must work.
In a resolution related to the September 11 terrorist attacks, the women pledged unanimously to "leave vengeance to God and give ourselves over to His will." They pledged to pray "constantly for guidance and healing, rejoicing in hope, comforting those in sorrow, working to live in harmony, and striving for social justice in our country and in the world."
The delegates acted on other issues of significance:
+ They committed themselves to provide reasonable accommodations to "differently abled" delegates and participants at future Triennial Gatherings.
+ They declined an attempt to re-word the organization's mission statement adopted by the executive board in 2001. However, the convention, the highest legislative authority for the Women of the ELCA, chose to ratify the board's decision to approve the mission statement: "To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ."
+ They suggested that the executive board consider new language for a constitutional amendment adopted July 12. The amendment established an "anti-racist" identity as a principle of the organization. Though the constitutional amendment was adopted, several members expressed concern about the language in it and suggested clearer and stronger wording be used.
+Delegates referred to the executive board and executive director a request that Augsburg Fortress, publishing house of the ELCA, reconsider policies on representation by the publisher at Women of the ELCA events. The resolution expressed concern that Augsburg Fortress displays now limit products available at such events.
+ Delegates referred to the executive board a number of resolutions on internal matters related to the Triennial Gathering and the organization's policies. --- 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.
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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.
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