DESPITE AN UPCOMING reduction in staff and a budget deficit, Women of the ELCA’s executive director says she’s hopeful.
During the April 24 online meeting, the churchwide executive board approved a new Women of the ELCA special unit, recommended a 2022 budget, and participated in a lengthy discussion about what comes next after the staff dwindles to two full-time and one part-time in September.
“Women in our organization are flexible, adaptable, and creative,” Linda Post Bushkofsky reported to the churchwide executive board. “They have continued their financial support, though not at a level envisioned by 2020 budget.”
Staff, executive board, and advisors met by Zoom Saturday, April 24
The organization has a “future filled with hope,” she said, explaining how women continued to gather “digitally.”
“Our synodical organizations developed online book discussions and Bible studies and fellowship events” during this last year of the pandemic and physical distancing, she said. “They’ve conducted virtual retreats and virtual programming.”
If the organization can continue to adapt in “clever ways to the reality of this pandemic, I think we’ll be equipped to see it into the next decade,” she said. “This ability to adapt gives me great hope.”
Budget and finances
“What a year we’ve had,” said Anna Sarver, executive board treasurer. “As an organization, we’ve had to deal with ups and downs resulting from the pandemic and quarantines.”
The status of the budget reflects why the decision was made to reduce staff, she said.
Though the organization does not have finalized accounts for fiscal year 2020 yet, she said, “we know expenses have exceeded revenue, even though staff underspent.”
At the time of the executive board meeting, total revenue was $1,929,313, and total expenses were $2,054,278. “That’s a difference of $124,965.”
“You can see budget compared to actuals how far behind we are,” she added. The 2020 budget had anticipated revenue of $2,366,000.
Sustainability task force
The executive board asked President Lisa Plorin to appoint an ad hoc task force to investigate what sustainable measures the organization can take to continue operation.
“In our [programs and communications] committee, we had quite a bit of discussion about the future of the organization’s programs and communications, and how are those going to get done with only two full-time and one part-time staff,” said Karen Voris, chair of the committee.
Sara Larson, chair of the budget and finance committee, said: “[The reduction in staff because of dwindling revenue] is not something new that’s all of the sudden appeared. It’s been ongoing forever.
“But now we’re at the bottom of the bucket. People just aren’t aware of the severity of the situation,” she said. “Unfortunately, people become aware when everything changes.”
“We have to change tactics,” she said. “We can’t continue to operate in the way we have been.”
In other action, the executive board:
- Recommended sending a 2022 budget of $1,636,250 to the Eleventh Triennial Convention August 3-5 for approval.
- Discussed the Eleventh Triennial Convention and how it will occur online.
- Approved the application of the Latinx Conference of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod to form a non-geographic special unit of Women of the ELCA.
- Heard a report on the February Pivot Don’t Panic event, a two-day online event that replaced the annual Conference of Presidents.
- Said farewell to a retired Bernie Bresson who served as an advisor to the executive board from Lutheran Men in Mission.
- Heard reports from the Office of the Presiding Bishop, Conference of Bishops, Lutheran Men in Mission, and staff.
Feature photo of water lilies in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Calif., by Elizabeth McBride
How can individual Gather Bible study groups send a donation to support WECA and the Gather magazine, to national, directly?
That’s a great question, Patsy! Gifts can be made online, at https://community.elca.org/welca.
Gifts can also be sent via check, marking on the memo line “where needed most, WOG0466” and mailed to
WOMEN OF THE ELCA
ELCA Gift Processing Center
PO Box 1809
Merrifield VA 22116-8009
Dear Phyllis,
Thanks for letting us know that you find the Bible studies to be too long. We hear this comment from time to time, but we’ve also heard readers comment that Bible studies were too short. Some groups move through the material more quickly and others more slowly.
To try and help with this, we’ve suggested that Bible study leaders look at the time they have & either omit a section or suggest that participants can do a particular section on their own. The hope is that participants who use the entire study will be happy, and participants who only have time to use part of the study can use it like an a la carte menu (where you don’t pick everything).
We have also talked about possibly offering both a shorter Bible study option and a longer Bible study option in the future.
Just curious, for research purposes, for how long does your group meet?
Liz and Sarah, Gather’s editors
I agree that the Bible Studies are much too long. Short and to the point is much better.
Change is an ongoing process. Change, while not easy, brings out the best, the good, the necessary. God will lead and will guide the organization through the process of change. The road ahead will have obstacles but will also bring a “new” beginning for the women of today!
The constitution requires that we offer the Gather magazine. All other programming that has been offered has been a bonus and wonderful asset for so many may have to go away for a time. The work and connections of so many through this organization has impacted the world. We are now at the point of a rewrite. A new script lays in front of us. The women who make of the ELCA live and work and act differently than thirty years ago, ten years ago, and even two years ago. The hope that Linda talks about comes though the actions of Christ who lives and works in our beings and will guide us through this re-write. What this organization will become in this new age and new era when God is ever King and Comforter and Provider, is yet to be seen. But we believe not because we have seen, but because God sees us. 1 John 4:12 “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
Blessings dear friends.
So who is now on staff and who isn’t????
You can go to https://www.womenoftheelca.org/about/staff and see the staff listing. The editor of Gather and the executive director (that’s me) remain full time. The other positions are half-time currently. One position is currently open as the person in that job has taken a new job within the ELCA.
The article states one part-time staff yet a number of people are listed. What is the actual number of staff?
There are currently 9 staff members. Two are full-time and seven are part-time. The current expectation is that come September there will be two full-time and one part-time.
I would like to express to you the fact that I feel the Bible Studies are WAY to long! Many churches are changing to other Bible studies that are easier to use and share! More information is not necessarily better!
I have been involved with the women of the church for many years as a Pastor’s wife, a registered nurse, and love of Jesus Christ! I want to share God in the lives of those after me! I feel sad to see women less involved in this area. Yes, I know the covid19 has some influence on this, but God is so important in each of our lives! Make me an instrument of the love that we need in this world! Thank you for allowing me to express my feelings on this concern!
Sincerely, Phyllis Severson