Title: ELCA Assembly Meets New Women of the ELCA President
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY MEETS NEW WOMEN OF THE ELCA PRESIDENT
99-CWA-35-LS

     DENVER (ELCA)   The newly elected president of Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Linda M. Chinnia,
Baltimore, brought greetings to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly on
behalf of the women's organization of the church.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center.
There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     "We are committed to grow in faith, affirm our gifts and support
one another in our calling," Chinnia said.
     Women of the ELCA is a "full participant and partner in the ELCA."
The organization is committed to giving gifts of time, talent and money
to the churchwide organization. Women of the ELCA has given an average
annual gift to the larger church of $1 million every year since the ELCA
was organized in 1988, she said.
     Women of the ELCA is organized in congregations in 64 of the
ELCA's 65 synods.
     "We have been a visionary force," Chinnia said, citing the
organization's involvement in issues of women and children living in
poverty, domestic violence, cross-cultural ministries, anti-racism and
leadership development.
     More than 4,000 women attended the Fourth Triennial Convention of
Women of the ELCA held July 8-11 in St. Louis, and participated in Bible
study, worship, workshops, business sessions and elections, Chinnia
reported.
     Chinnia was elected to a three-year term at the convention.
     "We pledged ourselves to answer the call found in Micah 6:8," the
biblical text that lifts up justice, mercy and walking humbly with God,
she said.
     At the convention, women lifted up specific concerns to support
families, actively involve younger women in the organization, be more
inclusive and become a completely anti-racist organization, Chinnia
said.


For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html