ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 3, 2006
Women of the ELCA Board Endorses HEART Legislation, Accepts MIF Challenge
06-052-TL*
ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- Heart disease, stroke and other
cardiovascular diseases kill more women every year than the next
five causes of death combined, according to the American Heart
Association. Though more women than men die of the disease, most
cardiovascular studies are conducted on men.
Because of such facts, Women of the ELCA's executive board,
at its March 23-26 meeting near Chicago, voted unanimously to
endorse new federal legislation aimed at fighting heart disease
in women. It also authorized Women of the ELCA to write the
bill's backers and request co-sponsorship.
"By endorsing the Heart Disease Education, Analysis and
Research, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act and becoming a co-
sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, the executive board is
taking the women's health initiative into a new arena," said
Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director, Women of the ELCA.
Rallying around the HEART for Women Act is a way to
highlight the Women of the ELCA's new health initiative, Raising
Up Healthy Women and Girls, Bushkofsky said.
"Staff looks forward to developing a plan to support this
groundbreaking legislation throughout the U.S.," she said. "This
is a living and breathing example of mobilizing women to act
boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ."
The HEART for Women Act was introduced to lawmakers in
February by four female senators -- two Democrats and two
Republicans. The bill would improve the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular
diseases in women by educating both women and health care
providers about the most effective options for women, according
to a news release from the health organizations co-sponsoring the
bill.
In supporting the bill, Women of the ELCA joins the American
Heart Association, Society for Women's Health Research,
WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease,
and the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.
Women of the ELCA steps up to a challenge, a celebration
The executive board accepted a challenge from the ELCA's
Mission Investment Fund (MIF) to generate 1,000 new individual
investment accounts, affirmed plans for the organization's 20th
anniversary in 2007, and heard an update regarding the Seventh
Triennial Gathering in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The MIF agreed to contribute $25,000 to support the Seventh
Triennial Gathering in Salt Lake City if Women of the ELCA
participants open 1,000 new individual accounts with MIF before
the 2008 gathering. The investments help build the Lutheran
church by providing loans for capital projects to mission
congregations, established congregations, synods and other ELCA-
related organizations.
"Today's women's organization is rooted in the women's
missionary societies of the 19th century," Bushkofsky said. "So
it's only natural that Women of the ELCA would want to continue
that mission emphasis by helping to build Lutheran congregations
by entering into this challenge."
The official launch of the challenge is set for June 2006.
Women of the ELCA will celebrate its 20th anniversary in
2007 by establishing Bold Women Day, to be observed annually on
the fourth Sunday in February. Other plans include an
educational trip to Germany in partnership with the ELCA
Wittenberg Center, including travel to historic sites of bold
Christian women.
Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering Coordinator Linda
McKinsey said plans for the 2008 gathering at the Salt Palace
Convention Center in Salt Lake City are progressing. The
convention will be held July 8-13 -- a business session July 8-10
and a gathering, including workshops and speakers, July 10-13.
The timeframe was meant to reduce costs and time away from home
and work for most participants.
-- -- --
The home page for Women of the ELCA is at
http://www.womenoftheELCA.org/ on the Web.
* Terri Lackey is managing editor of Lutheran Woman Today
magazine.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
