SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- It's one thing to act boldly; it's another thing to make it possible for others to act boldly. Morning time set aside for inspiration July 9 surfaced thoughts of empowerment at an international gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
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.
The Rev. Sarah Henrich, associate professor of New Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., began the program with Bible study. She examined several acts of boldness described in the Old and New Testament.
"We need to think about what it takes to enable people to act boldly," Henrich said. She said boldness means to grow in understanding of God, to trust the wisdom of others in the community, to trust one's own gifts enough to improve and to receive help.
"Imagine there is more to learn about God ... even from people of other faiths," she said.
Henrich said boldness also means to share in understanding of God, to offer wisdom, to trust one's own gifts enough to help others improve and to give or volunteer help. Acting boldly frees others to act boldly, she said.
Stacy D. Kitahata, Seattle, is the ELCA congregational ministries coordinator for the Northwest United States. She led a panel discussion of four other women from India, Indonesia, Liberia and the United States.
With the stage backdrop of a living room, the conversation began with the space in which each of the women live and make welcome for others to live. They described their own acts of boldness, the boldness modeled for them by others and ways they welcome others to act boldly.
Emily Hansen, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA, closed the program with a brief report from an "affinity group" of young Lutheran women that met earlier in the gathering. Among the recommendations to the women's organization from the group, she listed holding regional gatherings specifically for young women and other meetings for women who work outside the home, and producing Bible studies for young women.
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Information about Women of the ELCA Sixth Triennial Gathering is available at http://www.womenoftheELCA.org/news/events/tg05/ on the Internet.
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
