Title: ELCA Women Urged to 'Spread the Seed'
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 15, 2002

ELCA WOMEN URGED TO 'SPREAD THE SEED'
WO-02-18-AW*

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- The gifts that Christians are given from
God are meant for the sake of the community, the Rev. April Ulring
Larson, bishop of the LaCrosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), said to about 3,200 women July 13 at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center.
     The women attended the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in
Philadelphia July 8-14.  The organization's three-year theme,
"Listen, God is Calling," was unveiled at the convention amid Bible
study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business sessions
and elections.  The July 13 mass gathering's focus was the "ELCA
churchwide organization."
     Larson spoke at the morning service and at a Bible study
session after the service.  She opted to move away from the
gathering's theme reference, found in Ephesians 4 in the Christian
Bible, and instead talk about society's impact on women today and the
role of women in the Bible.
     "We all have to get a sense of who we are from Jesus Christ,
not from the outside world," said Larson.  "The world teaches us that
a 'good woman' is quiet, submissive and sweet.  The women in the
Bible were gutsy."
     Larson thanked the two other Bible study leaders at the
gathering, the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England
Synod, Worcester, Mass., and the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop
of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, for "challenging women
to move boldly and take risks."
     The evening mass gathering began with worship music led by
Bread for the Journey, a Minneapolis-based band.  Linda Post
Bushkofsky, Women of the ELCA executive director-elect, introduced
herself and commented on the gathering.
     "We have shared, served and questioned," said Bushkofsky.  "We
have learned, taught and inspired.  That is what this gathering does
for all of us."
     Speaker Chris Grumm, executive director, Women's Funding
Network, San Francisco, Calif., focused on the need for women to
leave the gathering with a plan for action.
     "Find the piece of work you are going to take home," Grumm said
to the audience.  "Take action based on the theme 'Listen, God is
Calling.'  How can I answer Him [God] from my kitchen table?"
The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the ELCA Caribbean
Synod, Dorado, Puerto Rico, preached the sermon at the closing
worship.  The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, was the
presiding minister and Catherine "Cathi" I.H. Braasch, executive
director of Women of the ELCA, was the assisting minister.
Martinez said that women must "spread the seed" of God's word.
     "Together we are a network of faith," said Martinez.  "Don't
hold back because the seed is burning to go out.  Leave this room
with burning hearts."
     Martinez emphasized that Christians should not be afraid of
"sharing and learning."
     "No one, after lighting a lamp, hides it under a jar," said
Martinez.  "Put it on a stand so that others may see it and come to
the light as well."
     The mass gathering ended after Linda Chinnia, outgoing
president of Women of the ELCA, Baltimore, introduced the new Women
of the ELCA officers and executive board elected at the gathering.

-- -- --
Editors: Photographs from the Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering
are maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html


on the Internet.

News releases and other information about the gathering are maintained at
http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/news.html
on the Internet.

*Amy Wineinger is a junior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.  This
summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production.


For information contact:
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