ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 8, 2005
Women Of The ELCA Elect New President
05-115-KB*
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- Carmen K. Richards, Hope, N.D., was elected the
new president of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) at a July 7 business session at the organization’s Sixth Triennial
Convention.
Women of the ELCA's 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.
On the third ballot for president, Richards received 242 votes and
was elected; 222 votes were needed for election. Elizabeth Y. Gaskins,
Smyrna, Ga., was the runner-up with 93 votes.
After being elected Richards, 49, thanked the ELCA Eastern North
Dakota Synod and the Women of the ELCA for their continuous support. She
also responded by encouraging the women in the organization who were
present. “You can’t be burned out if you’re not on fire yet,” Richards
said. “We need to act boldly, and I need all of you to do that.”
Richards will be installed as president at the gathering’s closing
worship July 10. She will serve a three-year term.
During her term, Richards said she hopes “to reach out to the
young women and the children in the pews and around the world and to show
them what this organization can provide for them in support, in faith
support, in camaraderie among each other.”
She hopes to reach the young women “by contacting them first of
all, by talking to them where they’re at, wherever that may be -- in the
workforce, in their homes, in their churches -- and just showing them what
we have available to them. That may mean the organization has to change
some to meet their needs and to meet their time availability,” Richards
said.
Richards is currently serving as the Women of the ELCA treasurer.
She is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hope, N.D., a congregation of
the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod. Richards was a Sunday school teacher
for 24 years, youth choir director, and president and treasurer of her
local Women of the ELCA unit.
Richards and her husband, Randy, own and operate a 4,800 acre
farm. They have three adult children -- Tony, Katie and Brandi.
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Information about the Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial
Gathering is at
http://www.womenoftheELCA.org on the Web.
* Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther College,
Decorah, Iowa. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
