SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) - Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) hosted a “4K Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll” here July 7 to kick off a new organizational emphasis on health for women and girls. At least 263 women and men participated in the event, held early in the morning before business and educational sessions.
Some participants in the 4K sought out sponsors who contributed funds for the health initiative.
Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering is meeting here July 5-10 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The organization's three-year theme, “Act Boldly,” is being unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote presentations, workshops, community service, business sessions and elections. More than 2,100 women from across the United States and around the world are participating.
Women of the ELCA worked with the ELCA Board of Pensions to develop the event and the health program. In recent years, the Board has emphasized health and wellness for professional leaders in the ELCA.
“We thought that it would be important that women ... come together to decide what it is that we can do to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Valora Starr, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA. “We must first start with ourselves, and the way we do that is by being healthy, being well and being whole in both our spirits and in our physical beings.”
Women of the ELCA’s health initiative has the theme, “Put your Heart into Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls.” Butler said its three goals are educating women to care for themselves physically, spiritually and emotionally; “sharing the wealth” to prevent girls and women from continuing today’s health risks tomorrow; and advocating for more research to hasten the elimination of heart disease and stroke.
“We are demonstrating here that by exercise and education we are very committed to a collaborative effort that impacts our hearts, our circulatory systems and our respiratory systems,” said Ione Hanson, in remarks to the participants before the 4K event began. Hanson, who is married to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the participants are “models” for their daughters, sons and grandchildren.
“Health and wellness is such an important part of our lives,” said Linda J. Svensk, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis. “It’s so important the Board of Pensions and the (ELCA) Division for Ministry have developed a road map for wellness. By partnering in today’s 4K, you are already on your way to wellness.”
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Information about the Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering is at http://www.womenoftheELCA.org on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
