Women of the ELCA

Women of the ELCA

The Women of the ELCA (WELCA) includes Lutheran women who gather for service, study, advocacy, and fellowship. WELCA embraces all kinds of ministries that support our mission of mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.  There are approximately 75 active WELCA church units within the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. These church women’s groups are overseen by a Synodical Women’s Organization, an elected board of 10-12 women.

Welcome from SWO President & Board

Dear Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to the web page of the South Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization.  Here you can find links to resources and news about the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) both in our local church units as well as from Churchwide.

The year, 2020, has not turned out how any of us planned.  Many of our churches still have not returned to in-person worship.  Quilters are making their quilts alone, at home.  Although some WELCA Circles met in parks for Bible Study, with winter approaching, we are forced back inside.  We are experiencing Zoom fatigue.  Many WELCA groups have stopped meeting altogether.  It is a lonely time.

In spite of all this, and after four attempts of a Synod Assembly, the South Central Synod of Wisconsin elected a new bishop.  We welcome Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe.

We pray that the year, 2021, will bring new hope and rebirth.  We pray for the end of COVID-19.  Stay safe.

Rest in His promises,

Janna Smith
SWO President – Region 5K

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin WELCA SWO Officers and Board

The women’s synodical board is composed of 9-12 dedicated women. There is a liaison from this board to each of the conferences.

Conferences/Churches within the synod

Baraboo Conference – 14 churches
Barneveld Conference – 18 churches
Beaver Dam Conference – 11 churches
Beloit Conference – 15 churches
East/West Conference – 33 churches
Elkhorn Conference – 11 churches
Monroe Conference – 12 churches
Southlake Conference – 13 churches
Southwest Conference – 11 churches

For information about the Women of the ELCA, please contact Janna Smith at smithjanna55@gmail.com or (262) 215-6892.

National Triennial Gathering (Postponed)

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The Trumpeter Newsletter

The Trumpeter, newsletter of the Women of the South Central Synod of WI, is published 4 times per year January, April, July and October.

The Trumpeter is available FREE of charge by email.  Please send your request to welcatrumpeter@gmail.com.

Paper subscriptions can be ordered on the form on last page of the Trumpeter for $8.00 per year.

One free copy of the Trumpeter is sent to every church in the South Central Synod either by email or U.S. Post Office and should be available through your church office.  It may be forwarded and/or reproduced as needed.  When reproducing please include the Trumpeter’s name and issue date.  If your church did not receive a Trumpeter, please contact the Trumpeter at welcatrumpeter@gmail.com to confirm the church’s email and/or street address.

Our current and past issues of The Trumpeter can be found below:

Current: October 2020 Trumpeter

Resources

Links

Curated links to resources from across our Synod and WELCA

WELCA Documents

Documents & Resources for our SWO & Congregations

WELCA Glossary
  • Assembly……………………. used as the term for “convention” by the ELCA
  • Biennial……………………….convention that is held every 2 years, i.e. 2017, 2019, 2021 by South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization of the Women of the ELCA
  • Churchwide………………… designation of the national Women of the ELCA or national ELCA
  • Conference………………… designation for a geographical area. The South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization has 9 conferences.
  • Congregational unit……. local women’s group, women of your church group, “WELCA”
  • Convention…………………. a meeting where governing decisions are made for an organization by elected voting members (delegates)
  • CWO…………………………….Churchwide Women’s Organization, or the national Women of the ELCA organization
  • ELCA…………………………….Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Gathering…………………….a meeting for informational and fellowship purposes
  • Participant………………….. non-voting attendee at a convention, an observer
  • Region………………………….a geographical area comprised of a number of synods or Synodical Women’s Organizations. The South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization is part of Region 5.
  • SCW SWO…………………….South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization. The church’s women’s organization at the level of the synod
  • SWO…………………………….Synodical Women’s Organization
  • Synod…………………………..designation for a geographical area of the ECLA
  • Synodical……………………..designation for a geographical area of the Women of the ECLA
  • Triennial……………………….convention and gathering that is held every third year, i.e. 2017, 2020, 2023 by the churchwide Women of the ELCA
  • Voting member ………….. preferred term for “delegate” at a convention
  • WELCA………………………… Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America