Women of the ELCA Gathering in Phoenix
The Women of the ELCA gathered last week in Phoenix for a Triennial Convention under the theme, "Just Love." The East Central Synod was well represented as the gathering conducted business and reflected on the needs of our world and the church. Shirley Paulson attended and shares some reflections.
Rev. Angela !Khabeb pictured with two ECSW attendees reminded us “Hope is the most precious thing- don’t squander it!”
Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy (the first Native American woman to hold a PhD in theology) led the Bible study sessions. She told wonderful stories of how she learned to cherish the sacredness of ALL people and nature.
Dr. Jacqueline Bussie exhorted us to do as Jesus did and expand God’s extravagant love to the margins of society, to widen the “we” to include all. She reminded us of the “danger of the single story” and encouraged us to learn the stories of those with whom we disagree.
Vance Blackfox, ELCA Director for Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations, taught Native American history that includes so much injustice and pain that white Christians caused or were complicit in, including Indian boarding schools. ELCA Advocacy is working to get Congress to pass the Commission on Indian Boarding Schools Act.
Blackfox said that land acknowledgements are a good first step in acting to end racism against Indigenous Indigenous people.
The ELCA offers many free resources to help us learn and take action at www.ELCA.org/Indigenous
The Triennial convention passed two resolutions submitted by women from ECSW: one to encourage all to participate in the ELCA Truth and Healing Movement www.elca.org/ Indigenous and a second to end racism by Participating in the Now is the Time study of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent www.ELCA.org/resources/racial-justice.
