Title: Women of the ELCA Contributes Gift to Support ELCA Mission
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 8, 2001

WOMEN OF THE ELCA CONTRIBUTES GIFT TO SUPPORT ELCA MISSION
01-279-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- To support the mission and ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Women of the ELCA -- the
women's organization of the church -- extended a $641,938 gift to the
ELCA.  Among other actions, the amount of the gift was announced at the
Women of the ELCA executive board meeting here Oct. 18-21.
     Women of the ELCA's annual gift to the church has totaled more
than $12 million since 1988, when the church formed.  The organization's
2001 budget included a $700,000 gift to the church for 2000.  The
organization gave a $514,607 gift to the church in 1999 and $816,763 in
1998.
     To help bring the final gift total closer to the budgeted figure,
the executive board approved an additional $10,000 for the "ongoing
ministry of the ELCA;" $5,000 to honor the Rev. H. George Anderson,
former presiding bishop of the ELCA, who retired Oct. 31; $5,000 to
honor the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop; $5,000 to Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service for its work with refugees and displaced
individuals in Afghanistan, particularly with women and children; and
$5,000 to Lutheran Disaster Response for its relief work in the
aftermath of Sept. 11, when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center
in New York and damaged the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.
     Funds for Anderson and Hanson will be designated to ELCA
ministries of their choice, said Catherine (Cathi) I.H. Braasch,
executive director, Women of the ELCA.
     In a separate motion, the board adopted a 2002 budget of
$5,205,510 although revenue is projected at $5,181,138.  That leaves a
$24,372 deficit or "challenge factor," said Braasch.
     "In 2003, we will reach our goal of a balanced budget," Braasch
said in her report to the executive board.  The budget is based on a
recommendation made to the board in March 2000, which set the goal to
have a balanced budget, based on current year revenues, by 2003.  The
2003 budget is scheduled to be considered by the Women of the ELCA Fifth
Triennial Gathering in Philadelphia, July 8-14, 2002.
     "Women of the ELCA is financially healthy, as shown in the audit
for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2001," Braasch said.  "This can be
attributed to three primary factors: generosity and stabilization in
giving, economies in operations, and strong performance of investments.
Women continue to give for mission even when times are difficult, and
women's gifts are being well managed."
     "With continued prudent management, we will be well-positioned to
weather the uncertainties in the global, national and regional
economies.  With implementation of strategic plans adopted at this
meeting and sharper focus on measuring life-changing results of our
ministry activities, we can be even better stewards in the future,"
Braasch said.
     The 2002 budget and 2003 proposed budget for Women of the ELCA
each includes a $700,000 gift to the ELCA.
     In other business, the board received an update on plans for the
Fifth Triennial Gathering.  Three women bishops of the ELCA will lead
Bible studies for more than 4,000 women attending the Gathering.  The
Rev. Andrea F. DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod,
Sioux Falls; the Rev. April C. Ulring Larson, bishop of the ELCA
LaCrosse Area Synod, LaCrosse, Wis.; and the Rev. Margaret G. Payne,
bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., will reflect on
the theme, "Listen, God is Calling."  Their Bible studies will also
appear in the June and July-August issues of Lutheran Woman Today, the
magazine of Women of the ELCA.
     About 500 women at the gathering will attend as convention
delegates.  The triennial convention is the chief legislative authority
of the women's organization and the occasion for election of new
officers and board members to three-year terms.  Besides business, the
gathering will feature Bible study, theological reflection, festive
worship services, discussion forums and workshops and visits to
"cutting-edge" ministries in and around Philadelphia, Braasch said.
     A women-of-color gathering, which had been a pre-convention event,
will now be included at the beginning of the overall event.  "Listen,
God is Calling" will also include participation by young women and girls
as identified by those involved in Young Women Seeing Visions, an
exploration ministry of the organization with young women
and girls.
     In two private sessions, the executive board discussed
preparations for Braasch's successor.   Braasch will step down from her
current position on Aug. 31, 2002.  She announced her plans earlier this
year to the leaders of the church's 64 synodical women's organizations.
Her decision not to serve for another four-year term included family
health reasons and her preparation to enter the ordained ministry.
     The timing of her departure relates specifically to Women of the
ELCA's Triennial Gathering.  Braasch's current term would have ended
Aug. 31, but the board extended it last spring to allow her to remain as
executive director through the gathering and to inaugurate three years
of ministry programming and action under the theme, "Listen, God is
Calling."
     The search for Braasch's successor opened Nov. 1.  Applications
and nominations close Jan. 15.  "The hope is to have the new executive
director on duty June 1, to allow for transition over the summer and her
introduction at the Triennial Gathering," Braasch said.
     In addition to developing plans for new leadership, the board is
positioning Women of the ELCA to implement a new mission statement,
goals and objectives to guide the organization's work through at least
2002, when a new three-year ministry emphasis begins.  The mission
statement, adopted by the board last spring, is "to mobilize women to
act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ."
     "The goals and objectives focus on connecting women of all
generations, creating healthy communities, and changing lives through
Christ-centered awareness, advocacy and action on women's issues.  The
strategic direction approved by the board also calls for more
intentional use of demographic data and other organizational research,
development and strengthening of ELCA and ecumenical partnerships,"
Braasch said.
     "What's really exciting about the mission statement, goals and
objectives is the strong acceptance that women throughout Women of the
ELCA have given them.  We're running with 90 percent agreement on the
new mission statement and program goals, based on surveys conducted at
synodical conventions.  Women in the pew, women on the "front lines" of
mission and ministry in ELCA congregations, are saying that the mission
[statement] resonates with who we are, what we believe and where God is
calling us," Braasch said.
     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 collected 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 in the church.
     An estimated 500,000 women of all ages in more than 7,800
congregations participate in Women of the ELCA's local, churchwide and
global ministries of faith development, service, advocacy, and
leadership in church and society.
- - -
     Information about Women of the ELCA is maintained at
http://www.elca.org/wo/ .


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