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Women of the ELCA
Health Initiative,
2005–2008
Women of the ELCA
launched the Raising
Up Healthy Women and
Girls health
initiative at the
Sixth Triennial
Gathering in July
2005.
You probably heard
about the 4K Run,
Walk ‘n’ Roll held at
the gathering but have
not heard as much
about Women of the ELCA’s health initiative,
for which the 4K was
the kickoff.
The vision
Can you imagine
women in the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America,
along with women
across the United
States and even
around the globe,
building a strong and
peaceful world? How
much easier would
reaching that goal be
if it were addressed
by stronger,
healthier, bolder
women? Healthy women
can produce healthy
families, churches,
and communities, and
can develop healthy
leaders who can build
healthier, more just,
and more wholistic
societies.
As Women of the
ELCA, we are prepared
to lead boldly in
promoting women’s
complete and total
health: physical,
spiritual, and
emotional. We
envision mobilizing
the 3.2 million women
in the ELCA to
participate in a
single effort to
improve their own
health and the health
of others, ultimately
making a visible,
measurable impact on
the collective health
of women everywhere.
The current realities
There are many
barriers that prevent
women from being in
control of their own health care or
from serving as
healthy role models
to the girls whom
they are raising. Our vision is to
support women as
together we address
some of the harsh
health realities women face.
According to the
American Heart
Association and its
division, the
American Stroke
Association, heart
disease and stroke
are the No.1 and No.
3 killers of women in
America. This is a
crucial place for us
to start, because so
many are affected by
heart disease and
stroke directly, and
are affected
indirectly by the
high blood pressure,
diabetes, obesity,
upper respiratory
illnesses, and
restricted quality of
life related to them.
Our Plan
Throughout 2005–2015,
we will:
1. Educate
women to
take time to care of
themselves
physically,
spiritually, and emotionally.
2. Share the
wealth
to
prevent girls and
other women from
repeating today’s
health risks
tomorrow.
3. Advocate
for more
research and the
elimination of
heart disease and
stroke in our
lifetimes.
We will approach
each of these areas
in three ways:
- As physically
healthy women
,
we will make
healthy choices
for our bodies.
- As spiritually
healthy women,
we will engage in
Bible study,
spiritual
renewal, and
holistic healing.
- As emotionally
healthy women,
we will engage in
and seek healthy
and meaningful
activities and
relationships to
better support
one another.
Why a health
initiative?
When we invest
time and resources in
caring for ourselves,
we can then fully
commit to our
organization’s
purpose statement and
our mission to act
boldly: We can
commit to God’s
command to make
disciples in the
world while
standing fully ready
to serve others.
What’s next?
It is imperative
that each woman sees
herself in this bold
effort and
understands how her
well-being benefits
the faith community.
And as a community of
women created in the
image of God, putting
our energy into a
single effort will
make a tremendous
difference in the
lives of millions of
women. Millions of
lives will be
safeguarded and
transformed because
of our collective
action.
The 4K event was
an important witness
to our commitment to
make a difference,
but the most
important thing is to
act boldly, to shed
light on heart
disease and stroke
and overall wellness
for women and girls.
Our allies
We are not alone;
there are others
committed to putting
their heart into
raising up healthy
women and girls. Our
actions will be
strengthened through
collaborating and
partnering with
others who have a
heart for health and
wholeness.
We thank the ELCA
Board of Pensions for
partnering with us
and sponsoring the 4K
Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll at
the triennial
gathering. To date,
pledges received from
the 4K total $28,000.
If you would like to
add your
contribution,
download the
form
or simply send a
check made payable to
Women of the ELCA.
Indicate "4K Run,
Walk ‘n’ Roll" on
your check memo line
and mail to Women of
the ELCA, Attn: 4K
Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll,
8765 W. Higgins Rd.,
Chicago, IL
60631-4101.
Coming soon
Soon (the latter part
of spring 2006) we will have
a packet of materials
available to help you
introduce the health
initiative in your
area. We can help you
carry out your own
Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll
locally. You might
start thinking about
a date and finding
someone to coordinate
this event sometime
during the 2005–2008
triennium.
In the meantime
Take a few moments
to reflect on what
God says about the
heart. There are more
than 500 references
to the heart in
scripture. God’s word
describes our hearts
as being able to see,
hear, and feel. God
speaks poetically and
deeply about our
hearts.
Rebekah prayed
in her heart (Genesis
24:45). Lydia found
her heart was
opened (Acts
16:14). Mary
pondered and
treasured things
in her heart (Luke
2:19, 51 New
International Version).
God uses many
adjectives to
describe the
physical, spiritual,
and emotional heart.
What adjectives
describe our heart
conditions today?
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Next …
Make a list of all
the women and girls
you know who are
affected by heart
disease and stroke
(family, church
family, friends,
community, coworkers,
and so forth).
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Your list can be
your prayer focus for
your journey to
wellness and purpose
for doing this work.
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