Title: Former Executive Director, Women of the ELCA, Charlotte Fiechter Dies ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 17, 2006
Former Executive Director, Women of the ELCA, Charlotte Fiechter Dies 06-041-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Charlotte E. Fiechter, second executive director for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died March 10 of natural causes at her home in Mount Prospect, Ill. She was 71.
"Charlotte E. Fiechter was, above all, a woman of faith who seized every opportunity, whether in service to her church or the world, to be an effective steward of her substantial God-given gifts. Her grace, steadfast faith, intelligence and vision for the empowerment of others will have a lasting impact on countless lives throughout the world," said her nephew, the Rev. Stephen M. Fiechter, Christ Lutheran Church, Orange, Calif.
Fiechter led the women's organization of the ELCA from Jan. 1, 1990, to July 31, 1996. Betty Lee Nyhus, the first executive director for Women of the ELCA, died in November 2003. The Rev. Catherine I.H. Braasch, Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield, Neb., succeeded Fiechter as executive director. Linda Post Bushkofsky is the fourth and current executive director for Women of the ELCA.
"With a love for this church and especially the women of the church, Charlotte Fiechter helped Women of the ELCA, then a fledgling organization, establish many important procedures and practices. She was instrumental in developing planned giving opportunities and led the organization's work against domestic violence," Bushkofsky said.
"Mentoring others and providing educational opportunities were very important to Charlotte, and under her guidance the Herbert W. and Corinne Chilstrom Scholarship was established, providing assistance to Lutheran women during their final year at an ELCA seminary," she said.
Bushkofsky recalled Fiechter's words: "Through all of our history as a church and an organization, women have planned and dreamed and made splendid things happen. One of the wonderful things about working for this organization is that we never know whose lives our planning and work might touch, and the dividends of love and appreciation come back in so many ways."
Born Oct. 16, 1934, in New Jersey, Fiechter graduated from Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. She earned a master's degree from the University of Chicago and a doctorate from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Her advanced degrees were in history. She studied one year at Eberhard Karls Universitaet, Tuebingen, Germany, on a Fulbright Fellowship.
Fiechter taught history at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; Wellesley College; and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Wittenberg is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA. In the University of Pennsylvania College for Women, Fiechter served as assistant dean and as director for the continuing education program. She also served as vice dean for the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Prior to her work for Women of the ELCA, Fiechter was principal and director, St. Thomas Christian Academy, Brick, N.J. She also served as a chief consultant, designing women's leadership training programs for Higher Education Resources Services/Mid-America located at the University of Denver.
At the time of her resignation from Women of the ELCA, Fiechter told the ELCA News Service, "I have worked to bring meaning to the organization's emphasis on women and children in poverty through the development of programs and resources." She said, "I have worked to expand leadership development opportunities for women throughout the church. The program was re-conceptualized and re-cast under my leadership so that all women in the organization have access to training."
Fiechter stressed her efforts to prepare women in ELCA colleges and seminaries for leadership positions, to strengthen links with ordained women and seminary faculty and "to put the issue of violence against women squarely on the agenda of Women of the ELCA."
After serving Women of the ELCA, Fiechter worked with Executive Service Corps of Chicago, consulting with business executives around the globe, inspiring and empowering others to succeed in leadership roles. She also offered coursework at area colleges.
Fiechter was a member of Norwood Park Lutheran Church, Chicago. Memorial arrangements are pending. Interment will be in New Jersey.
Fiechter was preceded in death by her father and mother, Karl and Matilda Fiechter, and by her brother Paul Fiechter. She is survived by her sister Trude McLaughlin of North Carolina, her sister-in-law Annemarie Fiechter of New Jersey, many cousins in New Jersey and Germany, and six nieces and nephews.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog