CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Carmen K. Richards, president of the Women
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said that
the organization has "continued its strong ministries, global
education, scholarships, grants, Bible studies, cross-cultural
immersion and stewardship" when she addressed participants at the
2007 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA Aug. 10.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,069 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Richards, who lives in Hope, N.D., emphasized the importance
of the Women of the ELCA's recent outreach efforts to young
women, particularly their interaction with young women at the
2006 ELCA Youth Gathering in San Antonio and the organization's
health initiative, "Raising up Healthy Women and Girls," launched
in July 2005.
"I believe in our church, I believe in our women's group and
I really believe in our youth," she said. "But if we don't tell
our story, the youth aren't going to know about us. And we need
to learn how to change, not to forget where we came from, but
know where we want to go."
Richards also recognized the Rev. Lowell Almen and the Rev.
Charles Miller for their service on the Women of the ELCA board.
Both Almen and Miller are retiring this year.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ 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
