wfn.org | ELCA'S Commission for Women Tackle Issues

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 6, 1997

ELCA'S COMMISSION FOR WOMEN TACKLE
CHURCH AND SOCIETAL ISSUES
97-31-091-BW

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "The past six months have probably been the most hectic, creative, overwhelming, meaningful, and inspirational time in the history of the commission," said Joanne Chadwick, executive director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's  Commission for Women.  "The commission has responded to issues of ordination of women in the Lutheran church around the world; welfare reform, women and children living in poverty and sexual harassment in the church and society, she said.   
     "What happens in the world affects the people of this church and we must be ready and able to respond," Chadwick said.  "There seems to be
something in the church and society which calls for (even shouts) for a response to the challenges of the day," she said.
     Chadwick told the commission's Steering Committee, meeting here Oct. 10-12,  "The commission has been called upon to share their gifts and talents (and the discovery of new ones) with the ELCA in new and creative ways."  
     Chadwick noted "as the ELCA reaches its 10th anniversary, the Commission for Women is no longer a questionable or unknown partner, but one who has linked arms with structure and continues to nudge and cajole as change in the structure begins to occur."
     The ELCA's Commission for Women, Commission for Multicultural Ministries, Division for Ministry and Department for Synodical Relations
are working cooperatively to sponsor a gathering of ordained women of color Jan. 9-11, 1998, reported Charlotte D. Williams, associate director for Cross Cultural Advocacy.  "The event will bring 66 African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and Arab Middle-Eastern clergywomen of the ELCA together to be in fellowship and to begin strategizing on several key issues, she said.
     The conference theme will be "Women of God: Created, Chosen, Called."  The participants will look at bringing a much-needed focus on the
complexities of issues and concerns that women of color face as they do ministry, in various settings, in the ELCA, said Williams.  The event will be supported by a grant from Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefits organization based in Minneapolis.
     Staff of the Commission reported on upcoming and ongoing projects.  The steering committee discussed the ongoing emphases of the ecumenical
decade: "Churches in Solidarity with Women: 1988 to 1998."  They are: 
  *  addressing the global economic crisis and its impact on women;
  *  achieving the full participation of women; and affirming their contributions to the  theological, spiritual and administrative life    of the churches;
  *  Eliminating the effects of racism and xenophobia; and
  *  Overcoming violence against women domestic, community, national and global).
  The Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women began in 1988 as a program of the World Council of Churches.  The decade has been a global  ecumenical strategy to enable the churches to respond to the challenges to move forward in the commitments to women.
  Through a variety of programs, training events, grants, and scholarships the ELCA has woven each of these themes into its life and ministries, said Jean Martensen, associate director for studies and
leadership development. 
  The steering committee also reviewed a demographic composition of ELCA synod and churchwide leadership.  This report was in response to an April 1990 request from the Church Council where a resolution was passed specifying that the study of the composition be conducted regularly by the Commission for Women, the Commission for Multicultural Ministries, the
Office of the Bishop and the Department for Research and Evaluation.
  The report presented data for 1997 compared to data collected in 1994. Tables showed the change in the composition of the staff and lay leaders of
the churchwide organization and the synods.  In 1994, 57 synods responded to the request for information.  In 1997, 50 synods had responded as of October 16, 1997.
  The report stated that "there is slow progress in the ELCA at increasing the rate of leadership for females and of African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans and person of other races (non-white)."
  For the churchwide council, boards, standing and advisory committees the rate of participation among women is up almost 2 percent between 1995
and 1997 to 44.4 percent.  For the synod boards and committees the rate of participation between 1994 and 1997 is up just over 1 percent to 42.2
percent for 1997.  For the synod councils the rate of participation for women is up 0.9 percent to 41.3 percent.  The number of female executive
staff at the churchwide level is stable at 24.2 percent of the total staff. The number of female executive staff at the synod level is up slightly at 19.7 percent.
  The steering committee re-elected the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, St. Jacobus Lutheran Church, Woodside, New York, as chair.  

For information contact: 
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html