CONGREGATIONAL UNITS
Participation in a congregational unit is open to all women in the congregation and other women, who subscribe to the purpose of the Women of the ELCA; commit themselves to come together for study, support, and action; participate in the ministry of Women of the ELCA beyond the congregation; support financially the total program of the Women of the ELCA; and designate leadership to communicate with synodical and churchwide women's organizations.
Women elected to leadership in a unit and elected as delegates to a convention of the synodical women's organization will be a voting member of a congregation of the ELCA or a voting member of one of the congregations that compose an intercongregational unit. Congregational units participate in the convention of the Synodical Women's Organization by electing a delegate and an alternate to represent the unit; cooperating in the process for nomination of officers and board members of the synodical women's organization; participate in the process for nomination of delegates to the Triennial Convention, and participate in the process of nominations.
The leadership of a congregational unit consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and a Treasurer elected at general meeting of the congregational/intercongregational/special unit.
Please note: Congregational units are not required to have officers. If you look at the model constitution of the Women of the ELCA, the wording used is leaders. Most congregational units change leaders on an annual basis.
The minimum functions that are needed at any business meeting are that of a presider and recorder. Co-leaders
share the same duties.
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NEW AND RENEWED UNITS
Are you interested in starting or reorganizing an active congregational unit or know a group that is? If the answer is yes, and you believe in the mission and purpose of the organization, you can become an active Women of the ELCA unit. Begin by asking other women to join you in this organization that is redefining women’s ministry.
Your unit must take four steps to be recognized as a fully participating active unit.
1) Meet together for study, support and mission. Get started by using Café and Gather. Café is a web-based magazine for young adult women who want to build community, participate in advocacy, and strengthen their faith. Gather is the official magazine for the organization and offers faith-in-life articles and Bible study.
2) Participate in the ministry of Women of the ELCA beyond your congregation. For example, attend a synodical women’s convention in your region or a triennial convention and gathering.
3) Support financially the total program of Women of the ELCA. We offer you ways to give boldly. Your unit’s offerings support resources and ministries that educate, inspire and mobilize women around the world.
4) Designate leadership to communicate with synodical and churchwide women’s organization. When you become an active unit, you are an important part of the organization, and we want you to stay connected with your synodical and churchwide organization. Designating leadership is the easiest way to do that.
Types of units
If you feel you don’t have enough women at your church to start a unit, consider an intercongregational unit made up of two or more congregations. You can also start a special unit, which is formed outside congregations. Examples include college campuses, retirement homes, and mission congregations.
Types of groups within units
Congregations can have only one active unit; however a unit can have many groups. Examples include a mom’s group, a book club, a quilting, knitting, yoga or girls’ group. Be creative. Be flexible. Make room for all who want to participate.
Making it official
Once you become an active unit, another step for recognized membership is to simply complete a model constitution and bylaws form and send it to your synodical president. Remember to keep a copy for your files. You will also need to submit a form with information about your congregational unit.
Please contact Shirley Connelly at slconnelly@gmail.com for help with a new or renewed unit.
CONGREGATIONS BY CLUSTER
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CLUSTER 1 - Ebenezer
Augusta - Advent Augusta - Resurrection Brunswick - St. James Garden City - Good Shepherd Guyton - Zion Richmond Hill - Spirit of Peace Rincon - Jerusalem Rincon - St. John’s Savannah - Holy Spirit Savannah - Ascension Savannah - Redeemer Savannah - Messiah Savannah - St. Paul’s St. Simon's - Lord of Life Thunderbolt - St. Luke’s CLUSTER 2 - Good N.E.W.S. Albany/Leesburg - Our Savior Austell - Nativity Carrollton - Grace Columbus - St. Matthew Douglasville - Good Shepherd Griffin - St. John Hiram - Holy Cross Kennesaw - First United LaGrange - Advent Macon - Redeemer Marietta - Christ Marietta - Holy Trinity Marietta - Incarnation Marietta - Resurrection McDonough - St. Luke Newnan - Resurrection Oglethorpe - Mt. Zion/St. Luke Peachtree City - Christ our Shepherd Plains - St. Andrews Riverdale - Christ our Hope Special Unit - St. Timothy Valdosta - Gloria Dei Warner Robins - Faith CLUSTER 3 - Trinity Atlanta - German Ministry Atlanta - Emmanuel Atlanta - Atonement Atlanta - Redeemer Atlanta - Peachtree Road Atlanta - St. John’s Atlanta - St. Luke Decatur - Messiah Decatur - St. Paul/St. Stephen East Point - St. Mark Stone Mountain - Rock of Ages CLUSTER 4 - Magi Athens - Holy Cross Bethlehem - Nativity Conyers - Epiphany Elberton - Holy Trinity Grayson - Community of Grace Lawrenceville - Amazing Grace Lawrenceville - Christ the Lord Lilburn - All Saints Lilburn - Trinity Tucker - Living Grace CLUSTER 5 - Mission Alpharetta - Lord of Life Alpharetta - Prince of Peace Canton - Celebration of Grace Cleveland - Faith Cumming - Christ the King Dalton - Christ the King Ellijay - Hope Morganton - Shepherd of the Hills Peachtree Corners - Christ the King Norcross - Messiah Korean Oakwood - Christ Roswell - Cross of Life Suwanee - Epiphany Woodstock - Good Shepherd |
CLUSTER 6 - Agape
Blountville - Immanuel Bristol - Faith Chattanooga - Ascension Dandridge/Jefferson City - St. Barnabas Fairfield Glade - Christ Gatlinburg - Our Savior Greeneville - Reformation Greeneville - Solomon Greeneville - St. James Hixson - Trinity Johnson City - Our Savior Evangelical Kingsport - Holy Trinity Knoxville - Faith Knoxville - Gloria Dei Knoxville - Messiah Knoxville - Peace Knoxville - St. John’s Maryville - St. Paul Midway - Sinking Springs Morristown - The Good Shepherd Newport - Holy Trinity Oak Ridge - Grace Ooltewah - Resurrection Parrottsville - Luther Memorial Parrottsville - Salem Vonore - St. Paul CLUSTER 7 - Diaspora Anniston - Grace Anniston/Oxford - Trinity Bessemer - Grace Birmingham - Shades Valley Birmingham - Shepherd of the Hills Clay - Faith Huntsville - All Saints Huntsville - St. Mark’s Madison - Messiah Montgomery - Messiah Prattville - Christ CLUSTER 8 - The King Arlington - Living Word Clarksville - Christ Cordova - St. Luke Franklin - St. Andrew Germantown - Epiphany Hendersonville - St. Timothy Lebanon - Faith Memphis - Peace Mt. Juliet - Celebration Murfreesboro - Advent Nashville - Christ Nashville - First Evangelical Nashville - Holy Trinity Nashville - Memorial Nashville - St. John’s Shelbyville - Christ Spring Hill - Peace Tullahoma - Trinity Unionville - Crowell’s Chapel Tupelo MS - Christ the King CLUSTER 9 - Gulf Coast Daphne AL - Holy Trinity Dothan AL - Triumphant Cross Gulf Shores AL - Grace Mobile AL - Martin Luther Mobile AL - St. Paul’s Biloxi MS - Bethel Brandon MS - Nativity Jackson MS - Ascension Long Beach MS - Grace Louisville MS - Beth Eden Ocean Springs MS - Christus Victor Pulaski MS - Luther Chapel Pulaski MS - Providence Sallis MS - New Hope |