ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 10, 2005
Women Of The ELCA Makes It Possible For Others To Act Boldly
05-124-JB
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- It's one thing to act boldly; it's another
thing to make it possible for others to act boldly. Morning time set
aside for inspiration July 9 surfaced thoughts of empowerment at an
international gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA).
Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering is meeting here July
5-10 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The organization's
three-year theme, "Act Boldly," is being unveiled at the convention amid
Bible study, keynote presentations, workshops, community service, business
sessions and elections. More than 2,100 women from across the United
States and around the world are participating.
The Rev. Sarah Henrich, associate professor of New Testament, Luther
Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., began the program with Bible study. She
examined several acts of boldness described in the Old and New Testament.
"We need to think about what it takes to enable people to act
boldly," Henrich said. She said boldness means to grow in understanding
of God, to trust the wisdom of others in the community, to trust one's own
gifts enough to improve and to receive help.
"Imagine there is more to learn about God ... even from people of other
faiths," she said.
Henrich said boldness also means to share in understanding of God, to
offer wisdom, to trust one's own gifts enough to help others improve and
to give or volunteer help. Acting boldly frees others to act boldly, she
said.
Stacy D. Kitahata, Seattle, is the ELCA congregational ministries
coordinator for the Northwest United States. She led a panel discussion
of four other women from India, Indonesia, Liberia and the United States.
With the stage backdrop of a living room, the conversation began with
the space in which each of the women live and make welcome for others to
live. They described their own acts of boldness, the boldness modeled for
them by others and ways they welcome others to act boldly.
Emily Hansen, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA, closed the
program with a brief report from an "affinity group" of young Lutheran
women that met earlier in the gathering. Among the recommendations to the
women's organization from the group, she listed holding regional
gatherings specifically for young women and other meetings for women who
work outside the home, and producing Bible studies for young women.
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Information about Women of the ELCA Sixth Triennial Gathering is
available at http://www.womenoftheELCA.org/news/events/tg05/ on the
Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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