Women of the ELCA Celebrating 20 Years 20 years of ministry
  Triennial Conventions and gatherings, special emphases, and challenges
  Activities and ongoing ministries of the churchwide women's organization
  Presidents and executive directors of Women of the ELCA
1800 Women's organizations give women a voice in the church when they have none.
 
1987 The theme of the Constituting Convention, June 12–14, in Milwaukee, Wis., is Embrace God's World. The women's organizations of the American Lutheran Church (ALC Women—ALCW), the Lutheran Church in America (Lutheran Church Women—LCW), and the women's movement of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (Women in Action for Mission—WAM) come together to form Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
 
W. Jeanne Rapp is elected the first president of Women of the ELCA; Betty Lee Nyhus is named executive director.
1988 Ecumenical Decade for Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988–1998) Women of the ELCA, the ELCA Commission for Women, and women in Namibia join in the Campaign in Support of Women in Namibia

Lutheran Woman Today (LWT) debuts in January; Newsletter in June

Grants and scholarships programs introduced

Literacy program launched: Volunteer Reading Aides (1988–1996)

Leadership events held (1988–2002)

Organization is represented on National Council of Churches of Christ USA Justice for Women Working Group
 

Doris Strieter named interim executive director in November
1989   LWT circulation reaches high of 300,000

Mission areas—Community, Growth, Action—grow

Plastic-foam cups banned: women make mug totes and wash coffee cups

Woman to Woman program launched (1989–1992)

One in Christ program launched (1989–1992)

Speakers Bureau launched (1989–1992)
 

 
  1990 1st Triennial Convention held: Celebrate God's Creation, Anaheim, Calif.

Multicultural Gathering held

Care for creation emphasized (1990–1993); tree donated to Anaheim, Calif.

20th anniversary of women's ordination celebrated
 

Infant formula education and action around World Health Organization standards becomes focus

Van given to women's organization in north of Namibia

Gwen Carr elected president

Dr. Charlotte E. Fiechter named executive director

  1991   Money, Security, and Spirituality events held (1991–1995)
 
 
  1992   Synodical environment projects take place

Budget, cross-cultural programming, and staff cuts occur
 

 
  1993 2nd Triennial Convention held: God's Gift of Hope, Washington, D.C.

Multicultural Gathering held

Women and Children in Poverty emphasis begun
 

Chilstrom scholarship founded

Fund development staff added

Jan Peterson elected president
  1994   The Witness of Women evangelism strategy introduced

Newsletter renamed Interchange

Domestic violence programming developed
 

 
  1995   Organization represented at Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China

Embracing Self and Others leadership events held

Women of the ELCA Web site inaugurated
 

 
  1996 3rd Triennial Convention held: Proclaim God's Peace, Minneapolis, Minn.

Women of Color Gathering held

Women and Children in Crisis emphasis begun

Campaign to end land mines launched

Rachel's Day initiated (1996–present)

Global education seminars begin (Cycle 1: 1996–2005) with a seminar in Mexico)

Sharroll Bernahl elected president

Agaliece Miller named bridge executive director in August

Terry Bowes named interim executive director in September
 

  1997   Cross-cultural programming renewed

Disabilities consultation held

Global education seminar travels to South Africa

Anti-racism staff hired; anti-racism education training launches the organization's anti-racism efforts
 

Catherine I.H. Braasch named executive director
  1998   Katharine von Bora Luther Endowment (Katie's Fund) founded

Synodical anti-racism training affirmed

Representation on LIRS board gives a presence on immigration and refugee issues

Feasting at Katie's Table events held

Global education seminar travels to Malaysia
 

 
  1999 4th Triennial Convention held: Live God's Justice, St. Louis, Mo.

Women of Color Gathering held

Intercambio debuts

Today's Dream: Tomorrow's Reality anti-racism education network launched

Young Women Seeing Visions consultation held

Synodical leadership cycle, part 1, held

Global education seminar travels to Slovakia and Russia

Special units approved as member category
 

Linda Chinnia elected president
  2000   Paths to Wholeness launched

Organization supports 50 new congregations with gift of "Feasting at Katie's Table"

Synodical leadership cycle, part 2, held

Global education seminar travels to Kenya
 

 
  2001   LWT is redesigned from digest into a full-size format

Organization cosponsors ELCA Women's Leadership Roundtable

Women and Children in Crisis consultation held

Organizational self-assessment goals and mission statement adopted

Global education seminar travels to Madagascar

Organization calls for faithfulness to the gospel and refraining from hatred following attacks of September 11
 

 
  2002 5th Triennial Gathering and Convention held: Listen, God Is Calling, Philadelphia, Pa.

Way-Making Women event held
 

Women urged to pray on verge of war in Iraq

Global education seminar travels to Tanzania

Mary Ellen Kiesner elected president

Linda Post Bushkofsky named executive director

  2003 90-Ton Challenge launched (2003–2004) Organization endorses promotion and use of fair-trade coffee

Café e-zine launched

Spanish resources consultation held

Churchwide office undergoes reconfiguration and downsizing

Global education seminar travels to Cameroon
 

 
  2004   Saying Yes! The Next Step events held

www.lutheranwoman
today.org
debuts

A Day Full of Light supported to end commercial sexual exploitation

First Women-to-Women Coffee Tour to Tanzania takes place

Global education seminar travels to Peru
 

 
  2005 6th Triennial Gathering and Convention held: Act Boldly, San Antonio, Texas

Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls initiative launches

35th anniversary of women's ordination celebrated

Executive board initiates anti-racism training at each meeting

Cross-cultural immersion held at Rocky Boy Reservation, Mont.

Global education seminar travels to Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Women challenged to address water issues

Organization represented on World Day of Prayer U.S.A. Committee; liaison to World Day of Prayer International
 

Carmen Richards elected president
  2006   www.boldcafe.org debuts

Mission Investment Fund Challenge launched

HEART for Women Act endorsed

Seminary visits to promote Café take place

Cross-cultural immersion held in Appalachia

Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls events held in fall

Global education seminars refocus
 

 
  2007   Second Women-to-Women Coffee Tour (two groups) to Tanzania takes place

Act Boldly events held

Bold Women of the Reformation tour to Germany organized

Global education seminar travels to India

Bold Women's Day launches