New entry points into Women of the ELCA are necessary to build the organization, the director of intergenerational programs told leaders in Chicago, Feb. 22-24.
“How many of you say, ‘How do we get more young women involved?’” Elizabeth McBride asked those attending Women of the ELCA’s annual Conference of Presidents (COP).
That’s not the question you should be asking, said McBride, who is also editor of the online magazine for young adult women, Café.
“You should be asking, ‘How do we get more new women involved?’
“We don’t have an age issue, we have an access-to-entry issue,” McBride said. She suggested moving ministries like quilting, book clubs and service events outside the church.
“Move your event for human trafficking to include your local youth group or a campus ministry near you if you have one,” she suggested. “Visibility is access.”
During the conference, presidents and their representatives were the first to see the 2020 gathering theme and logo. (Read about it here.)
They also heard reports on the state of the organization, and they attended workshops about suicide prevention, advocacy, and immigration.
Decline in membership
In her state of the organization report, Executive Director Linda Post Bushkofsky said a decline in participation results in a reduction in giving.
In 1988, the ELCA had “something like 5 million members in 11,000 congregations, and we had Women of the ELCA units in nearly all of those congregations,” she said.
Today, the ELCA has 3.5 million members in 9,200 congregations with Women of the ELCA units in about 4,500 of those, Bushkofsky reported.
“Like the ELCA and most mainline Protestant denominations, Women of the ELCA has seen a decline in participation since our constituting convention in 1987,” she said.
And that means offerings have dropped.
Gifts to Regular Offerings have dropped from about $1.2 million in 1997 to about $330,000 in 2018. Regular offerings are collected in congregational units and benefit the unit, the synodical organization and the churchwide organization.
Thankofferings have declined from nearly $1.6 million in 1997 to about $647,000 in 2018 or about 81 percent of the $800,000 anticipated for fiscal year 2018. Thankofferings are special offerings made throughout the year and collected during a dedicated worship service and forwarded 100 percent to the churchwide organization.
“Thankofferings are designed to be a reflection of your experience of God in your life,” Bushkofsky said. “It’s your personal reflection of God’s presence in your life and how you perceive that presence.”
Bushkofsky mentioned other ways the organization receives gifts—like Faithful Friends, Katie’s Fund, convention offerings, and planned giving.
But Regular Offerings and Thankofferings bring in the bulk of the organization’s earnings, she said, and “only about half the units in Women of the ELCA commit to Thankoffering services.
“The reality is things have to change if Women of the ELCA is to exist in the future,” she said. “There is much room for growth in our organization. But we have to act now.”
Strategy for change
In her annual address to presidents, Executive Board President Lisa Plorin reported that the board formed an exploratory committee in April 2018 to help the organization grow into the future.
The committee is seeking answers to three questions from Women of the ELCA participants, and it will make recommendations in the executive board’s October 2019 meeting. The questions are:
- If you could make changes to our constitutions to encourage more participation in the organization, what would they be?
- The triennial convention costs approximately $2,400 per voting member. Annual revenue from offerings has been insufficient to pay for the convention over the past two triennium. How could your SWO assist with the costs?
- Why is this organization important to you? If this organization went away tomorrow, would you miss it? Would it matter? Why?
Presidents had an opportunity, working in regional groups, to discuss these three questions. Their responses will be shared with the exploratory committee prior to its next meeting on March 23, 2019. (If you would like to share your answers to these questions with the exploratory committee, include them in the comment section below.)
Plorin encouraged women to ask themselves why Women of the ELCA is important to them.
“Would you miss it if it went away?” she asked. “I can tell you that if the Women of the ELCA went away tomorrow, it would be missed. This organization is an integral part of the church.”
Work in racial justice advocacy and human sex trafficking education would be missed, she said. The organization’s commitment to raising up healthy women and girls and its work to end domestic violence would be missed.
“I think I speak for everyone here in this room that the Women of the ELCA is an important entity within the ELCA,” she said. “When we all work together to fulfill our mission and purpose, we can make a difference.
“Let’s do this. Let’s grow this organization into the future!”
During the COP Saturday evening worship service, an offering of about $8,500 was collected and will be distributed to Women of the ELCA’s ongoing ministries (50 percent), to the All Anew Campaign for Katie’s Fund (25 percent), and to Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry (25 percent.) The conference theme was “Child of God: Matthew 18:1-5.”
Terri Lackey is director for communication for Women of the ELCA. Photo by Sarah Carson of Elizabeth McBride leading a session on visibility.
Okay all! Now you know the status- so just like everything else we have tackled- let’s get to work!
It is time to get out of the box and let everyone know about the “best kept secret in the ELCA”. Bold and resourceful women have been comfortable sitting in the back doing the work of the church for years, but now we need to step out and be known so that others can see themselves in these roles and become part of this get mission. All hands on deck!
Good questions to ask. I asked myself why did I become active in our women’s unit? I have always been active in my church and the women’s group is part of the church. I love the “Gather” magazine articles and Bible study. We also are a group of 5 to 10 women and no “new” women for years. I realize there is change but there is always a need or hunger for spiritual guidance. Are we as a society lacking in spiritual conscience? I pray for a reverse of the present decline of memberships and active congregations.
Oh, yes! Bethesda, Ames, Iowa–A new Gather/Circle started this fall to meet in the coffee room of a large, local senior living complex. This is totally accessible with parking very near, no steps, cookies and coffee provided by staff, hosted by a resident /member of Bethesda. This “9 :30 3rd Tuesday” is an alternate to our longstanding “9:30 4th Thursday” for Gather Bible Study (a.k.a. Circle–).
Also, women in the ‘evening’ circle were discovering, as they retired, they would now prefer a morning Bible study. An evening “Gather” option was added to Wednesday evening Bethesda events, which already included supper, half-hour worship, and confirmation plus adult interest groups. We suggested “Gather by the River” to flow with the water theme already in place, at 7:15 on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Our familiar faces and voices are enthused and agreeable with these changes. We hope for the blessing of new interest in Women’s Ministries with new faces and more energy!
Great ideas! Thanks being faithful to the organization and Gather!
We are a society in transition. Change will occur regardless of whether or not one “feels” ready. As a senior citizen in her mid-eighties the current rapidity of change makes me appreciate what people must have felt like when the Industrial Revolution took place. A “new” society rose as issues were tackled, over-come, etc. Given time, and continued prayer for our Lord’s guidance and help,[email protected] time and patience will overcome what we may view as problems. A lot of what we hold dear today may have to be laid to rest, and we may find a renewed energy in what will replace the old!
Thanks Ms Katherine. You are right!
Why am I a woman of the ELCA? Because when my church rejected me when my children came out, our synodical Women of the ELCA welcomed me. We respond to love!
You have a great story to tell!
Mary Ann, that is exactly why I have joined. We need to reach out to those of us needing the love the women of the ELCA have to share!
I’m impressed by McBrides comments. Trying to get younger women into Women of the ELCA and previous women’s group has been a cry for over 60 years. We need to focus instead on new women or women in general. For well over 60 years I have been involved in Lutheran Womens groups. I was once the young woman AND the new woman. I have grown as a woman and as a Lutheran woman within the church that is now ELCA. I have been a part of the changes within the group. I have served in many leadership capacities. Now as an octogenerian I am still involved and watching another generation of women grow as leaders and participants. I have also seen what happened as a result of change that to me seems to be a negative side. Once we became WELCA the giving situation took a radical drop.Thankofferings were rarely heard of. Bible Studies provided weren’t always what women really wanted. I was listening. Christian Womens Organizations entered the picture and many women were fed by short studies within the homes. Women young and old enjoyed that fellowship with God’s Word and prayer involved. I like seeing that even working women could adapt to an evening gathering.All was centered in God’s Word. So I can’t help but agree with Margie N. on the focus of spiritual growth of women. I can agree that an Organization for Lutheran Women would be missed and I have appreciated being able to follow this website for Women of ELCA AND the Gathering Magazine. God Bless all the Women now in leadership helping to grow the organization.
Gather magazine and our online Cafe (boldcafe.org) are two great resources for bringing in NEW women. Thanks for your comments.
Thank you for these courageous conversations! I’m so inspired by the leadership of the Women of the ELCA and your willingness to use data as a tool. Thank you for not pretending like change isn’t happening. The truth can set us free to experiment! Sisters, I’m so grateful for your work and here as a synodical partner!
Thank you Rev. Emily. From a fan. 🙂
Thank you Terry for such an eye opening article. Yes this organization would be missed in our churches communities and the world. It’s time for us to step up and carry this organization into the future. I’m all in!
Thanks Risse!
Good report. Good questions to ask. However, I believe the strength has and should be spiritual growth. I suggest focusing on that rather than the mechanics of the organization. If one wishes to attract younger and new women, spiritual activities will draw them.
Thank you Margie. We have a lot of opportunities and resources for spiritual growth. We have about 80 free resources and Gather magazine and boldcafe.org. And dedicated women!