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 (SWO).  Here you can find links to resources and news about the Women of the ELCA (WELCA).

Plans are underway to organize our 15th Biennial Convention/Fall Retreat.  It will be held in person at Lutherdale Bible Camp (N7891 US-12, Elkhorn, WI 53121) on September 24-25, 2021.  The business meeting will take place on Friday evening in the new Hope Conference Center.  The Bible camp is located by the shores of Green Lake north of Elkhorn.  We are working on various options for attendance.

  • Evening Biennial Convention business meeting option
  • Overnight option
  • Day Retreat option
  • There possibly may even be a virtual option (depending on decisions made at Churchwide on amending the Constitution)

Redeemed through Christ,

Janna Smith
SWO President – Region 5K

Forms for the 15th Biennial Convention/Fall Retreat of the South-Central WI Synodical Women’s Organization

SAVE THE DATE:

  • Summer,  2021 – Virtual meeting of the 10th Triennial Convention voting members
  • Aug. 3-5, 2021 – 11th Virtual Triennial Convention (still scheduled)
  • Aug. 5-8, 2021 – 11th Triennial Gathering in Phoenix (CANCELLED)
  • Sept.  24-25 – Fifteenth Biennial Convention/Fall Retreat at Lutherdale Bible Camp
  • Oct. 9, 2021 – Monroe Conference Fall Gathering
  • Week of Sept. 18, 2023 – 12th Triennial Convention and Gathering in Phoenix

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

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

2021 Spring Gathering Thankoffering Service

The South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO) welcomes you to a virtual Spring Gathering Thankoffering Service
Women of the ELCA
April 15, 2021, 7 pm on Zoom

Short synodical update followed by a worship service

Please contact Janna Smith to register for the Zoom invitation
smithjanna55@gmail.com or 262-215-6892

As we come out of COVID, church WELCA units are slowly beginning to meet in person for the first time.  Conference spring gatherings have been postponed until summer or fall.  Our Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO) has been inspired by the Barneveld Conference.  They are holding a Spring Gathering on Zoom before Easter!

The Women of the ELCA (Churchwide) is struggling financially.  Eight women on their staff of ten have been reduced to half-time.  To help address this shortfall, our SWO is hosting a Spring Gathering virtual Thankoffering Service on April 15th at 7 pm.  There will be a short synodical update followed by the service.  If you are able, please make out your Thankoffering check to Women of the ELCA and write “WOG0420 Thankoffering” on the memo line. Then please mail it to: Women of the ELCA c/o ELCA Gift Processing Center P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116‐8009.  You also have the option as a church WELCA unit to combine your Thankofferings and mail in through your unit treasurer using Offering Form B.

Hope to see you there!!

**Download the Worship Bulletin Here:

Download the Invitation to Share With Your Congregation:

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: April 2021 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 Region 5K.
  • 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