Dear Congregational Unit  members

   Women have been walking humbly with God for a long time, women like Miriam, Leah, Deborah, and Mary. Then there were those "certain women" who literally walked with Jesus -- Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and those whose names were lost. Our foremothers continued to live the vision of these sisters by building churches, supporting missionaries who were sharing the gospel in faraway places that they could only dream of, and making decisions about the future ministry of women. God's walking partners saw a need to walk with others and organize their work. Women saw a need for an organization that would help them to do ministry collectively that they could not do alone. They supported it financially out of their own resources. Countless women learned how to lead, to pray, to study God's word, to serve, and to celebrate collective efforts like the ordination of women. Women of the ELCA is the product of a vision and the communal efforts that have brought that vision to life. 
  Today, our lives are pulled in many directions, and we have more distractions than we can list. But our call is still the same as that heard by our foremothers and biblical sisters -- to be walking partners with God. We must walk even faster to keep pace with the urgent need for effective ministry and the inherent escalating cost.
   The Congregational unit is the foundation of the Women of the ELCA. I am asking today for you to respond to the call for faithful giving to support the ministries of your local unit, the New England Synodical Organization and the Churchwide Organization. Your Synodical Organization has adopted Emmaus House in Ellsworth, Maine with its wide range of ministries for the homeless and especially women and children in poverty to support as a special project. 2002 is the year we meet for business and fellowship at the biennial convention to be held at the Holiday Inn in Cromwell, CT on October 18 - 19, 2002.  The Synodical Board has nearly finished a project to furnish each Congregational Unit with a handbook to use as a resource for your ministry. To accomplish much we ask that you give much.
The trend in giving in the New England Women of the ELCA has been on the decline. We ask you to renew your prayers for success of the Women of the ELCA and our ministries. Stir up your hearts and identify yourselves with a specific ministry to support women and children. And give to your Synodical and Churchwide Organizations that we might all have full and vibrant ministries.  To accomplish much, we all must give much - our time, talents and our resources.
Some guidelines for treasurers in forwarding monies to the Synodical treasurer: In 1992 the CWO suggested that congregational units give 50% of their regular offerings to the Synodical Organization (New England Women of the ELCA). 100% of Thankofferings are to be sent directly to The Women of the ELCA in Chicago. There are also opportunities to give to specific ministries on both the New England level and on the National Level. On the New England level we have Gifts in Tribute to support the Educational Scholarship Fund and Emmaus House as a special synodical project for 2002. On the national level, an example of one such fund is Katie's Fund, an endowment fund.
Forms A and B for submitting your offerings are available through Women of the ELCA without charge, but do require a per-time handling charge of $4.75. Call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit their website at www.augsburgfortress.org.

Lastly, please submit your offerings in a timely manner. It is your Congregational Unit that is the rock the Women of the ELCA is built upon.  And remember I am available to help answer questions in person, by telephone and via email. Please contact me. Thank you for your faithful service to Women of the ELCA.
Peace be with you,
Elizabeth (Liz) Burgess, treasurer                                      home