wfn.org | ELCA Women Experience 'Convention Without Walls'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 14, 1999

ELCA WOMEN EXPERIENCE 'CONVENTION WITHOUT WALLS'
99-WO-31-JW/LH**

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- There were several opportunities for the 4,000
participants in the Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to explore the
organization's new three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," in nearby
congregations and communities through "Convention Without Walls"
programs.
     The convention met here July 8-11 at the America's Center.  The
theme was unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote
addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
     "Convention Without Walls" took many of the participants by bus to
several area locations.  They visited sites that provide housing and
shelter, and sites that address the particular needs of women and
children living in poverty.
     "Everyone wants to live justice, but we see all the evils in the
world and we are overwhelmed," said Linda Schroeder of Project COPE
(Churches-Offenders Partnership Enterprise).
     A session on prison ministry took participants to offices of
Project COPE and Prison Family Services.  Area congregations developed
the programs through  Lutheran Family and Children's Services of
Missouri to address a community problem -- a high percentage of those
paroled from prison return.
     Project COPE pairs individual offenders with church-based
committees to assist the paroled person with guidance, housing,
employment and other services for one year after release.  Prison Family
Services advocates in public policy and provides transportation for
families to visit imates.
     "This is a great program.  I hope that you take it home.  Take it
in your hearts, and do what you need in your community," said one of the
programs' "graduates."
     Participants worked with local Habitat for Humanity volunteers to
construct a low-cost residence and to renovate the Martin Luther King
Jr. Community Center.  They learned how Parish Partnership Transitional
Housing is rehabilitating vacant buildings for homeless families to use
as shelter while finding permanent housing solutions.
     Sts. Peter and Paul Ministries, a meals program and men's shelter,
is a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church and two Catholic congregations
-- Sts. Peter and Paul Church and St. Vincent DePaul Church.  When it
opened in 1981, the shelter had "no heat, no running water and as many
as 120 people in a small space," said Tom Burnham, director of the
shelter.
     Burnham said things became more manageable after leaders decided
to concentrate on men dealing with mental illness, addiction and HIV --
the virus associated with AIDS.  Eventually, the shelter had hot water,
heat and showers -- "an incredible blessing," he said.
     In addition to the shelter, which houses about 70 men, the
ministry includes mental health services, an occupational therapist,
employment assistance and a meals program for anyone in need, serving
150 people at a time.
     "In the past year, we've helped about 20 different individuals
make the transition" back into the community, said Burnham.  Yet many of
the shelter's past residents continue to struggle, he said.
     "One guy has not had a stable residence for three years," said
Burnham, "but he's still clean from substance abuse."
     Last year, the program was recognized for excellence in working
with other local agencies to serve the community.  It received a "Best
Practices Award" from the City of St. Louis.  Burham said other major
U.S. cities including Chicago, are trying to imitate the program.
     "I was really impressed by the award Sts. Peter and Paul
ministries received," said Dawn Robson, Jamestown, N.D.  "It's important
to be able to coordinate what's there and not duplicate services."
     "There is a need in any community for helping people with
interview skills," she said.  Businesses often won't hire "people who
come in with a hole in their jeans and no idea how to interview," said
Robson.
     "Amber" is 16, homeless and eight months pregnant.  Where would
she go for help in your community?  That's one of the scenarios posed
for participants in a "Convention Without Walls" session sponsored by
the ELCA Division for Church in Society.  Many participants were able to
name ministries already providing such assistance in their home
communities, while others spoke of needs still unaddressed back home.
     Participants read aloud letters addressed to "Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America," "God," and "Christian Friends" and applied three
questions to each situation:
+ How does the church's ministry with women and children living in
poverty affirm the dignity of the persons depicted in this letter?
+ What other resources could you suggest that this person and her or his
family could find in your community?
+ What would you do to help these women have a voice in how public
policy affects their lives?
     The work of the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) in
Washington, D.C., and the ELCA's state public policy offices was
presented to provide a model for addressing public policy issues at
various levels of government.
     The Good Samaritan House, a center committed to connecting
appropriate services with those in need, presented a "Welfare
Simulation" to help participants experience the welfare system and
identify several gaps and opportunities women and children living in
poverty face.  Participants also heard about some of the ELCA's public
policy advocacy work on welfare reform.
     "Convention Without Walls" sessions also took participants to
sites in the St. Louis area for programs such as Caring Communities,
churches working with the St. Louis school system to make schools
"comprehensive service centers" for children at risk; Community
Stabilization, city government and churches working together to
understand the needs of their neighborhoods; and Hannah's Daughters,
Lutheran congregations mentoring girls and young women through spiritual
nurturing.

** This story is compiled from reports Julie Winder and Liz Hunter
prepared for Triennial Times, Women of the ELCA's daily publication for
the convention.

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