Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

You are called. Answer it.
by Guest blogger

4.4.2019
3 Comments
|
Post

by Syd Brinkman

I once served on an important committee for the Northeastern Iowa Synod, and most time I felt a bit inadequate in my service. Serving with me were many fine rostered leaders, educated professors and others with extensive church history.

One of the fine things the committee did was an overnight retreat with workshops and brainstorming sessions. During one such session, we were asked to share our call story. One person said she had always felt called to ministry, just not ordained ministry.

We so often think that if we are not ordained, we have no call in this society. Or we may not look to our lives and service as a call. I sat in and listened to five other call stories in this group of candidates and committee members, and I’ve decided the word call is bigger than we can imagine.

We answer many calls

Early on, my call was working in service for others as a cosmetologist, which has been extended to service in clients’ homes. A call to be wife, mother and grandmother is profound. I have also been called to be a godparent to six children. How cool is that? I have been called to serve Women of the ELCA at its many expressions.

Can you imagine the many calls you’ve taken and served? Take a moment and put together that list.

In reading the letter sent to synodical women’s organization presidents upon the assignment of the representative to their SWO conventions, Jenny Michael, (former) president of Women of the ELCA’s executive board, wrote: “…God does not call us only once, but many times, to many different vocations. There are calls to faith, calls to family, calls to work life, but amongst all of that, there are also calls to specific communities and calls to particular tasks within those communities.”

So perhaps your call didn’t seem so important. Maybe you didn’t think the roles in your life were a call. I ask this of you: Become an active listener and uphold what you hear. Lift that call up, hold it proudly and shout it out for all to know. Listen to each other’s call and share what you see in another.

Perhaps acknowledging your call will give another person enough courage to answer her call.  Each of us plays an important role for the good of the whole. May you step out in such bold faith to answer your call.

Syd Brinkman, Allison, Iowa, served two terms on the churchwide executive board. This blog first ran in 2014.

Photo by Antoine Barrès on Unsplash

Share
Comments (3)
  • Tsitsi Mtata says:
    4/6/2019

    Every women is called and equipped with tools to execute their calling, but are all women aware they are called? It is awareness that leads us to commit.
    Thank you for sharing,
    Lutheran woman from Zimbabwe
    Tsitsi

    Reply
  • JoAnn Fuchs says:
    4/4/2019

    Syd, I feel honored to have answered the call to be your friend. The women I served with on the church wide board have been a blessing in my life.

    Reply
  • Debbie Viele says:
    4/4/2019

    Very thought provoking article Syd.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Categories

  • Post (1,256)
  • News (295)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
  • Devotions (76)
  • 2122 (3)
  • Uncategorized (2)
Women of the ELCA
23 Jan
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

On Sunday, January 29th, 524 years ago Katharina von Bora Luther was born. Today’s blogger shares why Women of the ELCA has good reason to make a fuss about Katie. Honor a bold woman of faith in your life by making to gift to Katie’s Fund. womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/…

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.