Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
(ELCA) is the
women's organization
of the church. As
one of the units of
the church, Women of
the ELCA — unlike
predecessor women's
organizations, which
had auxiliary status
in the respective
church bodies — is
an integral part of
and partner in the
ministries of the
ELCA. |
|
This
partnership is
expressed in a
number of ways. The
churchwide
organization reports
to the ELCA Assembly
and, in the interim,
to the Church
Council. Churchwide
offices for Women of
the ELCA are located
at the Lutheran
Center in Chicago,
where the
organization works
collaboratively with
the ELCA churchwide
offices.
Representatives of
the churchwide
Office of the
Bishop, the
Conference of
Bishops of the ELCA,
the Lutheran Youth
Organization, and
Lutheran Men in
Mission, and the
executive director
of the ELCA
Commission for Women
are advisory members
to the churchwide
Executive Board of
Women of the ELCA.
The executive
director of the
women's organization
serves as an advisor
on the Steering
Committee of the
Commission for
Women. Within synods
and congregations,
similar
interdependent
organizational
structures maintain
the partnership.
In
addition to
supporting itself
and its ministries,
Women of the ELCA
makes an annual
gift to the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
that has averaged
between $500,000 and
$1 million as an
expression of this
partnership in
mission.
Most
significantly,
however, Women of
the ELCA is in
spiritual
partnership with the
church as we work
for and pray for the
same ministries,
mission, and
concerns.
|
