Lutheran Women Elect Officers, Address Sexual Exploitation, Ageism and Sudan
Commercial sexual exploitation, immigration justice and “ageism” were one of several key topics adopted by the women of the largest Lutheran denomination in America this week.
Commercial sexual exploitation, immigration justice and “ageism” were some of several key topics addressed by the women of America's largest Lutheran denomination this week.
More than 2,100 delegates – mostly female – gathered in San Antonio, Texas for the Sixth Triennial Convention of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The five-day gathering, which began Tuesday, gave the women time for fellowship, worship, prayer, and community service. During the convention, delegates also elected officers and pass measures to represent them for the next three years.
On Thursday, the women elected Carmen K. Richards from Hope, N.D., the current treasurer, as their new president. On the third ballot for president, Richards received 242 votes – just 20 more than the minimum needed for election.
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Following her victory, Richards urged women to follow the convention’s theme and “act boldly.”
“You can’t be burned out if you’re not on fire yet,” Richards said, according to ELCA news. “We need to act boldly, and I need all of you to do that.”
The next day, delegates elected Elizabeth Y. Gaskins from Smyrna, Ga. as vice president, Kathryn M. Schnierle from Cincinnati as secretary, and Robin K. Bert from Chester, Ill. as treasurer.
In other business, the delegates adopted a $3.41 million budget for 2006 and passed several “memorials” to represent their views.
The memorial topics, as listed by ELCA news are:
-- Commercial sexual exploitation: Delegates encouraged local Women of the ELCA units to “expand their involvement” in addressing commercial sexual exploitation through and with several organizations, encouraged work with churches globally to combat commercial sexual exploitation, asked Women of the ELCA to provide information and resources on the topic and called for “a coordinated churchwide response” to this issue.
-- Immigration justice: Delegates affirmed the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Baltimore, to assist women in becoming advocates for refugees and immigrants, encouraged Women of the ELCA to pray for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its employees and to advocate that facilities used to detain immigrants and refugees “meet minimum detention standards” and asked Women of the ELCA to provide materials and ideas so that women can welcome and support refugees.
-- Ageism: Delegates encouraged women to “share in the reality of the aging process” and “embrace our elders and (encourage) them to continue living life with purpose and meaning.”
-- Ending hunger: Delegates called on the Women of the ELCA “to continue to make ending hunger a core conviction for the women of the church” and continue efforts to feed hungry people, advocate for policies to end hunger, contribute to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, pray for leaders and commit to a “just and humble lifestyle.”
-- Studies on Sexuality and unity: Women of the ELCA will pray for all people involved in the decisions on homosexuality policy to be made at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly next month in Orlando, Fla., and pledge to “continue to be witnesses to our unity through Jesus Christ.”
-- Sudan: The convention resolved to become more informed about Sudan, its history, Christian sisters and brothers who are suffering, become “engaged in ministry and action,” and pray and act on behalf of all people who are victims of humanitarian crises.
