Women of the ELCA is the women’s organization of the 4.8 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This network of nearly 500,000 participants in 64 geographical areas (called synods) in the United States and the Caribbean exists for mutual support and bold action on participants’ faith in Jesus Christ. The organization builds on the strong history of women’s missionary movements, Bible study, and service in which our foremothers engaged. Some of us recall stories from our grandmothers of how they saved “egg money” (from the sale of eggs) so they would have money to donate for support of missionaries in other countries. You may have heard how our foremothers trudged through snow for hours to get to Bible study at another woman’s house, hung their stockings on the line to dry while they studied, and then trudged home again the same day. Or you may have heard about schools and orphanages built in various parts of the world with women’s Thankofferings. Of course, that’s only part of the history. Today, women’s lives have changed. Women enjoy access to a wide variety of careers and have greater freedom and ability to contribute to the ministries they value. Women also now have the opportunity to respond to the call to ordained ministry as well as the call to teach Sunday school. Still, embracing the world as God’s gift and God’s people as sisters and brothers, being committed to growth in faith and action, standing for justice with the poor and oppressed — these remain. Whether Women of the ELCA is new to you or you are a current participant, you’ll find in this section of our Web site, six sample models for shaping or reshaping your unit’s ministry, how to contact the churchwide organization’s board and staff, information on ways to give, a list of synodical women’s organizations (with Web site links, if available), and links to some of our ministry partners (such as Lutheran World Relief).

What We Do tells you about the focus of the organization’s ministries under the theme, “Act Boldly.” With potentially 3 million participants of all ages, you will see that these pages represent only some of the many ministries in which women throughout the church are engaged.  While exploring this section of the Web site, be sure to check out our cross-cultural etiquette tips. We're adding tips regularly. You may also be interested in the list of recipients of Women of the ELCA grants in 2007. Also visit our gift catalog in support of partnerships for fair trade and our Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls section in support of healthy women leaders. Right now your support for the HEART for Women Act is needed. The Women of the ELCA churchwide executive board endorsed this act in March 2006. It has recently been brought back to Congress for action. Your letters to your representatives will be a big help in moving this act forward to benefit women. Heart disease and stroke are the numbers 1 and 3 killers of women. Act today. See the sample letter available on this site. What Women of the ELCA does is shaped by the organization’s mission statement (above right), which provides the broad framework for the work of the organization, and the purpose statement, which gives direction to the ministries carried out by participants, individually and together, in the church, the society, and the world.  Purpose Statement As a community of women created in the image of God,  called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and  empowered by the Holy Spirit,   we commit ourselves to  grow in faith,  affirm our gifts,  support one another in our callings,  engage in ministry and action, and  promote healing and wholeness   in the church,   the society, and  the world.

You are welcome to the next Mariposa WELCA meeting!   For more information, please call  209-966-3710