wfn.org | ELCA Women Retain Ethnic Events

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 10, 1999

ELCA WOMEN RETAIN ETHNIC EVENTS
99-WO-13-FI

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- The Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) defeated a resolution
calling on the organization "to abandon labels designating persons from
ethnic and national cultural backgrounds."  The decision followed debate
including the pros and cons of holding a Women of Color Gathering before
the convention.
     The convention, which includes delegates from 64 ELCA synods, is
meeting here July 8-11 at the America's Center.  The organization's
three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," is unveiled at the convention
amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and
elections.
     The Women of Color Gathering was held here July 5-7 at the
Marriott Pavilion Downtown.  More than 400 African American, American
Indian and Alaskan Native, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Latina, Middle
Eastern and Arab, and European American women gathered to create support
systems and to share common concerns through Bible study, community
caucuses, workshops and worship.
     The women's organization of the ELCA's Northern Texas-Northern
Louisiana Synod offered the resolution "in favor of joint meetings which
emphasize cross-cultural, multicultural and cross-community sharing and
learning opportunities for all members of the Women of the ELCA."
     Introducing the resolution, Patricia Lyon of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod asked the convention to "stop segregating
ourselves into groups."  To be one community of faith, she said, Women
of the ELCA should stop hosting a Women of Color Gathering and
incorporate its programs into the full convention which has attracted
4,000 participants.
     "There are times when it is important to be together, and there
are times when it is important to be with others whose interests are
similar to our own," said Jackie Hinkle Chattopadhyay of the ELCA's
Pacifica Synod.  She said the smaller gathering is necessary to address
issues at a more personal level.
     Denise Smith of the ELCA's Alaska Synod said she was unable to
attend both the gathering and the convention, and chose the convention.
She said she hoped the convention could have been an opportunity to
"celebrate our diversity together."  Having two events drives "wedges"
between groups of women, she said.
     A purpose of the gathering is "to strengthen the gifts of women of
color not to separate groups of women," said Linda Chinnia, Baltimore,
president-elect for Women of the ELCA.  The ideal would be that such a
gathering would be unnecessary, she said, but the reality is that it is
necessary.
     A committee preparing resolutions from synodical women's
organizations for the convention recommended that the resolution be
defeated.  Some confusion about whether the convention was voting on the
resolution or the committee's recommendation caused a positive vote to
be reconsidered.  After it was clarified that the vote was on the
synod's resolution, 84.5 percent of the delegates voted "no."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html