ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Carmen K. Richards, Hope, N.D.,
president, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
challenged the voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly to "act boldly" here Aug.
11.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott
and Convention Center. About 2,300 people are participating,
including 1,018 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial
assembly is "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."
Richards was elected president of the women's organization
at the sixth triennial Women of the ELCA Gathering in San
Antonio, Texas, July 7. As part of the organization's three-year
theme, "Act Boldly," Women of the ELCA launched a health and
wellness initiative, "Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls," for
the 3.2 million women in the church.
In her greeting to the voting members, Richards challenged
them to "act boldly. Go beyond your comfort zone, and when you
think you can't give anymore, remember this: you can't be burned
out -- you're not on fire yet!"
After sharing a personal story of her daughter
Monica's death in May 2005, Richards said it caused her to
reconsider running for president of Women of the ELCA. "I am
here today, because I listen," said Richards. She stayed in the
election after realizing "God has a plan for me ... and I
listened."
Richards is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hope,
N.D., a congregation of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod.
Richards was a Sunday school teacher for 24 years, youth choir
director, president and treasurer of her local Women of the ELCA
unit and treasurer of the Women of the ELCA executive board.
Richards and her husband, Randy, own and operate a 4,800 acre
farm.
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* Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther
College, Decorah, IA. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA
News Service.
Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/05 on the Web.
For more 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
