Advisers
Rev. Charles Miller, executive for administration/executive assistant to the Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Ms. Joanne Chadwick, executive director, Commission for Women
Bp. Warren D. Freiheit, Central/Southern Illinois Synod
Mr. Dan Joy, Lutheran Men in Mission
Ms. Sarah Humphrey, Lutheran Youth Organization

¹Executive Committee
²Standing committee on Anti-Racism and Diversity
³Standing committee on Budget and Finance
⁴Standing committee on the Constitution
⁵Standing committee on Global Ministries Education
⁶Standing committee on Communication

Executive Staff
Executive Director: Linda Post Bushkofsky
Assistant Director: Marilyn O'Connor
Director for Programs: Sally B. Sedgwick
Associate for Programs: Valora Starr
Associate for Programs: Inez Torres Davis
Associate for Programs: Emily Hansen
Director for Communications: Deb Bogaert
Communication Specialist (marketing): Ceciley Boykin
Resource Specialist: Laura Barkenquast
Communication Specialist (editor): Bonnie B. Belasic
Editor, Lutheran Woman Today: Kate Sprutta Elliott
Managing Editor, Lutheran Woman Today: Terri Lackey
Associate editor, Lutheran Woman Today: Audrey Riley
Editor/Designer, Café: Elizabeth McBride
Director for Operations: Deborah Powell
Budget Director: Damika Davis

Constitutional responsibilities
Women of the ELCA is a separately incorporated, self-supporting organization that operates within the framework of the constitution and policies of this church (see churchwide constitution provision 17.40, and related bylaws as well as continuing resolution 17.41A96 printed in Section XXX of this volume). The program and structure of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are defined in the constitutions and bylaws of both Women of the ELCA and the ELCA. In fulfilling its mandates, Women of the ELCA is committed to working interdependently with all ELCA churchwide units and Lutheran, ecumenical, and inter-church agencies and organizations. As is true of other separately incorporated units of this church, the women’s organization functions within ELCA financial and personnel policies, although the women’s organization is responsible for establishing and maintaining its finances.

The constitution of Women of the ELCA defines the organization’s purpose, principles of organization, governance processes and responsibilities. The triennial convention is the highest legislative authority of the organization. A 21-member elected churchwide executive board makes decisions on behalf of the churchwide organization between triennial conventions. An annual consultation is held with the synodical organizations through the Conference of Synodical Presidents. The churchwide president either attends or sends a representative to each synodical convention.

Report of work 2003–2005

Communicating
Expanding and strengthening communication at all levels of the organization has been a focus in this triennium. Interchange, the organization’s leadership newsletter, was expanded to a monthly publication. The organization regularly receives praise for this practical and inspiring publication. Our Spanish-language version of this, Intercambio, continues to be a popular download from our web site. We revamped and expanded our Web sites (www.womenoftheelca.org and www.lutheranwomantoday.org), providing more and more information to a hungry audience. Among our more popular offerings there are devotions and downloadable resources. The strategic work of marketing an organization of this size and breadth was formalized through the creation of a new staff position for marketing. We have only begun to see the fruits of those efforts.

Equipping
A focus in this triennium has been placed on elected synodical leadership. This was seen as an important step in ultimately better serving the participants in the congregational, inter-congregational, and special units of this organization. Regular communication was established with the presidents and treasurers of each synodical organization. That includes quarterly financial updates and twice yearly conference calls. Strategic attention was given to planning the annual conference of synodical presidents and involving the presidents in that planning. A revision of the synodical leaders handbook was undertaken and is nearing completion. Attention was given to supporting the synodical leadership so that they, in turn, can better support all the women in the congregational, inter-congregational, and special units of this organization.

In terms of published resources, we deepened our understanding of the triennium theme with a resource written by popular author and retreat leader Debra Farrington, called Listening to God: A Guide to Discernment. We produced resources for a Day Full of Light (in response to a 2002 convention action), Rachel's Day, and the Children’s Sabbath, all available free on the organization’s Web site in downloadable formats.

A new model of regional retreats was created with "Saying Yes! The next step." These weekend retreats gave women an opportunity to grow in new and exciting ways as they continued to live into the triennium’s theme. In this opportunity for renewal and challenge, women explored their next step into a fuller response to discipleship and community.

New presentation tools for Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality, the Women of the ELCA anti-racism network, were developed and introduced to the resource people in each synodical women’s organization. The materials are in the form of a three-ring "cookbook" with "recipes" for appetizers (introductory learning), fine breads (Bible studies), main courses (ranging from light to quite filling), and desserts (litanies, prayers, rituals, and such). Suggested "meal plans" were included in the distributed training materials. Trained presenters are "chefs" capable of providing anything from a light repast to a feast; length can range from a one-hour presentation to a weekend retreat.

And throughout the triennium, we have continued our strong ministries in global education, scholarships, grants, Bible study, cross-cultural immersion, and stewardship.

Inviting
We focused our efforts on ministry with and to young women through Café, an electronic magazine for women ages 18–35. With some financial assistance from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and the enthusiasm and drive of two interns in the summer of 2003, this e-zine was birthed. Café stands for Community, Advocacy, Faith, and Enlightenment. Café is positioned to serve women who are familiar with the ELCA and Women of the ELCA, as well as women who are not familiar with either but find Café useful on their path of spiritual development. As part of our strategic plan, Café is now staffed through one full-time position of editor and designer. Beginning in October 2005, Café will become a monthly publication.

Challenging
Women of the ELCA joined with Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange to promote awareness about oppression and social injustice as it relates to the coffee industry by challenging Lutherans to double their purchases of 100 percent fairly traded coffee, from 45 tons to 90 tons, through the LWR Coffee Project. As the 12-month challenge came to a close, we had surpassed the goal, with 99 tons of fairly traded coffee having been purchased by Lutherans through the LWR Coffee Project.

Strategic planning
In early 2004 the staff spent significant time and energy in strategic planning, developing a three-year strategic plan for the 2005-2008 triennium. All activities and resources are coordinated around four objectives to be met during this triennium: (1) to enable women to find their bold, to deepen their faith; (2) to educate and involve women as we focus on women’s health for the triennium; (3) to increase financial support to the churchwide women’s organization; and (4) to increase awareness of and involvement in the women’s organization. It is with much excitement that we look forward to unveiling the fruits of that plan over the next three years.

Contributions made to the life of the ELCA
Under the constitutions of the ELCA and Women of the ELCA, this organization is called to work interdependently with all units of the ELCA. To that end, the executive board has been engaged in several matters in this triennium. Over the entire three year period the board has contributed to the ELCA Planning for Mission, the strategic planning and restructuring process led by the presiding bishop. The board participated in several aspects of Journey Together Faithfully: A call to study and dialogue, the ELCA sexuality studies, including engaging in a portion of the study materials. Just this past March the executive board read and discussed Our Calling in Education: A Lutheran Study, a study that will lead to the development of a social statement on education.

In addition to these engagements, the executive board, through its budgetary oversight, has seen that financial support of the ELCA has continued. In 2002 the gift of Women of the ELCA to the church was $750,000, and in 2003 and 2004, the gift was $500,000 in each year, for a total gift of $1,750,000 over this triennium.

A significant milestone was achieved in this triennium: the negotiation and completion of working arrangements between the women’s organization and Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, the publishing house of the ELCA.

Inter-Lutheran and ecumenical partnerships
By its governing documents, Women of the ELCA is called to relate to other women’s organizations ecumenically and globally. This mandate is carried out in many ways. The 2002–2005 executive board has been very attentive to both inter-Lutheran and ecumenical partnerships, nurturing them and helping them expand.

North American Lutheran women’s organizations are brought together through the Lutheran Women’s Cooperating Committee. That committee includes representatives from Women of the ELCA, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), Evangelical Lutheran Women (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League-Canada (Lutheran Church Canada). This committee meets annually, sharing ideas, projects and resources. It has as its mission, "Lutheran women linking in dialogue, education, and Christ-centered partnering."

The board also connected with the Lutheran World Federation, assisting with Miriam’s Well, a place where women delegates and advisors to the assembly gathered for discussion and fellowship in a nurturing environment. Miriam’s Well was coordinated by the Evangelical Lutheran Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The primary ecumenical tool of Women of the ELCA is Church Women United, the ecumenical prayer movement. Women of the ELCA provides financial support to Church Women United. The churchwide president and executive director of Women of the ELCA have positions on CWU’s Common Council, its legislative authority.

As time, money and circumstances have allowed, the president or her representative has participated in conventions or annual meetings of other women’s organizations, including Cumberland Presbyterian Church – Women’s Ministries, Episcopal Church Women (The Episcopal Church), Lutheran Deaconess Association, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), Evangelical Lutheran Women (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada).

Sixth Triennial Gathering and Convention
The Sixth Triennial Gathering of Women of the ELCA will occur July 5-10, 2005, in San Antonio, Texas. Highlights for this event include:

• Bible study on the Act boldly theme led by Sarah Henrich, associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Barbara Ehrenreich, activist, journalist and author best known for her book Nickled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, as the keynote speaker.
• The Rev. Andrea Walker (St. John, Summit, New Jersey) preaching at the opening Service of Holy Communion and the Rev. Melanie McRae (a spiritual director and hospice/hospital chaplain in the Twin Cities) preaching at the closing Service of Holy Communion.
• The Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first bishop of the A.M.E. Church, as preacher at the Thursday evening Thankoffering service.
• Servant events taking women out into San Antonio for service and aid, coupled with a collection of in-kind gifts for local agencies.
• Scholarships bringing 22 young women (aged 18–35) to the gathering.
• Introduction to the 2005–2006 Bible study on the fruits of the Holy Spirit (taken from Galatians), led by the Rev. Susan Gamelin (Emmanuel, High Point, North Carolina).
• New resources including a new worship book, a pin created by Designs by Lucinda (made famous by the "house pins") exclusively for Women of the ELCA, and five fairly traded items created exclusively for Women of the ELCA in conjunction with Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Project and A Greater Gift.
• Learning opportunities – hour-long workshops as well as multi-hour miniversities that explore topics in greater depth.
• Observance of the 35^th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Lutheran tradition and the 60^th anniversary of Lutheran World Relief.
• International guests from Liberia, India, Columbia, Poland, among other locations.

The highest legislative authority of the women’s organization, the triennial convention, will convene during the gathering with more than 450 delegates elected by the 64 synodical women’s organizations. Among the business before the delegates will be the election of officers and the churchwide board for the 2005-2008 triennium and the approval of a churchwide budget for 2006.

The delegates will also consider memorials from the synodical women’s organizations. Twenty synodical organizations have asked delegates to consider a partnership relationship between Women of the ELCA and Adults Savings Kids, an organization seeking to end commercial sexual exploitation. Other memorials address support for immigrants, denounce ageism, and efforts to end world hunger, among other topics.

Living fully into the organization’s mission to mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ, the churchwide executive board has taken an active role in this triennium as the vision-setters and policy-makers of this organization while supporting the executive director and her staff as they carry out the day to day running of Women of the ELCA. It is a partnership that serves the women of this church well.

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Mary Ellen Kiesner, president
Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director