ELCA Women Urged to 'Spread the Seed'

PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- The gifts that Christians are given from God are meant for the sake of the community, the Rev. April Ulring Larson, bishop of the LaCrosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said to about 3,200 women July 13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The women attended the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in Philadelphia July 8-14. The organization's three-year theme, "Listen, God is Calling," was unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business sessions and elections. The July 13 mass gathering's focus was the "ELCA churchwide organization."
Larson spoke at the morning service and at a Bible study session after the service. She opted to move away from the gathering's theme reference, found in Ephesians 4 in the Christian Bible, and instead talk about society's impact on women today and the role of women in the Bible.
"We all have to get a sense of who we are from Jesus Christ, not from the outside world," said Larson. "The world teaches us that a 'good woman' is quiet, submissive and sweet. The women in the Bible were gutsy."
Larson thanked the two other Bible study leaders at the gathering, the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., and the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, for "challenging women to move boldly and take risks."
The evening mass gathering began with worship music led by Bread for the Journey, a Minneapolis-based band. Linda Post Bushkofsky, Women of the ELCA executive director-elect, introduced herself and commented on the gathering.
"We have shared, served and questioned," said Bushkofsky. "We have learned, taught and inspired. That is what this gathering does for all of us."
Speaker Chris Grumm, executive director, Women's Funding Network, San Francisco, Calif., focused on the need for women to leave the gathering with a plan for action.
"Find the piece of work you are going to take home," Grumm said to the audience. "Take action based on the theme 'Listen, God is Calling.' How can I answer Him [God] from my kitchen table?" The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod, Dorado, Puerto Rico, preached the sermon at the closing worship. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, was the presiding minister and Catherine "Cathi" I.H. Braasch, executive director of Women of the ELCA, was the assisting minister. Martinez said that women must "spread the seed" of God's word.
"Together we are a network of faith," said Martinez. "Don't hold back because the seed is burning to go out. Leave this room with burning hearts."
Martinez emphasized that Christians should not be afraid of "sharing and learning."
"No one, after lighting a lamp, hides it under a jar," said Martinez. "Put it on a stand so that others may see it and come to the light as well."
The mass gathering ended after Linda Chinnia, outgoing president of Women of the ELCA, Baltimore, introduced the new Women of the ELCA officers and executive board elected at the gathering.

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Editors: Photographs from the Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering
are maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html

on the Internet.

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

*Amy Wineinger is a junior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. This
summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production.

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