Title: Women of the ELCA's "Katie's Fund" Exceeds $200,000
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 12, 1999

WOMEN OF THE ELCA'S "KATIE'S FUND" EXCEEDS $200,000
99-247-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) have responded to "Katie's Fund" with gifts totaling more
than $200,000.  The first allocation from the fund will be used for
"Young Women See Visions" and "Feasting at Katie's Table: A Theological
Retreat" developed by Women of the ELCA, the women's organization of the
church.
     Katie's Fund is a permanent endowment fund named after Katharina
"Katie" von Bora, wife of Martin Luther, the 16th century German church
reformer.  Interest from the endowment supports Women of the ELCA
programs, resources and opportunities for women in the areas of global
sharing, leadership development and "living theology."
     "Young Women See Visions" is an "exploratory project designed to
expand ministry with young women and girls," said Catherine I.H.
Braasch, executive director for Women of the ELCA.  The project will
"seek best practices and explore new avenues for ministry with our new
generation of sisters in Christ," Braasch said.
     The project was announced at the Fourth Triennial Convention of
Women of the ELCA, July 8-11, 1999, in St. Louis.  A workshop called
"Young Women See Visions" was held at the convention and a "young
women's track" is proposed for the Fifth Triennial Convention July 11-14, 2002, 
in Philadelphia, said Braasch.
     "A special consultation with women ranging in age from teens to
early 40s will take place Oct. 15-17 in Chicago," Braasch said.  About
$6,000 in interest from Katie's Fund will support "Young Women See
Visions."
     In the next year 50 congregations of the ELCA will receive a new
resource called "Feasting at Katie's Table: A Theological Retreat."  The
resource will equip women, men and youth for daily living from a
Lutheran perspective.  About $2,000 has been set aside to purchase the
resource for congregations, Braasch said.
     "Feasting at Katie's Table" includes a video featuring the Rev.
Norma J. Cook Everist, professor of church administration and
educational ministry, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.  The
resource also includes a leader's guide and participant materials for
small group settings and larger retreats, said Braasch.
     "These projects speak to the hearts and hopes of women in this
church.  Like Katie before us, women of the ELCA today gather in
community as sisters in Christ, grow in awe and love of God, and go out
to witness and serve in Jesus' name," Braasch said.
     "Women's gifts, offerings and bequests have created a fund that
will go on giving, just as Katie's legacy strengthens us now," she said.
     Katie's Fund was established in 1997 to mark the 10th anniversary
of the women's organization.  Women of the ELCA became an official
organization when 2,500 women from three former Lutheran church bodies
gathered in a constituting convention in Milwaukee, July 11-14, 1987.
     "Today, 8,596 congregation and inter-congregational units in 64
geographic synodical women's organizations make up the Women of the
ELCA," said Braasch.

[Editor's Note: "Young Women See Visions" and "Feasting at Katie's Table:
A Theological Retreat" are available through Augsburg Fortress,
Minneapolis, the publishing house of the ELCA.]

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