Title: Women of ELCA Executive Board Adopts Churchwide Mission, Goals
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 5, 2001

WOMEN OF ELCA EXECUTIVE BOARD ADOPTS CHURCHWIDE MISSION, GOALS
01-075-JB

     CHICAGO ELCA) -- The executive board of Women of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a mission statement and five
goals that will guide the organization's work through at least 2002,
when a new three-year ministry emphasis begins.  The board asked for
review and comment on the recommendations from synod women's
organizations and other interested parties for possible further action
at its October 2001 meeting.
     The executive board met here March 22-24.
     The mission statement and goals emerged from an extensive
organizational self-assessment of Women of the ELCA beginning in
November 1999, using a process developed by the Peter F. Drucker
Foundation for Nonprofit Management, New York.  A 22-member assessment
team developed the recommendations, relying on data gathered from
surveys of 1,303 congregational units of Women of the ELCA, workbooks
completed by 63 Women of the ELCA volunteer leaders, staff and other
partners in the ELCA and related organizations, and 46 personal
interviews with leaders throughout the ELCA.
     The mission statement adopted by the board is "to mobilize women
to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ."
     The five goals adopted by the board for the churchwide
organization of the Women of the ELCA are:
     + to achieve sustainable intergenerational connections that are
meaningful and relevant.
     + to build communities that are cohesive, diverse, dynamic,
compassionate and just, based on common interests, concerns and
commitments.
     + to authentically name, voice and respond to issues affecting
women through awareness, education, action and advocacy.
     + to assess the present structure, relationships and programs of
Women of the ELCA in relationship to the mission; to mobilize women to
boldly act upon their faith in Jesus Christ.
     + to use demographic information and organizational research as a
basis for all planning.
     In addition to adopting the mission statement and goals, the
executive board asked its president -- in consultation with the
executive committee and executive director -- to form an ad hoc
committee to oversee strategic planning activities of the board.  It
also asked its constitution committee to consider constitutional
implications of the mission and goals to and report back.
     The board's actions set the stage for development of a more
detailed strategic plan, said Linda Chinnia, Women of the ELCA
president, Baltimore.
     "It is essential for us to move into the future," she said in an
interview. "We are becoming more focused, and the center is the
mission."
     Though the board will receive comments on the mission and goals,
Chinnia emphasized they are not likely to be changed. "The intent of
sharing this is not to change the recommendations," Chinnia said to the
board.
     "Self-assessment is a practice that we want to become part of our
ministry culture -- a good habit that will keep us focused on Jesus
Christ and the future that God has in mind for women's ministry," said
Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director, Women of the ELCA.
               "Organizational self-assessment is like looking into one
of those convex mirrors that, when mounted in corridors, give a glimpse
of what's coming around the corner," she said. "Synodical  and
churchwide leaders alike are called to be both visionary and practical.
The Drucker Foundation's process helped us to focus on the future while
assessing our ministry in the past and present."
  Following a  report on the organization's self-assessment results,
several board members expressed their enthusiasm for the mission and
goals.
  "This is something we must do," said Mary Seale, Roosevelt, N.Y.
  Mary Bridges, Russell, Kan., said she wants her granddaughters to
experience what Women of the ELCA has meant to her.  "If we want to keep
going with women's ministry, we have to change and we have to be bold
about it," she said.
  "This is a pathway to success, and God will bless your endeavors,"
said Charlie Schwartz, advisory member of the board.  Schwartz,
Fredericksburg, Texas, is president of the ELCA's Lutheran Men in
Mission.
  The board's action to seek comment was in response to a request
from the presidents of its 64 synod women's organizations.  In February
Women of the ELCA's Conference of Presidents called for recommendations
of the self assessment to the executive board "be simultaneously fully
shared in printed form" with them for comment.
  The executive board discussed and acted on several other issues:
  + Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, will be
printed in a larger format beginning with the September 2001 issue, said
Arlene Roth, Ames, Iowa, a member of the board's printed resources
committee. More color will be used in the magazine, she said. Also, a
draft of a new working arrangement with Augsburg Fortress, the
publishing house of the ELCA, will soon be  ready for executive board
review, Roth added.  Augsburg Fortress publishes  Lutheran Woman Today,
as well as other ELCA resources.
  + The board adopted a series of goals and guiding principles for
the 2002 Triennial Gathering to be held in Philadelphia.
  + The board agreed that a Women of Color Gathering will be held in
conjunction with the Triennial Gathering.  The first Women of Color
Gathering was held in conjunction with the Fourth Triennial Gathering in
1999 in St. Louis.  Board members also agreed to a proposal that an
activity be planned at the Triennial Gathering for women living with
disabilities, their families and friends.
  + Women of the ELCA's annual gift to the ELCA was $608,953 for the
fiscal year that closed Jan. 31, Braasch said.  The organization
designates a portion of the gift for specific ministries.  For the next
three years, the executive board agreed to designate portions of the
gift to the ELCA World Hunger Program, Lutheran World Relief, plus
programs that emphasize outreach with the gospel, missionary support,
and education work skills and leadership empowerment for women and
girls.
  + The executive board adopted a proposal regarding human
sexuality.  It expressed its commitment "to hospitality with all
persons, regardless of sexual orientation." The board encouraged people
to use Women of the ELCA and ELCA resources "to hold conversations about
ministry with persons of various sexual orientations and to create
opportunities for women to explore issues of gender and sexuality."

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