Women’s Conference of the ELCA
For about 20 years, women’s commissions of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland and the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have maintained partner relations, which stem from the official partnership between both Churches.
Mutual visits of both Churches’ representatives at the national Women’s Forum have become tradition.
In June this year, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland was represented by Iwona Czajka from the Lutheran parish in Krakow, who attended the regional Women’s Conference of the ELCA.
The conference took place under the motto “Bold and empowered” and focused on full ministry of women in the Church. The main theme was to mobilise women to bold action for the sake of all those in need, based on faith in Jesus Christ. It was not only about focusing on tangible, measurable gifts, but about sharing the Word of God. All believers, women and men, should have the opportunity to live out their calling, including by preaching the Word of God and administering sacraments. A panel discussion with participation of women ordained at the ELCA put a clear emphasis on the calling as the most important motivation to act (Empowering Women by Grace through Faith was the main motto of the panel).
A special role during the conference was played by the daily Bible study, focused around the subject “Sing Our Way to Justice”. It involved analysing hymns and songs sung in the Church, which express our relationship with God, the Creator, Christ, the Saviour and the Holy Spirit, the Co-Creator of justice and peace.
Participants were also given the opportunity to support several charity campaigns, e.g. by shopping at stands prepared by representatives of various synods.
In September, the Polish Women’s Forum will be attended by a delegate from Oregon, Ms. Elaine Fillmore.
The ELCA is the largest Lutheran Church in the United States, it was established in 1988 by merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church of America. Today it counts almost 4 million members associated in almost ten thousand congregations distributed all over the territory of the United States, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. Presiding Bishop of the ELCA is the Rev. Elisabeth A. Eaton. In terms of organisation, the ELCA is divided into 65 synods, the biggest of which consists of about 300 congregations, and the smallest one of only 30.
The Oregon Synod counts 120 congregations and about 35 000 believers.
reported by Iwona Czajka