I’ve been thinking about bold women and how we’ve done as a community of women at being bold. My immediate thoughts turned to the 2,300 women at the recent Ninth Triennial Convention and Gathering.
There were plenty of bold moments at the convention and gathering but there are those less sparkly actions that might not first come to mind but that have boldly changed us as a community of women. The convention passed a memorial to provide solar power to Phebe Hospital in Liberia. That memorial originated in the Northeastern Minnesota Synodical Women’s Organization in June 2013, long before Liberia would be in the news because of an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.
So how did this bold action come about? It all started with two women Mary Jo and Mary Kay. The two
- participated in Women of the ELCA’s 25th Anniversary trip to Liberia in 2012;
- boldly decided Phebe Hospital could benefit from solar power;
- researched what it would take and who could help them; and
- brought a resolution on the matter to the Northeastern Minnesota SWO convention in 2013.
The bold delegates at that synodical convention in 2013 passed the resolution, sending the matter as a memorial to the Ninth Triennial Convention where it boldly passed.
Yes, it was a bold action to pass the memorial, and I know Mary Jo, Mary Kay, the women of Northeastern Minnesota SWO, their travel mates to Liberia and the company they are working with will continue to make solar power a reality for Phebe Hospital. That, in turn, will make it easier for Phebe’s small staff to care for thousands of people.
But how bold will we be? There is not much we can do about Ebola but we can assure Phebe Hospital will continue to serve its community. We can be bold and pray for this solar energy effort, give thanks and affirm the work that is already taking place, stay informed about what’s happening in Liberia and around the world and chip in a few dollars to the effort. Better still, if you would like to know more about the trip to Liberia, the memorials, or our global education program leave me a comment.
[To make a gift to the solar energy project, send a check to the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod, 1105 E, Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802 with “Phebe Solar Project” on the memo line.]
Valora K Starr is director for discipleship.