ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 9, 2007
ELCA Assembly Hears Report on Church Engagement in Justice for Women 07-CWA-021-KK
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Attention to justice for women is being furthered in the activities and the manner of conducting ministry across the ELCA according, to the "Report on Justice for Women" presented to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly.
Since a restructuring of the churchwide organization in 2005, the way the denomination is responsible and accountable for its ministry with and for women shifted from a Commission for Women to the whole of the churchwide organization, with a Justice for Women Program being conducted by the Church in Society program unit. The 2005 Churchwide Assembly requested a written report be given to the current assembly, describing implementation since the shift and a framework for pursuing gender justice in the ELCA.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,068 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
"Across units, sections and offices, the churchwide organization is working towards justice for women," said Dr. Mary Streufert, director for justice for women, ELCA Church in Society. Streufert highlighted examples from a comprehensive written report, such as awarding 50 percent of international scholarships to women through the Global Mission program unit, a pilot program to develop Latina lay leadership in the ELCA through the Multicultural Ministries program unit, and the creation of the position of Consultant for Misconduct Prevention in the Vocation and Education program unit.
In addition, she said, "We are engaged in a constant and evolving conversation about how justice for women relates to and permeates all of the work that we do." In the revamped ELCA churchwide structure, four "alliances," composed of representatives of various churchwide program units, convene to review and monitor work through each focus. "The Justice for Women Alliance meets monthly and works to infuse the work of justice for women into the respective work of each unit and section," said Streufert.
A consulting committee advises the Justice for Women Program, according to Streufert. One activity under discussion by this committee is to call for an ELCA social statement on gender justice.
Church in Society issued an "invitation to action" in the report, calling on the church to educate for justice, advocate for change and lead into the future. "The whole church is called to this work. Such a template or pattern does not require -- nor can it depend on -- the churchwide organization to be the sole instigator for the work of justice for women in this church," said Streufert. Likening confrontation of sexism with "a movement for changes in social and religious understandings of race," Streufert said, "It is hard work. It will be hard work."
The assembly was shown a video montage of participants in the hallways of Navy Pier envisioning and defining justice for women. The working definition used by Church in Society states: "Justice for women occurs when the ways in which women and girls are objectified are rejected and the imago dei (i.e., image of God) of women and girls is affirmed through both theology and policy, in church and society."
The Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director of Church in Society, told the assembly, "We commit this church to courageously address the scandalous frailties that address the human family and this world. One of the scandalous realities is the glaring absence of justice for women." - - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
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