by Elizabeth Hunter and Cindy Novak
Celebrating 22 years of service for executive director Linda Post Bushkofsky and discussing the transition process took center stage at the Women of the ELCA executive board meeting April 19-20, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Post Bushkofsky retires June 30, 2024, after more than two decades of leading the churchwide women’s organization. She is not only the longest-serving executive director, but the first WELCA participant to be elected to that role.
“It has been such an honor to work with staff. They are committed to the mission of Women of the ELCA,” Post Bushkofsky told the executive board during her report. “With humor and incredible witness to the gospel, they make it fun to go to work every day. …That I will miss.”
“I will also miss [working with] Women of the ELCA participants and elected leaders,” she said. “The women of this organization have always inspired me. …They are women who love Jesus and seek to serve God in all that they do.”
“My faith has increased because of the women in this organization,” Post Bushkofsky shared.
“Now I get to return to being a participant, and that’s good!” she told the board.
Board president Myrna Wells-Ulland joined board members in thanking Post Bushkofsky for sharing her gifts with the organization. “We’re just so grateful Linda, for your leadership these past 22 years,” Wells-Ulland said. “We pray that God goes with you.”
Jodi Slattery, Executive for Governance, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, told the board that Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton had honored Linda’s years of service during the April 2024 ELCA Church Council meeting. “Thank you, Linda, for mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ,” Slattery said. “You really are a blessing to this church.”
Transition planning is underway
Board president Myrna Wells-Ulland reported that the executive search process is underway and that the executive board is working with ELCA People Solutions (human resources) to ensure a seamless transition.
“Ideally we’d have [an interim] in place before Linda leaves,” Wells-Ulland said. “If not, we’ll need to name an acting director to cover the responsibilities until we have an interim.”
Board members adopted in principle an interim executive director job description, allowing the transition team appointed by Wells-Ulland to move forward. The interim executive director would serve as chief executive officer of Women of the ELCA for approximately 12 months, either in office or remotely. The position, which reports to the executive board, will provide bridge leadership during the search and transition process, while facilitating strategic visioning with the board and key constituents.
Post Bushkofsky said she had provided Wells-Ulland with a document detailing the responsibilities and activities of the executive director position, month by month, for a triennium.
Update on 2122: Growing Katie’s Fund
“More than 800 gifts [to the 2122 campaign to grow Katie’s Fund] have been received to date,” said Post Bushkofsky. That includes gifts, in varying amounts, from about 61 percent of synodical women’s organizations.
“We’ve [raised] $350,000 [in cash and pledges] toward the goal of $1 million,” Post Bushkofsky said. A sub-campaign will invite people to make a gift to Katie’s Fund in honor of her years of service. More details will be announced later this spring.
Vice president Lorie Garcia (Southwestern Texas Synodical Women’s Organization) said she “was initially a skeptic,” and like many participants, “had no idea what Katie’s Fund did.” Since that time, she’s seen the impact of the endowment fund through the “exciting” $1,000 gifts to synodical women’s organizations, and other ways Women of the ELCA is “investing” in the future of our church and world.
A gift of stock or an estate gift will also count toward the $1 million Katie’s Fund goal, Post Bushkofsky said.
The $1 million capital campaign, Post Bushkofsky explained, “isn’t just a giving program. It’s creating a cultural change within the organization.” When sowing this kind of seed, “you have no idea if it will come up a year or years from now,” she said. “But it will come.”
Special units to be promoted
The executive board voted to encourage Women of the ELCA staff to raise awareness of special units as another way to grow membership. Board members gave examples of special units, including “WELCA Campus” and synodically-authorized worshiping communities.
“Many of our units are near college campuses,” said Garcia. “Through programs like WELCA Campus we have an opportunity to be in relationship with college women. It’s an intentional connection with college campuses.”
Synodically-authorized worshiping communities can also opt to become special units. After one such unit, The Table in Nashville, Tennessee, became a special unit, the 2023 triennial convention elected The Table participant Ginger Cutrell (Southeastern Synodical Women’s Organization) to the executive board. Cutrell is thought to be the first Women of the ELCA executive board member to come from a special unit.
Rank order process for electing voting members
Board members approved a rank order process for synods to use in electing voting members to the Thirteenth Triennial Convention (2026). The churchwide constitution requires the board to establish a rank order process, ensuring that the organization’s values – as reflected in the number of women of color or whose primary language is other than English are elected and the number of first time voting members who are elected – are met.
Conference of Presidents energized by April 6 meeting
Board members spent time discussing overwhelmingly positive experiences at the April 6 virtual meeting of Women of the ELCA’s Conference of Presidents. Under the theme, “Re-membering: rebuilding a community of women,” participants explored the roles and the mutual accountability of churchwide, synodical and unit expressions of Women of the ELCA.
Board president Myrna Wells-Ulland (Grand Canyon Synodical Women’s Organization) said the event generated excitement, enthusiasm, and “a sense that we can do this.” She added, “The pandemic doesn’t have to frame our future.’’
The event was “powerful,” said board member Sheena Foster (Metropolitan D.C. Synodical Women’s Organization). “I saw [synodical leaders] taking a lot of notes about ways to keep chapters active. We got the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers. It gave [people] renewed hope for Women of the ELCA [and reminded them that] they’re not alone. Women of the ELCA has resources to support us. This event illuminated possibilities for where we’re headed in the future.”
It’s important to pull synodical leaders together “to look at what we’re actually called to do,” said board member Lorie Garcia. “My retirement gift [to Linda is that when others have questions about Women of the ELCA] I will say, “Have you looked in your constitution?” People say they’ve looked [at the constitution], but they haven’t really. They’ve looked at the rules, but not the why. That’s vitally important.” During the Conference of Presidents Post Bushkofsky presented three sessions on the organization’s constitutions and how they shape and inspire the life of Women of the ELCA.
In other business, the executive board:
- Approved a Women of the ELCA operational ethics policy. Executive director Linda Post Bushkofsky clarified that while previously, board members signed the ELCA operational ethics policy, the new operational ethics policy uses language particular to the women’s organization. Board members received copies of the policy to sign and return to the churchwide organization.
- Agreed to executive board norms, including being open to the Holy Spirit, keeping an open mind, speaking with one voice outside of the boardroom and seeing all board members as equal regardless of how long they’ve been involved in the organization,
- Recommended a proposed change for consistency in the model constitution for synodical women’s organizations. Revised wording to align Article X, Section 2, items 2 and 4 would help synodical women’s organizations with biennial conventions, allowing them to propose bylaw amendments not only at prior conventions, but also via written notice to congregational units six months prior to their synodical convention. This was a referral from a memorial acted on at the Twelfth Triennial Convention (2023).
- Voted to convene an LGBTQIA+ task force to develop concrete ways to effectively communicate WELCA’s commitment to inclusion and welcome of LGBTQIA+ participants.
- Added an additional member of the current churchwide executive board to the grant review committee for Katie’s Fund and expanded those eligible to apply to include the churchwide organization of Women of the ELCA. The committee will now include: three current members of the churchwide executive board, two former executive board members and the executive director. Katie’s Fund supports programs, resources and opportunities for: participants in Women of the ELCA; congregational, inter-congregational, and special units of Women of the ELCA; synodical organizations of Women of the ELCA and the churchwide organization of Women of the ELCA. A new grants application process will be unveiled in the near future.
- Approved a recommendation by the Racial Justice Task Force to revive the Women of the ELCA Racial Justice Advocacy Network and to share resources such as the 2019 “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent” and the related “Now Is The Time” study guide and participant materials.
Board members also heard reports from:
- Jennifer Armstrong-Schaefer, treasurer, who is waiting for final numbers from the 2023 triennial convention and gathering. She also reported that as of the first close of FY2023, revenue exceeded expenses. The audit for the 2023 fiscal year is underway and will be presented to the budget and finance committee before the October 2024 meeting.
- Staff who encouraged attendance at the 2024 WELCA Leadership event, “Servant Leader: Present, Equipped, Here.” This virtual event is set for May 4, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. CT (register at womenofthelca.org/events). Any ELCA members who are women—not just leaders and Women of the ELCA units—can participate. The event, which includes Bible study, explores what it means to be a servant leader.
- ELCA Slovak Zion Synod Bishop Wilma Kucharek about the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
- Board member Maria Lokensgard, gave a training for board member visits to upcoming SWO conventions. She has prioritized updating forms and resources for board members serving as the president’s representative at synodical conventions.
- Jodi Slattery, ELCA executive of governance, about “God’s Love Made Real,” an ELCA initiative to engage with new, younger, more diverse participants; a new ELCA social message about gun-related violence and trauma; and the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC)’s examination of the structure and governance of the ELCA. (Their report and recommendations will be received by the Church Council in advance of being presented at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly.)
The board had a busy schedule, with Friday visits to Des Moines sites and venues in advance of the next triennial convention and gathering, set to take place there July 16-19, 2026 (see https://welcatg.org).
Saturday’s schedule included a worship service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines, as well as a reception to honor Post Bushkofsky. Those gathered shared prayers, memories, and appreciation for her 22 years of service as executive director of Women of the ELCA. Executive board members made personal gifts to Katie’s Fund in Post Bushkofsky’s honor. They also made a board offering of $1,555, designating 25 percent to Love For Red (loveforred.org), an entity working on issues of period poverty; 25 percent to Katie’s Fund; and 50 percent to the ongoing ministries of Women of the ELCA.