ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 12, 2008
Women of the ELCA Gathering Emphasizes Healthy Women and Girls
08-118-JB
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Nearly 400 women and a few men
participated in a 4K Run, Walk and Roll July 12, one of many
activities that emphasized good health for women and girls during
the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Seventh Triennial Gathering here July 10-13.
The gathering theme, "Come to the Waters," focuses on the
celebration of Baptism through Bible study, speakers, workshops,
community service and worship. Approximately 2,000 women are
attending the gathering being held at the Salt Palace Convention
Center.
The 4K event is part of the women's organization initiative,
"Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls." Participants gathered
pledges to benefit the initiative. Susan Drane, president, ELCA
Rocky Mountain synodical women's organization, secured $5,535 in
pledges, and more funds were being given to her while she was
here. Her congregation, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mesa, Ariz.,
pledged nearly half of the money. Another $500 was given by one
of her clients who had suffered three heart attacks, she said.
The rest came from members of the synodical women's organization.
Another contributor was Zoe Zieter, 11, member of St. John
Lutheran Church, Green Bay, Wis. Zieter, who participated in the
4K event, gathered $500 in pledges.
For the next three years, funds raised will be used for
resources focusing on women's physical, emotional and spiritual
health, and Women of the ELCA is planning to forge an alliance
with the American Heart Association (AHA) to promote women's
health.
"I want you all to know how much we appreciate your pledges
and your money for raising up healthy women and girls," said
Valora K. Starr, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA,
Chicago, in remarks at the event. "It is so important for our
work in heart disease and stroke and eliminating that in our
lifetime. We can make a difference."
The ELCA Board of Pensions, which manages health insurance
and pension programs for the church, sponsors the women's health
initiative.
"Your presence here demonstrates your leadership and your
commitment to modeling healthy behaviors, and impacting the lives
of women and girls, and those they touch," said Kimberly Purifoy,
ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis.
She recommended that Women of the ELCA participants
encourage their congregations and communities to work toward
better health for all members. "We want you to run, walk or roll
to a healthier you," she said.
The Rev. Elizabeth C. Birkholz-Seeke, Alpharetta, Ga., told
the participants that she regularly runs to maintain good health.
Her family members have a history of heart disease, and her
father died of a heart attack at age 51, she told the
participants.
"I decided several years ago that I did not want to be
overweight, I did not want to be unhealthy, and I wanted to live
for my children," she said, adding that she lost 50 lbs. through
regular exercise, including running.
In an informational seminar at the gathering, Elizabeth
Burlew, nurse practitioner, division of cardiology, University of
Utah, Salt Lake City, said, "Most women do not know that heart
disease is the number one killer of women. The good news is that
heart disease is preventable."
Burlew recommended that women go to
http://www.goredforwomen.org on the Web to take an online health
risk assessment offered by the AHA.
Gathering participants walked through a "Healthy Heart Fair:
Stations of the Healthy Heart," which featured Bible verses
combined with health messages. Twelve stations, sponsored by
different synodical women's organizations, focused attention on
hearts that are active, bold, clean, forgiving, healthy, joyful,
just, kind, loving, peaceful, prayer-filled and strong.
Among the gathering workshops was "Raising Up Healthy Women
and Girls," in which participants learned about physical,
emotional and spiritual health. They also learned about Women of
the ELCA's health initiative and how to hold health events in
their communities.
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Information about the Women of the ELCA Seventh Triennial
Gathering is at http://womenoftheELCA.org/tg08/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
