Boot camps bring new life to leadership training

by Women of the ELCA

by Eva James Yeo

What is a Women of the ELCA boot camp? I’ve attended two—one sponsored by the Indiana-Kentucky synodical women’s organization (SWO) and one by the Grand Canyon SWO—and each was different.

But both were designed to show how the organization is redefining women’s ministries. And both were formatted to bring new life to leadership training, according to Executive Director Linda Post Bushkofsky.

Boot camps bring new life to leadership training. — Linda Post Bushkofsky

They are also a fun way to bring women together to learn, encourage, support and live out our mission.

Boot camps are open to all women—from young to seasoned. They help participants explore how the organization is fulfilling its purpose in new ways and how they can become involved. When done right, boot camps explain the structure of Women of the ELCA, including churchwide, synodical, congregational, conferences and clusters, intercongregational and special units.

They invite all women to become active participants of the organization, helping them gain leadership skills that help inside and outside the organization.

Participants also learn about the organization’s work, and the award-winning Bible studies, publications and more than 40 free resources provided through the churchwide organization.

Boot camps help leaders invite other women in and support them on their faith journeys.

One woman said that she enjoyed participating in “the fellowship, meeting other women and learning what’s going on in their churches.  Also, the sense of support and belonging, a feeling of true Christian community.”

Women in leadership should invite others to learn how Women of the ELCA is making a difference in the church, the society and the world. Women of the ELCA participants are living their faith by alerting women to justice issues such as human trafficking, offering resources and Bible studies, being good stewards, and supporting a health initiative—Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls.

For more information about sponsoring a boot camp, contact Eva James Yeo at [email protected].

Eva James Yeo is director for membership for Women of the ELCA.