Inez Torres Davis, director for justice for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1997, announced her retirement effective March 15, 2017.
Before joining the Women of the ELCA, Torres Davis worked for nine years in parish ministry and directed a non-profit organization in Chicago. She is a deacon of the ELCA.
“Over the years I have had several titles in this organization, from director for anti-racism to associate executive director,” Torres Davis said. “The constants have been anti-racism and cross-cultural education.”
She also worked against commercial sexual exploitation, managed the organization’s grants program and wrote several Women of the ELCA resources on anti-racism, the environment, HIV/AIDS and sacred spaces.
“My ministry cannot be addressed without speaking of the network of peer educators in “Today’s Dream: Tomorrow’s Reality” (TDTR), anti-racism education,” she said. “TDTR has about 36 women who have remained part of the network since the first TDTR training retreat in April of 1997.”
Hundreds of women have taken the extensive training, she said. Many in the network are used by their synodical women’s organization to train others in racial justice advocacy.
Torres Davis says in retirement she plans “first, to rest.” She looks forward to more walks, fresh air and time with her granddaughters and family.