ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 8, 2005
Women of the ELCA Kick Off Health Initiative
05-116-JB
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) - Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) hosted a “4K Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll” here July 7 to kick off a
new organizational emphasis on health for women and girls. At least 263
women and men participated in the event, held early in the morning before
business and educational sessions.
Some participants in the 4K sought out sponsors who contributed funds
for the health initiative.
Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering is meeting here July
5-10 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The organization's
three-year theme, “Act Boldly,” is being unveiled at the convention amid
Bible study, keynote presentations, workshops, community service, business
sessions and elections. More than 2,100 women from across the United
States and around the world are participating.
Women of the ELCA worked with the ELCA Board of Pensions to develop
the event and the health program. In recent years, the Board has
emphasized health and wellness for professional leaders in the ELCA.
“We thought that it would be important that women … come together to
decide what it is that we can do to make a difference in the lives of
others,” said Valora Starr, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA.
“We must first start with ourselves, and the way we do that is by being
healthy, being well and being whole in both our spirits and in our
physical beings.”
Women of the ELCA’s health initiative has the theme, “Put your Heart
into Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls.” Butler said its three goals are
educating women to care for themselves physically, spiritually and
emotionally; “sharing the wealth” to prevent girls and women from
continuing today’s health risks tomorrow; and advocating for more research
to hasten the elimination of heart disease and stroke.
“We are demonstrating here that by exercise and education we are very
committed to a collaborative effort that impacts our hearts, our
circulatory systems and our respiratory systems,” said Ione Hanson, in
remarks to the participants before the 4K event began. Hanson, who is
married to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the
participants are “models” for their daughters, sons and grandchildren.
“Health and wellness is such an important part of our lives,” said
Linda J. Svensk, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis. “It’s so important
the Board of Pensions and the (ELCA) Division for Ministry have developed
a road map for wellness. By partnering in today’s 4K, you are already on
your way to wellness.”
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Information about the Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering
is at http://www.womenoftheELCA.org on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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