Close to 400 women from throughout the church participated in an online leadership event February 17-19, 2022, under the theme, For Such a Time as This: Spirit fed, Spirit led. Together they explored the challenges faced by Lutheran women (the challenges in our world as well as those within our organization). They explored the book of Esther, learning how Queen Vashti’s “no” made it possible for Esther to say “yes” to helping her people. They explored the hallmarks of servant leadership and investigated planning strategies. They worshipped God. And now these women are ready to respond to such a time as this.
Share your thoughts about the event in the evaluation below.
Download another copy of the event workbook to assist you in making future plans for your congregational unit, special unit, conference or cluster, or synodical organization. Download copies for others in your group who will make plans with you.
It can be downloaded and printed out so users can write in it. Or it can be downloaded and used digitally (it’s a fillable PDF).
April 23, 1 p.m. CDT
Training on the roles and responsibilities of synodical presidents and vice presidents
Bring your questions and insights to an hour-long discussion. All are welcome.
April 30, 1 p.m. CDT
Training on the roles and responsibilities of synodical secretaries
Bring your questions and insights to an hour-long discussion. All are welcome. Advanced registration required.
May 7, 1 p.m. CDT
Training on the roles and responsibilities of synodical treasurers
Bring your questions and insights to an hour-long discussion. All are welcome. Advanced registration required.
May 14, 1 p.m. CDT
Training on the roles and responsibilities of synodical board members
Bring your questions and insights to an hour-long discussion. All are welcome. Advanced registration required.
May 21, 1 p.m. CDT
Training on the roles and responsibilities of conference/cluster leaders
Bring your questions and insights to an hour-long discussion. All are welcome. Advanced registration required.
Over 300 participants attended this two-day event, Friday, February 18 through Saturday, February 19, for leaders active in Women of the ELCA.
Welcome
Joy Michalicek
Linda Post Bushkofsky
Valora Starr
Opening worship, The book of Esther
Bishop Wilma Kucharek
Presentation #1–Global perspective
Christine Mangale
Presentation #2–Bible study: The Esther story
The Rev. Heidi Neumark
Bible study, part 2
Closing thoughts
Welcome back
Bishop Wilma Kucharek
Plenary 2, Presentation 1: State of the Ministry
Linda Post Bushkofsky
Raeann Purcell
Joy Michalicek
Plenary 2, Presentation 2: The servant leader mission
Valora Starr
Presentation 3: The plan to reboot and rebuild
Camille Trott
Wrap up
Linda Post Bushkofsky
Valora Starr
Closing worship
Bishop Wilma Kucharek
Attendees are invited to make an offering (before, during or after worship) for the ongoing ministries of the churchwide women’s organization.
Individual gifts may be safely made online using a credit or debit card by going to welca.org/give and selecting “where needed most” as the designation.
Alternately, a personal check made payable to Women of the ELCA, with “where needed most” noted on the memo line, can be mailed to: Women of the ELCA, c/o ELCA Gift Processing, PO Box 1809, Merrifield VA 22116-8009.
Our theme, of course, is drawn from the Old Testament book of Esther, whose particular story speaks to God’s love and care for God’s people when the people can’t free themselves from their present situation. We, like Esther, don’t have to close our eyes and wait for the worst to blow over in the midst of this pandemic. We can follow Esther’s lead by listening for God, following the Holy Spirit, and discerning a plan and strategy to reboot and rebuild each synodical organization with a unique ministry plan.
The fatigue of living in and leading an organization during a pandemic is real. We all know it. We also know that Women of the ELCA is suffering from financial decline and a decrease in participation. We’re living with political and racial unrest, violence, and a world in crisis. Add it all up, and you might think we’re without hope. But we know that servant leaders will guide our organization (and the world) to a better tomorrow.
So, we’re going to spend some time exploring servant leadership. We are servant leaders because we are disciples. The servant leader can say yes to positions of election, appointment, etc., but these positions are generally time sensitive. Servant leadership is lifelong. It is how the disciple shows up to complete ministry assignments. This leadership event will call our leader-full community of women together to re-member who we are, our purpose, and what God is calling us to do for such a time as this.
In the months following this event, leadership training specific to the different elected roles in our synodical organizations and conferences/clusters will be offered, also virtually. More info about those training sessions will be shared at the 2022 leadership event.
Many of you meet regularly on Zoom, but some of you might be new to the format. Before Thursday evening, please read through the guidelines and best practices. And make sure you have the latest version of Zoom.
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