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ELCA Foundation Legacies November, 2005
Supporting Future Leaders
“Bring forth and support
faithful, wise, and courageous leaders whose vocations serve God’s mission in a
pluralistic world.”
ELCA Strategic Directions
While the Fund for Leaders in Mission enables both men and women to prepare for ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it has special significance for women this year, as the ELCA celebrates the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women. Today women comprise half of seminary students and more than 25 percent of active clergy in the ELCA.
The Fund provides an increasing number of women, as well as men, with a “wonderful gift and opportunity” to pursue a seminary education, says the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, executive for leadership development, Office of the Presiding Bishop. “For some, the financial resources would be daunting and would even preclude some from pursuing a graduate level degree,” she says. “The Fund makes it possible to financially do what one might not otherwise be able to do.”
The Fund also helps students feel connected to the church at large, and recognized and honored for what they are doing, says Dr. Phyllis B. Anderson, president, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, and the first woman president of an ELCA seminary. “It has an impact beyond the actual dollar amount,” she says.
The Rev. April Ulring Larson, bishop, ELCA LaCrosse Area Synod, and the first woman bishop of the ELCA, says she is thankful that the Fund is committed to the leadership of both male and female clergy leaders in the church. “I believe with every fiber of my being that we do our best work together as men and women, bringing equal, wonderful, and absolutely necessary gifts to the leadership in the church.”
It has been gratifying to see the Fund “take root,” says President Anderson, who was instrumental in helping establish the Fund for Leaders in Mission. “It’s obviously making a difference right now,” she says. “It’s so beautiful to see the recipients – I feel good knowing they’re going to be our pastors.”
More than 50 women have received some level of scholarship assistance for their seminary education since the first Fund for Leaders in Mission scholarships were awarded in 2000. Meet three recipients serving the church today:
Meredith Lovell
Eligible for Call, December 2005
Student, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Meredith first felt called to the ministry while she was in 7th grade. During her teen years, and throughout her college and seminary careers, Meredith says people nurtured her as she answered her call to ministry. She says receiving a scholarship through the Fund for Leaders in Mission was another way she felt nurtured.
“Even on those really tough days at seminary, when I asked myself, ‘do I really want to be a pastor?’ the ‘cloud of witnesses’ took on a whole new meaning for me,” she says. “I felt like I had the entire church behind me in my call to ministry.”
Receiving the scholarship challenges Meredith to be open to the call of the whole church. “It was the whole church that sent me to seminary – I want to be the best steward of the church’s investment in me,” she says.
The Rev. Lynnae Sorensen
Pastor, Tri-County Cooperative Ministry, Lavaca, Colorado, and Fayette counties,
Texas
2004 graduate, Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest
Pastor Sorensen serves as one of three pastors in a seven-congregation cooperative in rural Texas. She says some pastors in rural calls face loneliness and feel like “lone rangers.” However, serving with two other pastors has provided her with a ministry community that has been “very positive,” she says.
The scholarship Pastor Sorensen received through the Fund for Leaders in Mission also made her feel like she wasn’t alone – she felt like she had the entire church supporting her.
“Every seminarian has support through prayer and the spirit of God that directs and leads them to accept a call,” she says. “And yet if you know that financial support also is there, there is an oomph. I was able to say, ‘not only do I know the church is behind me, I can see that support because of the scholarship I received.’”
Receiving a scholarship through the Fund for Leaders in Mission, and graduating from seminary with reduced debt, gave Pastor Stenberg the freedom to consider a variety of calls anywhere in the country.
The financial aspect of attending seminary can be “overwhelming,” Pastor Stenberg says, “Then to have people say, ‘we believe in you – we know you can be a great leader,’ was a really hopeful experience for me.”
Receiving the scholarship continues to strengthen Pastor Stenberg in her ministry today, “especially when I think about my connection with people across the country that have supported me and prayed for me,” she says.
Pastor Stenberg says it is “fantastic” to realize people have great hope in the church by committing their resources to developing leaders. “That is really invigorating and encouraging for me,” she says.
We continue to work toward the day when the cost of attending seminary is no longer an obstacle to those called to rostered ministry. Building the Fund for Leaders in Mission endowments to $25 million by 2010 will provide approximately $1.2 million in annual scholarship assistance. You can be part of this important work. To make a gift, or for more information, contact: Fund for Leaders in Mission, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631, 800-638-3522, ext. 2970, or visit the Fund Web site at: www.elca.org/fo/fundforleaders
Act Boldly
Women of the ELCA unveil new three-year theme
“Assist members,
congregations, synods, and institutions and agencies of this church to grow in
evangelical outreach.”
ELCA STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Act Boldly – the new three-year theme of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – provides exciting potential as women explore the theme through specially developed Bible studies, worship resources, and events.
“The theme can help women discover how they can be bold at their level,” says Linda Bushkofsky, executive director of Women of the ELCA. “Some may march in Washington, D.C., or stand in solidarity with folks who are marginalized. Others may be prayer warriors - a very quiet and solitary act, yet still bold.”
Carmen K. Richards, Women of the ELCA president, Hope, North Dakota, says acting boldly may mean going beyond one’s comfort zone. “If every woman in the church - even half of them - did one extra thing beyond their comfort zone, the changes could be immense,” she says.
For example, Richards says women can invite children from un-churched families to Sunday school. Bushkofsky says women can get involved in housing Hurricane Katrina survivors, writing letters to elected officials, delivering meals to shut-ins, and “giving boldly” to the Katherine von Bora Luther Endowment, otherwise known as “Katie’s Fund.”
Katie’s Fund pays tribute to Martin Luther’s wife, her work and service to others. Interest from the fund, which currently totals more than $323,000, supports Women of the ELCA programs, resources, and opportunities for women in the areas of global sharing, leadership development, and living theologically.
The most significant use of the fund, to date, supported Women of the ELCA’s recent triennial gathering. The gathering included guest speakers, small group facilitators, and worship leaders from around the world. “Our global guests helped us better understand the life they lead and the way they live out their Christianity,” Bushkofsky says. The gathering also featured leadership development speakers and activities, and daily worship and Bible study.
In addition, the triennial convention included the unveiling of a new fair-trade coffee blend honoring women around the world called Organic Sisters’ Blend. The coffee is produced by farming cooperatives in Latin America and honors women coffee farmers for their hard work, as well as Lutheran women in the United States for their leadership in advocating fair trade.
Women of the ELCA helped raise awareness of the fair-trade issue by partnering with Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange to promote the “90-Ton Challenge,” a year-long campaign with the goal of doubling the amount of fair-trade coffee purchased by Lutherans through the LWR Coffee Project. Women of the ELCA promoted the challenge through its publications, conventions, and coffee sales, helping exceed the challenge goal by 9 tons. “That’s one example of how we took a particular issue and really acted boldly,” Bushkofsky says.
Today, an estimated 500,000 women of all ages in more than 7,500 congregations and special units participate in Women of the ELCA’s local, churchwide, and global ministries of faith development, service, advocacy, and leadership in church and society. Women of the ELCA offers everything from study groups and Bible study circles to fellowship and activity groups in congregations, college or seminary campuses, nursing homes, and other settings.
Richards says Women of the ELCA has been an important part of her life, allowing her to learn more about the Scriptures, and providing long-standing friendships and a strong support system. Richards realized how strong her support system really was, recently, after her 32-year-old daughter’s suicide.
“I couldn’t even begin to tell you about the amount of cards, good wishes, and good words from people who helped me through this,” she said. “I wonder about women who go through tragedies, like this, and have no support system or faith. I want so badly for so many women to have that personal connection with the Scriptures and with women of all ages. When you go through tragedy, you need somebody.”
Bushkofsky says there’s a place for everyone in Women of the ELCA - including single women, professional women, stay-at-home mothers, and ordained women. “Whatever your interests, you can find a place in Women of the ELCA,” she says. Everyone is welcome.”
Through your support of Katie’s Fund, you can help carry out Women of the ELCA’s mission to “mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.” To make a gift of appreciated assets or a planned gift, or for more information, contact the ELCA Foundation at 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631, or call 800-638-3522, ext. 2970.
Learn more about Women of the ELCA at www.womenoftheelca.org
Leaving a Legacy for Ministry…
“SUPPORT CONGREGATIONS IN
THEIR CALL TO BE FAITHFUL, WELCOMING, AND GENEROUS, SHARING THE MIND OF CHRIST.”
- ELCA STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Even though Faith and Craig Ashton have diverse interests and careers, they share the same philosophy when it comes to giving. They both believe in the importance of giving beyond their congregation to causes and ministries important to them.
“We’ve always been concerned about doing things for others who are not quite as fortunate as we,” says Faith, a research analyst for the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, specializing in adult HIV/AIDS clinical trials.
While the Ashtons have faithfully supported their congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, they also have generously given to other organizations, including Faith’s alma mater, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, North Carolina, and MayaWorks, a non-governmental organization that promotes free trade for Guatemalan artisans, in which Faith also serves on the board of directors.
The Ashtons also have remembered the church-at-large in their estate plans. Over the years, they have established several deferred charitable gift annuities with the ELCA Foundation, with payments beginning in 2011, the year the Ashtons plan to retire. Since establishing the annuities, the Ashtons have enjoyed tax advantages and the satisfaction of knowing their gifts will bless the work of the church, particularly Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Fund for Leaders in Mission, and the ELCA World Hunger/Stand With Africa Fund. “It’s a wonderful vehicle to defer income, as well as reduce taxes,” says Craig, a retail store planner, specializing in pharmacy and drug store design.
The Ashtons also give generously of their time to their congregation. When he’s not golfing, reading, or scuba diving, Craig teaches senior high Sunday school, serves as financial secretary, sits on the finance committee, as well as the construction committee, which is overseeing the building of Holy Trinity’s new sanctuary. When Faith is not busy with her hobbies, including cooking and traveling, she volunteers as co-chair of Holy Trinity’s mutual ministry committee and participates in the congregation’s women’s friendship group.
Faith also generously gives of her time to the synodical and churchwide levels of the ELCA. She became the first North Carolina synodical president of Women of the ELCA, and has sat on the executive board of Women of the ELCA. Currently, Faith serves as the vice president of North Carolina Synod, and as a member of the ELCA Church Council.
Faith’s volunteer work has resulted in numerous rewarding experiences, including traveling to Papua New Guinea through the North Carolina companion synod program. “It was an incredible experience,” Faith says. “The people there are poor by our standards, but very generous with whatever they have. They still manage to have an incredible ministry, and are very committed to the church.”
Faith has been to Japan as part of Women of the ELCA’s Woman-to-Woman program, and in February, Faith will travel to Costa Rica through the North Carolina companion synod program. “Every place I go, I have the most to learn,” Faith says. “It’s made me more aware of different places and different people and how they give to the church.”
Craig and Faith agree that remembering the church in their estate plans has brought them a sense of satisfaction. “The Lutheran church is very involved with giving out, through disaster response, Lutheran World Relief, and all of the other wonderful programs of the church,” Faith says.
“The church can do better things with our money than we can,” Craig says. “We feel like the money we are giving is being used as well as it can be. That makes us feel good.”
New ELCA Good Gifts Catalog
Meaningful giving all year
long
Something Else for Christmas
My son Tim wants an iPod nano® for Christmas… I think I’ll give him a goat instead. Uncle Albert doesn’t need another tie, he never wears them and he gives them to the thrift store anyway. I’m going to give a gift of medical supplies for a low-income patient in the Holy Land. I’ll tell Uncle Albert he can do the same with the tie he was going to send me.
All those Christmas greetings to friends near and far will come in the form of electronic E-cards, proclaiming the good news of ELCA ministries that bring hope, health, and help to those in need.
New this fall, the ELCA Good Gifts Catalog suggests alternative gifts that can help make ministry happen all over the world. With so much need at home and around the world, the giving of “stuff” this Christmas, and all year long can have a truly different meaning.
View the Giving Catalog online at: www.elca.org/goodgifts
A Special Opportunity for Year-End Giving
The Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act permits charitable cash gifts up to 100% of adjusted gross income for gifts made to any qualified charity between August 28, 2005,
and December 31, 2005.
In addition...This provision effectively permits unlimited IRA/QRP withdrawals and gifts to charity. While gifts from individual retirement arrangements and other qualified
retirement plans must still be recognized as income, the withdrawal could be offset by the 100% charitable deduction.
Why Women Need Wills
Most people understand the importance of having a will. A will protects family and other loved ones, provides a way to express important values of life, clarifies wishes to heirs, and protects the distribution of assets according to one’s wishes.
Wills are especially important for women. Today, a record number of women participate in the workforce. Women control more than half of the wealth in America, and are accumulating, managing, and distributing more assets than ever before. They typically have a longer life expectancy than men, and will likely bear responsibility for the disposition of assets.
Women should consider having a will for many reasons: a will makes provisions for the guardian of minor children, gives peace of mind to surviving family members and loved ones, and allows women to take control of their long-range financial and estate plans.
Having a will also provides a way to support valued ministries. The ELCA Foundation would like to send you, free of charge, our “Wills and Estate Planning Folder,” which includes: Why do I need a Will?; Christian Preamble for Your Will; Estate Planning Quiz; Wills and Trusts Workbook (to be completed before having your attorney write your will), and Notes for My Friends and Family (a place to write down and keep track of all your important financial and personal information). A new brochure, Why Women Need a Will, will also be available later this year.
To receive the Wills and Estate Planning Folder, contact the ELCA Foundation at 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631 or call (800) 638-3522 ext. 2970. All of the above brochures also are available free of charge on the ELCA Foundation Web site at www.elca.org/fo/estateplanning.html
End of Legacies November 2005 issue