Title: ELCA Women Call for Attention to Deafness, Disabilities
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 13, 1999

ELCA WOMEN CALL FOR ATTENTION TO DEAFNESS, DISABILITIES
99-WO-30-JB

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA)   Through a series of resolutions, delegates of
the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Fourth
Triennial Convention called on the church to be more attentive to people
who are deaf or disabled.
     The convention met here July 8-11 at the America's Center.  The
organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," was unveiled at
the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business
sessions and elections.
     There were some 4,000 convention participants, including 468
voting delegates.
     Delegates voted (410-27) to adopt a resolution that "Women of the
ELCA provide educational opportunities on disabilities, obvious and
hidden."  The resolution also called on members to "prayerfully work in
their own lives to become advocates for people with disabilities."
     "This shows our participants with disabilities that we care about
them," said Nancy P. Giddings, a delegate from Ramsey, Minn.  She added
that adoption of the resolution "opens the door toward awareness" for
the needs of people with disabilities.
     In another resolution, delegates resolved (435-5) that Women of
the ELCA make its churchwide and local events "user friendly" to women
with disabilities.  Delegates also said the organization should continue
to make women aware of the "needs and feelings" of women with
disabilities.
     Delegates adopted (441-16) a resolution that future triennial
planning sessions have a specific coordinator for people with
disabilities, and that "an orientation and training session for
companions of people with disabilities" be held at the beginning of each
convention.
     Delegates also referred to the Women of the ELCA executive board a
resolution that calls for the re-establishment of an office for deaf
ministries at the churchwide level "to provide advocacy for deaf
people."  Delegates acknowledged that the concerns in the resolution
have been and are continuing to be addressed, particularly by the ELCA
Division for Church in Society and ELCA Division for Outreach.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html