Triennial Convention Offering Information

In the February and April issues of the Interchange, there was an attached envelope for you to mail in Unit offerings for Triennial.

I strongly encourage each congregation unit to send in a convention offering directly to churchwide if a member of your congregation is not attending Triennial.   Your offerings can be mailed in the envelope that was provided in the Interchange or just a plain envelope in care of “Triennial Offering” by June 1, 2008 to:          
  Women of the ELCA
  8765 W. Higgins Road
  Chicago, IL 60631-4101

There’ll be two special opportunities for our synod’s attendees to give an offering during the 7^th Triennial Convention.  One will be at the opening worship service and one at the closing worship service.    

The executive board for the 2005-2008 Triennium has designated these offerings as follows:
  ½ will go to Women of the ELCA Churchwide Organization for its ongoing ministries
  ¼ will go to Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service (LIRS) for its work in  serving victims of commercial sexual exploitation
  ¼ will go to Stand With Africa/Lutheran World Federation Water Project 

This is your opportunity to participate in the Triennial Gathering even if you are unable to attend.  Of course we know you will be praying for our delegates and women in the days leading up to Triennial and during the time we spend in Salt Lake City, UT July 6-13^th. 

Blessings on all of you and thank you,

 Peg Swavely – Board President TX-LA Gulf Coast Women of the ELCA

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Seventh Triennial Gathering
Come to the Waters
July 10-13

Have you registered for the gathering yet?  It’s not too late to join the 19 women from our synod that have already registered.  Visit www.womenoftheelca.org to register online or download and print a registration booklet; or call 800-638-3522, ext. 2737, and a registration booklet will be sent to you. If you do register, please let JoAnn Fuchs know. If you are not able to attend the gathering, please keep delegates and participants in you prayers.  Your congregational unit can also participate by sending an offering.

TX-LA Gulf Coast Women of the ELCA Cluster Realignment Update 

At the January 18-20, 2008 meeting, the board of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Synod recommended in favor of re-aligning some Clusters.  The recommended changes were based on geographical location pending unit approval.  Except for Central Houston Cluster, there was a choice to stay in your current cluster or be reassigned.   Our goal in re-aligning is to assist struggling Units and to encourage growth and new excitement in our existing, active or not so active Clusters.  Please note that these changes only affect the women’s Units for the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod Women of the ELCA, not the Synod.

The following is a list of changes.  Please note that there will no longer be a Central Houston Cluster.  I've heard back from many of you and changes can still be made as you wish.  Please look over the list.  If you have any questions, you can contact me by email: MSwavely@aol.com or call after 6 pm 281-225-4296.             

The board has prayerfully considered this option and we are confident in its success.  Please note that any woman or Church Unit is encouraged to attend as many other Cluster meetings as they wish.  You never know when you'll find a great program or idea to jump start activities in your unit.  I've been to almost all of meetings this year and am impressed by the programs and fellowship of the women of our synod.   

Thank you.  Your sister in Christ, 
Margaret (Peg) Swavely – Board President of TX-LA Gulf Coast Women of the ELCA

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Call for Nominations - for the Nomination Form Click Here

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EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS 

 Three $500 educational scholarships will be awarded at the convention at Covenant Lutheran in Katy September 13th.  For the Education Scholarship Application form and guidelines click here.  Deadline for submitting the scholarship is July 31, 2008.  Please make copies for women in your congregation that would benefit by receiving one of the scholarships. Return the application to Synod Treasurer Lynn Schweke.

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MIF CHALLENGE MET

Women of the ELCA met, and far exceeded, the Mission Investment Fund Challenge to open 500 new accounts or invest a total of $1.5 million by June 30, 2008.  As of mid March, Women of the ELCA participants had invested more than $2,065,000 with MIF.  In celebration of how much the women exceeded the initial goal, not only will MIF provide the $25,000 grant it pledged to this summer’s triennial gathering, but MIF also will contribute several thousand dollars to underwrite the production of a new resource being planned by Women of the ELCA  That resource, which will debut at the triennial gathering, is on the subject of money, spirituality and stewardship.

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