Executive board news
The churchwide executive board of Women of the ELCA most recently met October 23-26, 2008, in Omaha, Nebraska.
The first part of the agenda for this meeting of the newly elected board of Women of the ELCA was devoted to orientation on the role of the executive board. The members of the board reviewed how the women’s organization relates to the ELCA and the scope of their responsibilities as the policy-setting body for Women of the ELCA between triennial conventions.
They also learned more about the budgeting process and how the organization’s finances are organized and reported, and discussed the role and responsibilities of board members at synodical conventions. With 14 new and 7 returning board members, time was also spent getting to know one another and learning each woman’s gifts and interests.
One of the first items of business for the board was to consider the reports on the 2008 triennial convention and gathering and make a decision on whether to continue with the schedule used for the first time this past July—a midweek convention followed by a weekend gathering. After discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of several models, including placing the convention after the gathering, the board decided that the 2011 convention and gathering in Spokane, Wash., will be held as they were this past summer in Salt Lake City: The triennial convention will be held Tuesday through Thursday, July 12-14, and the triennial gathering will follow Thursday evening, July 14, through noon Sunday, July 17.
The board also received positive preliminary financial reports on the convention and gathering. Although the accounting of income and expenses is not yet final, the preliminary reports suggest that expenses have been held at or under budget.
The executive director’s report to the board included information on her pending sabbatical. In an upcoming issue of Interchange, the Women of the ELCA newsletter, you’ll learn more about what Linda Post Bushkofsky will be doing January through March 2009 as part of her effort to build a comprehensive history of the women’s organization and its predecessors. She hopes to present this history not from the perspective of churchwide leadership but from the perspective of women in individual congregations who have carried out our mission and ministries since Lutheran women’s organizations were created. You’ll also be able to follow some of Linda’s research and interviews here, on our Web site; look for her new column here in the News section beginning in late December.
Post Bushkofsky also presented a reconfiguration of the churchwide staff that the board approved. That reconfiguration is in process now, and in the February issue of Interchange, you’ll learn more about individual staff members and what their responsibilities will be. The new configuration retains all current staff; the shifts in roles and responsibilities are intended to position the churchwide organization for meeting the changing needs of the organization as we head into the future and to better facilitate our work together with leaders in synodical organizations and congregations.
Ever mindful that faithful stewardship is what enables this organization to carry out its mission and ministries, the board adopted a position description for a board stewardship development committee. The committee will be made up of at least two current board members and at least two non-board members appointed by the president and executive director, with a staff liaison as needed. This committee will serve in an advisory role regarding stewardship for the board by, for example: defining long- and short-term funding needs for the organization; involving all board members in assisting with churchwide annual funding appeals; and committing to annual personal giving to the churchwide organization and encouraging all board members to do likewise. This reflects a change in how the churchwide executive board understands this aspect of its role and responsibilities.
A stewardship policy for the board was also presented but is being reworked to reflect discussion at the board meeting. A revised policy will be presented at the April 2009 meeting.
In other business, the board reviewed and acted on referrals from the triennial convention. The board further referred some of those resolutions to the executive director. The referrals include resolutions on: reinstating financial support for Church Women United; holding a women of color event prior to the 2011 triennial gathering; providing support to families of special needs children by offering links from our Web site to support resources; and selecting sites for triennial gatherings.
The board also acted on a referral from the Southeastern Synodical Women’s Organization. A proposed constitutional change regarding nominations for triennial delegates was referred to the constitution committee, and an ad hoc committee has been formed to review the rank order process for electing delegates and to bring a recommendation for board action by the end of the year.
The board continued its commitment to anti-racism education and will spend time in anti-racism training at each of their board meetings throughout the triennium.
Diane Brauer will be the synodical convention coordinator for the board, a job handled during the last triennium by Susan Humphrey. Diane will help schedule board members as the president’s representative for synodical conventions and help ensure that all goes smoothly for both the board member and the SWO.
Finally, the board voted to make Women of the ELCA a Book of Faith organization by endorsing the ELCA’s Book of Faith initiative. The purpose of this churchwide initiative is to increase biblical literacy and fluency so that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word. Given the long, rich history of Bible study in our organization, it is most fitting that Women of the ELCA sign on in support of this initiative.
The next meeting of the churchwide executive board is April 24-26, 2009, in Chicago.