Women of the ELCA

On behalf of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Women of the ELCA Synodical Board “Welcome” to our resource page. The Women of the ELCA (W-ELCA) includes Lutheran women who gather for service, study, advocacy, and fellowship. W-ELCA 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 W-ELCA church units within the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. These church women’s groups are overseen by a Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO), an elected board of up to 13 women.

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Attending the 2023 Just Love Triennial Gathering were: (seated L-R) Kathy P. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kristen L. (East Koshkonong Lutheran, Cambridge), Helen S. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison) and Katie G. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison). (Middle Row L-R) Donna T. (Bethany Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells), Alene O. (Bethany Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells), Bonnie O. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kay J. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Polly C. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison), Vicki O. (Trinity Lutheran, Madison), Carolyn L. (East Koshkonong Lutheran, Cambridge), Lawanna S. (Central Lutheran, Edgerton) and Donna P. (Grace Lutheran, Dodgeville). (Back Row L-R) Lynn M. (St. John's Lutheran, Johnson Creek), Sandy S. (Wiota Lutheran, Wiota), Cathie T. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Deb H. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kathy F. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Betsy B. (Evangelical Lutheran, Mt Horeb), Margie C. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Lezlie O. (First English, Whitewater), Peggy S. (Our Savior's Lutheran, Sun Prairie) and Marlys H. (New Hope Lutheran, Blanchardville). Missing from photo: Kimberly K. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison).
Attending the 2023 Just Love Triennial Gathering were: (seated L-R) Kathy P. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kristen L. (East Koshkonong Lutheran, Cambridge), Helen S. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison) and Katie G. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison). (Middle Row L-R) Donna T. (Bethany Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells), Alene O. (Bethany Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells), Bonnie O. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kay J. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Polly C. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison), Vicki O. (Trinity Lutheran, Madison), Carolyn L. (East Koshkonong Lutheran, Cambridge), Lawanna S. (Central Lutheran, Edgerton) and Donna P. (Grace Lutheran, Dodgeville). (Back Row L-R) Lynn M. (St. John's Lutheran, Johnson Creek), Sandy S. (Wiota Lutheran, Wiota), Cathie T. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Deb H. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Kathy F. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Betsy B. (Evangelical Lutheran, Mt Horeb), Margie C. (Bethel Lutheran, Madison), Lezlie O. (First English, Whitewater), Peggy S. (Our Savior's Lutheran, Sun Prairie) and Marlys H. (New Hope Lutheran, Blanchardville). Missing from photo: Kimberly K. (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Madison).

Board & Officers

The women’s synodical board is composed of up to 13 dedicated women. There is possibly 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

Click Here to view listing of which churches are found within each conference.*

*Note that the W-ELCA conferences are different than the constitutional officially established conferences of the synod. Please visit the Find A Congregation page for synod conference information.

Trumpeter Newsletter

The Trumpeter, newsletter of the Women of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, is published four times a year in 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 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 does 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 2023 Trumpeter

Upcoming Events

W-ELCA National Events
  • Virtual Blue Christmas Service
    Thursday, December 21, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.
    Our Blue Christmas Service offers a safe place to bring your grief, fear, and loss. Brief readings. Quiet and reflective music. Prayers. All are welcome. Spanish translation provided.
South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Events

All book studies take place online from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. To register click on the respective date(s) above. To learn more about each of the books and their respective authors CLICK HERE for a PDF with more details.

Resources

ELCA and Women of the ELCA Resource Links
  • Bold Connections
    The monthly e-newsletter that features the latest news and information about Women of the ELCA programs and activities. Bold Connections is delivered via e-mail on the first of every month: Subscribe now.
  • Cafe
    Young adult e-magazine about vocation, faith, relationships, and more.
  • Engaging with News & Media Presentation
    From LEAD 2023
  • Engaging with News & Media Bibliography
    From LEAD 2023
  • Faithful Friends
    Join and provide consistent, powerful, sustaining support for the churchwide ministries of Women of the ELCA, wherever it is needed most. It’s convenient for you and makes a big difference for our beloved community of women created in the image of God.
  • Gather Magazine
    Gather magazine is a publication of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is available by subscription.
  • Giving to Women of the ELCA Changes Women’s Lives Every Day
    When you give to Women of the ELCA, you support ministries that include our ground-breaking racial justice advocacy, our award-winning publications, and so much more. Every generous gift you make helps Women of the ELCA continue to inspire, support, and mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
  • 2122: Katie’s Fund
    Named for Katharina von Bora Luther, the wife of Martin Luther, our endowment and its corresponding current fund support leadership development, living theology, and global connections. 2122: Growing Katie’s Fund campaign is to expand so that Katie’s Fund by one  Women of the ELCA can continue to multiply the reach and impact of women’s leadership and ministry in the church.
  • Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin
    In faithful response to God’s love, we engage people of faith in the ministry of advocacy for policies that support peace, justice and care for all of God’s creation.
  • Lutheran World Relief
    At Lutheran World Relief, we envision a future where all people, in every corner of the world can live full, dignified lives.
  • Models for Organizing Your Women’s Unit
    Women of the ELCA offers six different models for organizing your unit for mission. You can adjust them all or even create other models to get just the right fit for your unit. Remember, there is room for flexibility, creativity and a place for everyone to participate.
  • Stewardship
    Donate online to support the ministries of Women of the ELCA. Learn more about Thankofferings, Faithful Friends, and Katie’s Fund.  And please share the monthly stewardship devotion with the women in your congregation.
  • UPAVIM
    a Guatemalan women’s cooperative
  • Women of the ELCA website
    Churchwide
  • WELCA Tools for Leaders
Other Resource Links
  • Clean Wisconsin
    Clean Wisconsin’s mission is to protect & preserve Wisconsin’s clean water, clean air, and natural heritage.
  • Wisconsin Interfaith Power & Light
    The mission of Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light shall be to inform, train, and activate people of all faiths and faith communities to take concrete steps in response to climate change through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy in order to protect Earth’s ecosystems, safeguard public health, and ensure just, sufficient and sustainable energy for all.
Documents for Special Events, Programs, etc.
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