CHURCHWIDE ORGANIZATION
The churchwide women's organization establishes and supports units to carry out God's mission in the church, the society, and the world; equips participants and encourages all to grow as whole persons, value themselves and others, articulate and act upon their faith, and witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ; advocates for the oppressed and voiceless, urge change in systems and structures that exclude and alienate, and work for peace and justice as messengers of hope; relates to other women's organizations ecumenically and globally; provides for development and distribution of resources and a periodical for its participants; provides for flexible structures and decision-making processes that foster interdependence and involve people in the decisions that affect them; and provides opportunities for the financial support of Women of the ELCA and develops a system for management of the assets and processes for planning and evaluation in order to ensure fulfillment of the mission of Women of the ELCA.
The leadership of the Churchwide Organization includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 17 Board Members who are elected at the Triennial Conventions.
For more information about the churchwide organization visit their website at www.womenoftheelca.org
11th TRIENNIAL CONVENTION
In a specially called meeting December 23, Women of the ELCA’s executive board decided how and when to hold the organization’s next convention and gathering. The meeting and Just Love Gathering were initially scheduled for July 14-16, 2020. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the board, in its April 2020 meeting, rescheduled the convention and gathering for early August 2021.
“Since the April board meeting, the coronavirus has spread in ways that few would have imagined,” said Linda Post Bushkofsky, churchwide executive director. As of December 23, more than 323,000 people have died in the United States due to the coronavirus, she said. More than 18.2 million people have been infected to date in the U.S. Leading epidemiologists describe the current trajectory of the virus as a “surge upon surge upon surge.”
Therefore, believing that in-person meetings will be unsafe into 2021, the executive board approved three recommendations:
With no Covid-19 vaccine on the horizon, Women of the ELCA’s executive board met by video on April 25 and voted to postpone the organization’s convention and gathering until August 2021. “We are postponing not canceling,” said Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director of Women of the ELCA.
Postponing the convention means that the current executive board will serve another year until “replacements are elected and installed,” Bushkofsky said. Then, the board elected in 2021 will serve a two-year term. For the 2023 convention, “we would be back to our three-year cycle. That works best with the churchwide assembly, the youth gathering, and the rostered leaders’ event.”
Please remember the churchwide organization with your prayers and donations. A majority of our members give through Faithful Friends, a way to give automatically through a credit card or checking account. Learn more about Faithful Friends.
“Since the April board meeting, the coronavirus has spread in ways that few would have imagined,” said Linda Post Bushkofsky, churchwide executive director. As of December 23, more than 323,000 people have died in the United States due to the coronavirus, she said. More than 18.2 million people have been infected to date in the U.S. Leading epidemiologists describe the current trajectory of the virus as a “surge upon surge upon surge.”
Therefore, believing that in-person meetings will be unsafe into 2021, the executive board approved three recommendations:
- That the Eleventh Triennial Convention, currently scheduled for August 3-5, 2021, be held virtually (or digitally) on those same dates although it cannot meet virtually until the 2017 voting members amend the constitution to allow for virtual meetings. The churchwide staff will take steps necessary to be in touch with the voting members regarding proposed changes to the constitution. Those proposed changes were made by the executive board at its October 2020 meeting.
- That the Just Love Gathering, currently scheduled for August 5-8, 2021, be postponed and registration refunds be offered. Staff will then find other ways to build community and bring women together virtually in 2021 and 2022.
- That the Twelfth Triennial Convention and a Gathering be held in Phoenix, Arizona, during the week of September 18, 2023.
With no Covid-19 vaccine on the horizon, Women of the ELCA’s executive board met by video on April 25 and voted to postpone the organization’s convention and gathering until August 2021. “We are postponing not canceling,” said Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director of Women of the ELCA.
Postponing the convention means that the current executive board will serve another year until “replacements are elected and installed,” Bushkofsky said. Then, the board elected in 2021 will serve a two-year term. For the 2023 convention, “we would be back to our three-year cycle. That works best with the churchwide assembly, the youth gathering, and the rostered leaders’ event.”
Please remember the churchwide organization with your prayers and donations. A majority of our members give through Faithful Friends, a way to give automatically through a credit card or checking account. Learn more about Faithful Friends.
Watch for more information in our newsletter and on the website from our synodical board
and our Triennial Gathering Promoter, Margery Kellar, as it becomes available.
and our Triennial Gathering Promoter, Margery Kellar, as it becomes available.