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From your President… Linda Deorge
As I write this, I cannot resist looking out the window at a beautiful, sunny, warm, fall day in Central Kentucky. The weather people say tomorrow will be considerably colder, with gusty winds; and, even though I am a native Kentuckian, I find it amazing at how quickly the weather can change!
What I find even more amazing, though, is how much the I-K Women of the ELCA board has accomplished in the last three months. September 18-19, the we had our tran-sitional meeting, made up of both old and new board members, at Lutheran Hills. Not only did this meeting help make the transfer of positions smoother, it was a time for get-ting to know each other and learning about the gifts of time and talents that we each bring to the work of this board!
This time together resulted in some exciting plans for I-K Synodical Women: After a presentation by Sven Schumacher, CEO of the Foundation for Lutheran Child & Family Services, we chose Human Trafficking as the Synodical focus project for 2016. Sven joined us on Saturday morning to inform us about human trafficking in Indiana, and IM-PACT, a program that provides comprehensive care coordination and intensive thera-peutic services for underage girls at risk of running away and becoming victims of hu-man trafficking.
IMPACT is a collaborative effort between Ascent 121, Lutheran Child & Family Ser-vices of Kentucky and Indiana, and Community Hospital. Sven asked if we could help him in spreading information about human trafficking happening here in our synod, and in what ways we can help. So, for the Spring Cluster Gatherings, we are asking each Cluster Committee to invite someone from their area to come and speak about the problem that their particular communities and state are experiencing. In addition, Jo Flynn, who has written the Spring Gathering Bible Studies for the last two years, has agreed to prepare a Bible study on human trafficking for the 2016 spring gatherings.
Also at this meeting, we decided to provide training for cluster committees, treasurers, unit leaders, and other interested persons in April, 2016, at various locations, including South Bend, Evansville, Indianapolis, and Frankfort, Kentucky. We hope to answer questions and provide infor-mation that will be helpful in understanding all that the women of the I-K Synodical Women’s Organization can accomplish. More information about these trainings can be found elsewhere in this issue of KINswoman.
In October and November, I took the time to attend several Cluster Gatherings in Indiana, beginning with Northwest, October 24, at Emmanuel in Merrillville. The theme was “Walk Humbly with God.” MaryAnn Lovas, acting coordinator, did an excellent job of involving everyone in this study, and I truly enjoyed the feeling of sisterhood and friendship that I experienced there. On November 7, I attended the joint Cluster Gathering of Indianapolis & East Central Indiana. Their theme, “Faith in Action,” was carried out by having Stacie Ballard, project manager of Ascent 121, speak about “Trafficking in Minors in Indiana.” In addition, attendees had been asked to bring new and gently used bras to be sent to Africa and South America. There women sell them to raise funds to support themselves and their families. In this way, they do not have to consider selling themselves or their children to survive.
This is just the beginning! There is more to come… So stay in touch: Contact your board partner when you have questions or concerns, visit our website, www.welca.org, and connect with us at www.facebook.com/IKWomen/ I am looking forward to meeting many of you in the coming months.
Blessings for you and your family during this time of Advent.
Linda
In this Issue
Board Briefs 2 Board contacts
Stewardship 3
Gatherings 4
Gatherings, cont’ 5
Fin. Rpt., 6 Dec. Devotions From Editor 2016 Gathering 7 Gift? Triennial 8 Gather Magazine
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President Linda Doerge 4545 Prince Albert Way Lexington, KY 40515 859-619-3341 [email protected] Vice President Rev. Doris Sparks 1810 Oak Street Linton, IN 47441 C-812-699-9372 [email protected] Social Media Developer Evansville (8) Board Partner
Secretary Kathy Coleman 68755 US Hwy 31 Lakeville, IN 46536 574-784-3538 [email protected] North Central (2) Board Partner
Treasurer (2/1/14—1/31/15)) Pat Hamby 410 Crosby Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-889-9218; c-317-508-9015 [email protected] Lafayette (4) Partner
The KINswoman newslet-ter is a publication of the Indi-ana-Kentucky Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). This publication facilitates com-munications of the I-K Women of the ELCA by sharing ideas and programs of indi-viduals, as well as our Clusters, Congregational Units and (SWO) Board.
The KINswoman is published quarterly by the IK Synodical Women’s Organization of Women of the ELCA, Lois Noel, President, and online at www.iksynod.org/ministry/IK-SWO/IKSWO.asp. Send all articles, photos, questions, subscription requests to the editor (below) at 575 Johnson St.. Gary, IN 46402.
Permission to photocopy this publication for distribution is given for all ELCA members and Women of the ELCA. All others must cite attribution of publication.
Board Briefs: 10/31/2015; Resurrection, Indianapolis
Meeting was called to order at 10 A.M. by President Linda Doerge.
Present: Sec. Kathy Coleman, Treas. Pat Hamby; Board: Kenda Dues. Unable to attend: Sandy Koehler, Taryn Smith, Doris Sparks, Nancy Walter.
The president shared 2017 Triennial informational materials to be distributed to churches. Our Triennial Gathering Promoter (TGP) is Elizabeth Gaskins..
The Board is actively seeking to fill three vacancies. If you are interested in serving for two years (until August 2017), contact any board member. Con-tact information can be found below, or online at www.IKWELCA.org.
The position of 2017 convention chairperson is also open. The board is seeking a BOLD woman from the northern part of Indiana, as plans are to hold the event in the South Bend area. If you are interested in taking on this position, with the help of the SWO board, contact any board member.
Re: cluster news, Kathy Coleman, SWO cluster facilitator, is updating and compiling cluster committee contact info. Board partners and cluster coordinators can assist by providing requested info in a timely manner. Watch your mail or email for messages.
Our justice mission focuses on human trafficking, and each synodical board member has been asked to convene a committee to review and promote resources to help inform, educate, and mobilize their congregations through prayer, ministry, and political action. Kenda Dues and Taryn Smith, SWO board members, have been asked to serve, along with two non-board women, yet to be named. The spring gathering Bible study will fo-cus on human trafficking. Watch for more information.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 PM. Next meeting is scheduled for January 2016.
Board Members Sandy Koehler 122 W 2nd Street Hanover, IN 47243 H- 812-866-8923; c-812-701-4873 [email protected] Discipleship Chair Southeast (7) Board Partner Deaconess Nancy Walter 1057 Poppyfield Place Schererville, IN 46375 219-322-8999; c-219-718-4804 [email protected] Justice Chair Northwest (1) Board Partner
Taryn Smith 86 EGS Blvd. Batesville, IN 47006 812-932-2766 [email protected] Co-Justice Chair South East Co-Bd Partner
Kenda Dues 711 Lincolnway East Goshen, IN 46526 574-596-7806 [email protected] Stewardship NC (2) Co-Board Partner
Non-Board Dorothy Nevils KINswoman, Facebook 575 Johnson St. Gary, IN 46402 219-201-0080
Darlene Bockelman Anti-Racism 1502 S 800 E; Columbia City, IN 46725; 260-248-8274 [email protected]
Kathy Coleman
Secretary
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Let’s start by talking about your regular offerings. I certainly hope that you
know that your unit should keep half of the collections from your Bible studies, meetings and events for your own activities and programs. When you send the other half of those offerings to the SWO (Synodical Women’s Organization) Treasurer, she then sends half of that amount on to CWO (Churchwide Women’s Organization), the Women of the ELCA. The other half of your regular offerings remain with the SWO.
The Fall 2015 issue of the Interchange (vol.28, no. 3), a CWO publication, contains a wonderful expla-
nation of what the CWO does with that portion, as well as with your Thankofferings, Katie’s Fund gifts, offerings from cluster gatherings and SWO conventions, and your other designated gifts, such as our past malaria gifts, etc., Loan for a Woman, etc.. You can subscribe to Interchange online at wom-enoftheelca.org, or by calling 800-638-3522, ext 2730. You will be astounded at all that is accomplished with your offerings to CWO!
IK SWO uses half of your unit regular offerings to serve you here in the I-K Synod. † Communication expenses include the quarterly KINswoman, which is mailed to each congregation,
and emailed to all who request it. If you don’t have email, you can request a printed copy. There are other communication expenses too, especially in the 6 months prior to the biennial SWO convention. Information and forms are sent regarding voting members.
† Your SWO funds are used to provide one SWO convention scholarship per cluster for a young wom-an, 30 or younger. These scholarships cover registration and site lodging. You may also specify an offering to SWO to support the René Siria scholarship for a woman over 30 to attend the SWO conven-tion, registration and site lodging covered.
† Funds are also used to provide workshops for unit and cluster leaders, such as those being planned for April of 2016, each in a different region of the synod. As of now, one will be on Saturday, April 2, at Resurrection in Indianapolis, another on Saturday, April 16, at Hope in Frankfort, KY, and another will be Saturday, April 9, at First English, Mishawaka. Another one (TBA) will be in the Evansville area. We invite all unit and cluster officers and all others interested in leading and serving to attend. Let us help make your jobs easier and more fun.
† Then there are expenses associated with operations and administration, such as mileage, meals and lodging for board meetings, cluster gatherings, training workshops, etc. There are office supplies and equipment replacement, postage and financial support for officers required to attend Synod meetings. SWO funds also support the programs and activities of the biennial convention.
We strive to be fiscally responsible. Several board members, not needing all their expenses paid,
return part or all to the organization. Now, to make the treasurer’s job easier, please remember to use the new forms A and B. Send your regular, cluster, and SWO Convention offerings to me, your SWO Treasur-er, along with Form A. Send your Thankofferings, Katie’s Fund, and other CWO or ELCA gifts, along with Form B, to Women of the ELCA, ELCA Gift Procession Center, P.O. Box1809 Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.
In closing, I pray that you will all have a blessed, spirit-filled Christmas. May your generous stewardship be felt locally and worldwide.
Pat Hamby, SWO Treasurer, 410 Crosby Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46227
Pat Hamby Treasurer
MONEY, Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works
to be generous and ready to share. 1 Tim 6:18
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CLUSTER GATHERINGS CLUSTER GATHERINGS
Front: Linda McGahey, Darlene Bockelman, Diane Martin, Ka-ren Nelson, Tina Thompson, Dee Blackburn, and Kim Converse Back: Barb Overdeer, Susan Maine, Lois Noel, and Ginny Fulk-ner. Taking the picture was Sandy Whiteleather.
Women of the ELCA from Hope in Coesse, IN, sponsored "Breathe,” a women's retreat, at Camp Luther-wald, October 30 - 31. Guest speaker Deaconess Diane Mar-
tin led women from Hope (Coesse),
St. John's (Fort Wayne), and Grace
(Columbia City) in a Bible Study to
consider our own names, what God
calls us, and also what we call Him .
We discovered individually what, or
who, God is to us.
10/24—Northwest Cluster: Walk Humbly with God... How can we do this? Boldly. Eighteen women explored this question at Emmanuel in Merrillville. Confused? Going through each part of our Purpose Statement in opening devotions, Dorothy Nevils helped clarify this. How can we “Grow in faith, Affirm our gifts, Support one another, and take Action” if we are not bold? MaryAnn Lovas, acting coordinator, led the women through three areas of Boldness: 1) Caring is kindness and forgiving, Kind-ness = Love in Action., Forgiveness = Act-ing in Grace toward one another. 2) Teach-ing is witnessing God's love and grace by mentoring. 3) Writing personal purpose statements is a bit scarier, but by doing so, it helps us make better choices in life.
10/3—North Central Cluster: Wom-en gathered at Christ the King in South Bend were swamped with information from guest speakers from two local agencies, MOSAIC and St. Margaret’s House, who helped us to see the special needs of people in our com-munity, and their roles in giving nurturing support to clients experiencing physical,
mental, or economic issues. MOSAIC helps families make plans for their adult children in need of specialized care, while St. Margaret’s House is an organization of women helping women through normally gender-based issues. Both were recipients of the day’s offerings.
Pastor Terri Peterson led a discussion on “Confronting Racism,” a powerful and timely video by ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton with William Horne ll. SWO Secretary Kathy Coleman shared a resolution calling for training and programs to assist in careful self-examination of individual actions and words to work toward ending racism in all forms. NCC women collected items and school bags for 100 Lutheran World Relief School Kits assembled at the Biennial Convention. Project Center Coordinator Kenda Dues gave thanks for their goal setting, coordi-nation, and support. It was discovered at Convention, as it was at North Central Cluster Gatherings, that a shared project is a joyful time of fellowship and mission. A “Quilting Blitz” date will be set after the hol-idays, with a shout out for all IK quilters to join us!
Kenda Dues Stewardship
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Our newly elected president, Linda Deorge, spoke regarding use of our offerings and supporting our 2014/15 mission focus, “Microloan for a Woman” (ELCA Good Gifts), which provides loans for start-up funds for women to begin their own business, opening a way out of poverty. Half of our cluster offerings, $115, was designated to that mission. Our next gathering will be at Christ in Valpo, April 16, 2016.
11/7— Indy & East Central Clusters: The gathering was small, but a great start for what I hope will be more such gatherings in these two clusters in the future. Attendees included four each from Bethany and Resur-rection; Board members, President Linda Do-erge, Kenda Dues and Pat Hamby; and Sven Schumacher, from Lutheran Child and Family Services.
Our speaker, Stacie Ballard, with IT support from her husband, educated us about the hu-man/sex trafficking of minors here in Indiana, sharing how easily teens get lured into this, and how we can help them directly by volun-teering at Lutherwood’s IMPACT program, volunteering with clerical tasks at ASCENT 121, and, of course, praying for all involved in the recovery of these teens. She urged us to share the in-formation with our congregations, particularly our youth leaders, who could help educate more teens to the dangers around us. Sven shared with us plans for a long-term recovery residence home for teen vic-tims of trafficking, and requested our involvement in many ways, including life-skills sharing, hobby and craft sharing. There are many opportunities to serve there.
The second part of the program was a service project for “Free the Girls,” an organization which aids recovering victims of trafficking in Africa and South America to start up small businesses selling bras. Our collection of 63 bras will be “start-up stock” for a small business, which will then use the income to purchase replacement stock for their store. (If your women’s group or cluster would like to hold a bra event, or you would like to get involved individually or otherwise, you can contact the board or visit http://freethegirls.org/donate/ for info.)
Linda Doerge shared news from the board about convention and upcoming SWO -sponsored Unit leaders and Cluster member/coordinator training, planned for April in four locations in the Synod. She also shared that Spring cluster gatherings are encouraged to address human/sex trafficking in their own regions of the synod.
All in all, it was a great day of learning, serving, fellowship ,and food. Thanks to the women of Resurrec-tion for the program and food, and Bethany for the location, set-up, beverages and hospitality.
FYI: Speaker resources for human/sex trafficking programs (Indianapolis area): ASCENT 121, Stacie Ballard, 317-601ex-4722, [email protected]; IMPACT, Lutheran Child and Family Services, Sven Schumacher, 317-359-5467 x222; Brady Gurganious, 317-359-5467, SEED (Spiritual Engagement, Education and Development) program at Lutheran Child and Family Services; Indiana Attorney General’s Office, Victim Services and Outreach Division, 317-234-6843, [email protected]; Judge K.Mark Loyd, Circuit Ct., Franklin, IN., 317-346-4400; Judge Marilyn Moores, Juv.Div., Marion Co, IN, 317-327-8300; Clerk for Judge Moores, Cynthia Goss, [email protected]
Southeast Cluster: The SE Cluster Fall Gather ing was held at St. Paul Lutheran Church -Olean. We listened to a presentation given by Brady Gurganious of Lutheran Child and Family Services. He gave us an overview of all that Lutheran Child and Family Services does and then focused on the IMPACT pro-gram, helping youth that are involved in the sex trade. He is such a good speaker. We enjoyed a lovely lunch prepared by the women with homemade pies! Pastor Curtis Black led us in worship. It was a beauti-ful day.
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I-K Synodical Women of the ELCA Treasurer's Report
August 1, 2015-October 31, 2015 BALANCE 8/1/2015 $11,719.85 INCOME Regular Offerings $1977.98 Cluster Offerings 624.00 Mission Projects 506.00 Convention 4456.35 Miscellaneous 248.80 TOTAL $7822.13 GRAND TOTAL $19,541.98 EXPENDITURES Mission Community/Stewardship CWO Regular Offerings 988.98 CWO Cluster Offerings 312.00 Mission Growth/Discipleship KINswoman newsletter 398.64 Mission Action/Justice Mission Projects 850.24 Conv/Cluster Offerings 979.74 Fair Share 247.50 Administrative/Governance Miscellaneous (Mileage) 336.80 Administrative 1508.26 Convention 7882.68 TOTAL $13,504.85 BALANCE 10-31-2015 $ 6,037.15
December Devotions: GIVING THANKS FOR YOU
“How can I thank God enough for you?
The epistle for the first Sunday of Advent (1 Thessalonians 3:9) starts with these heartfelt words of joyful gratitude. Have you ever felt like saying something like that? Who made you feel that way? Did you tell them? What was their response?
Paul later tells the believers (us!) to rejoice always, pray with-out ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God. Joy leads to prayer leads to gratitude leads to more joy. Thanks be to God!
In this joyful, prayerful season of Advent and Christmas, let us act on our joy and prayer and gratitude with generosity to the people and ministries we love. Amen!
From the Editor: Created, Called, Empowered … When is the last time you studied, alone or with your sisters at a meeting, or a gathering, our purpose statement? Do you just read it, recite it… or listen as someone else does? Is it an integral part or guide for what you do? Take a few minutes now to really consider the words so carefully chosen to define us in 1987:
As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.
When you really think about this statement of purpose, you’ll see that it’s all about doing what we are called to do as Christians: It’s rooted in scripture. There is nothing there that does not point to ministry! Every sentence, every phrase points to who we are in relationship with God. Everything we are and do is tied to living as Christians.
I remember when this union was formed, when women of the three churches, ELC, LCA, and ALC, became Women of the ELCA. Before that time, women were known as guilds, auxiliaries, etc. With the joining of the three churches, these “groups” became incor-porated as Women of the ELCA. Just as the ELCA has a constitution, so does Women of the ELCA; just as the ELCA is divided into geographical areas— regions, synods, and conference—so is our organization
From the beginning, it was our purpose to do Christ’s work in the church, the society, and the world, and we women continue to do it. From 1988, “Women of the ELCA has belonged to the women; it is self-incorporated.” The women support the “Women’s Or-ganization.” We make decisions about what we do, based on our purpose statement, and we carry out those decisions, in communi-ty, being forever true to our purpose.
So, looking back on our purpose statement, what is there that you cannot fully embrace? What is there that we should not be doing? What is there that other women may find difficult to support? I can see nothing, for it is all rooted in Christ!
This is the last KINswoman in which you’ll see me listed as editor. However, because of what is written above, I will not disappear. I am still one of the women who started this journey 27 years ago. I am, and will always be, a part of this community, these “sisters of the Trinity”; I am still, like you, “created, called, and empowered;” and, just like you, my work is not done… until I am done!
Wishing you a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth!
Dorothy Nevils
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2016 Spiritual Gathering for Christian Women Hosted by Region 6 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Registration Form
9:00 a.m., Friday June 17th to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18th
Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10360 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg, Oh 43551—419-874-3111
Name____________________________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________________________State________________Zip Code____________
Email___________________________________________Phone___________________________________
Congregation______________________________ Synod_________________________________________
Special Needs: ____________________________________________________________________________
Emergency contact: Name _____________________________Phone_______________________________
Check appropriate boxes: Deadlines:
_____ Early Registration, $40.00 ( through May 30th) 5-17 for $104.00 Room Rate & last date hotel rooms are
_____ Late Registration, $50.00 (June 1-10) guaranteed
_____Friday, lunch buffet, $15.00 5-30 Early Registration
_____Friday evening , Banquet and Entertainment $25.00 5:30 to order meals
_____Saturday Breakfast on own (see bottom of page) 6-10 for late registration w/o meals
_____ Saturday Lunch, $15.00
$____________Total Amount enclosed (Tax and tip are included in meal prices)
Meals: Saturday Breakfast on your own, Hotel has restaurant. Nearby you can find Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, Panera’s, McDonald’s, Chick
Filet, and Kroger Grocery Store.
Payment: Checks must accompany all registrations, Make check payable to Northwestern Ohio Women of the ELCA.
Mail to: Judy Sampson- 314 N. Market Street-Vanwert, Oh 45891
Rooms : Call the Holiday Inn at 419-874-3111 for overnight room reservations. Use the code “WOM” when making reservations. The $104.00
room rate goes up after May 17th. Visit http:// www.hifq.com/ for more information and directions.
Other Questions: Contact Sharon Moenter, P.O. Box 681 Pemberville, Ohio, 419-287-4178 , [email protected]
Grab your sisters… and let’s go!!!
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I-K Synodical Women’s Organization Dorothy Nevils, Editor 575 Johnson Street Gary, IN 46402
DATED MATERIAL
For immediate delivery
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage
PAID Fort Wayne, IN
Permit No. 1972
The 10th Triennial Gathering will be held July 13 –16, 2017, in Minne-apolis, MN. "All Anew" is the theme. Have you considered going? Planned to? Registered already? Hope there’s
a “yes” in there somewhere!
So, here’s the deal: (A) If a woman in your unit is going as a voting member, how about starting a savings for her to extend her stay and attend the gathering? PLUS, if she’s driving, use your smart phone to let her shop for you at the great displays!
(B) Is there someone who would be tickled to life to go… a really bold go-getter? Or, a young woman? Can you raise enough to send her with a voting member, especially if the v.m. is driving? What a great way to “sow the seed”!
(C) Pile up in a car and pile up in a roomand have a great time! Then don’t stop yakking about it when you get back!
ALL options are OPEN! Grab one and get planning! Oh, did I mention Mall of Ameri-ca...with a bunch of brand new friends???
Remember our biennial theme, Faith in Action? How about a little pop quiz, self-popped, of course. You make the questions. Based on what is happening here in the U.S. and the world, and the reactions from people with pow-er and those without, how has your faith been called to action… or reaction? Do you subscribe to Gather, our award-winning magazine, edited by Kate Elliott? Order it by visiting http://store.augsburgfortress.org/
store/product/16932/Gather-Magazine. At $15 for a year’s subscription, it would make a great Christmas gift.
