Women of the ELCA Executive Board Meeting
The churchwide executive board of Women of the ELCA met October 18-20 in Moorhead, Minnesota. Much of the agenda was devoted to the upcoming triennial convention and gathering and the financial situation of the churchwide organization. The board and staff present also enjoyed the gracious hospitality of the women of Trinity Lutheran Church and North Buffalo Lutheran Church, Moorhead; Faith Lutheran Church, Wolverton, Minn; Peace Lutheran Church, Fargo, North Dakota, and  Our Savior Lutheran Church, Page, N.D., who all hosted the group for a variety of meals.

In preparation for the triennial convention next July, the board approved revised rules of procedure that will guide the delegates as they conduct the business of the organization and approved the proposed agenda. The Seventh Triennial Convention takes place Tuesday, July 10 through Thursday, July 12, 2008, in Salt Lake City, over five sessions beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and ending Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

The board also received a report on preparations and planning for the triennial gathering, including updates on workshops, speakers, in-kind gifts, and plans for the exhibit hall. At the time of the meeting, 277 gathering registrations had been received and approximately 16,000 registration booklets had been distributed by mail or through synodical conventions and other gatherings. Registration for the 2008 triennial gathering opened on September 4, and the budget for the gathering is based on a minimum of 2,500 registrations. Early registration at $275 is open through January 31; after January 31, the registration fee is $325.

The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA proposed to the board a change to the terms of the Women of the ELCA Challenge that began June 1, 2006. Originally, the Mission Investment Fund set a goal of 1,000 new investments by Women of the ELCA participants by June 30, 2008. In return, MIF would provide a $25,000 grant to the triennial gathering. As of October 1, 296 accounts had been opened but their combined value totaled $1,029,765. In recognition of the strong financial support demonstrated by the amount invested, MIF proposed that the goals be revised to 500 new investments purchased or $1.5 million invested, whichever comes first. The board approved the revised terms.

A request from the Delaware/Maryland Synodical Women's Organization to establish a special unit at the Carroll Lutheran Village, Westminster, Maryland, was approved, and the board made recommendations to the executive director for 2007 disbursements from the India endowment funds held by the organization. The board endorsed the work of the Good Deed Foundation and agreed to share information on its efforts with Women of the ELCA units and participants. The Good Deed Foundation is unveiling a brand logo in spring 2008 that will be carried on certain consumer products and services. When women purchase these products and services they engage in what has been dubbed "kitchen advocacy" because of the profits from these products will be used to end poverty and to support environmental causes. Approximately two-thirds of the profits from the sale of these products will go to the Women's Funding Network, making that money available to its member agencies to support their granting programs that serve women and girls living in poverty. (Women of the ELCA has applied to become a member agency of the Women's Funding Network.) The other third of the profits generated will support environmental causes, which also are important to Women of the ELCA.

The board also approved the creation of a board development committee and the means of appointing that committee; the board gave the committee the task of preparing a draft development policy for the churchwide executive board. The committee is expected to consist of one to three executive board members and one to three Women of the ELCA participants with development expertise. The executive director was also authorized to hire development staff to coordinate development work, as the budget allows. "Development" here means the organized activity of soliciting donations or grants. The board was also informed of a year-end appeal that has been mailed to all active units of Women of the ELCA.

On budget matters, the board received a report on the 20th anniversary offering, which as of October had received more than $20,000. The 2006 audited financial statements were accepted and the budget for 2008 was approved. The 2008 budget is built in part on anticipated revenue of $790,700 in regular offerings, $1,347,723 in Thankofferings, $113,606 in designated gifts, $75,637 in SWO convention offerings, and other offerings of $31,895. An additional $526,164 will come from a variety of sources, including income generated from sales of Women of the ELCA resources and products as well as endowed funds.

The decision to balance the budget, in part, by raising income expectations for regular offerings and Thankofferings was not made lightly and passed narrowly only after extensive discussion and debate by the board. Over the past 14 years, Thankofferings have been on a steady decline, dropping 22% since 1994, to $1,227,670 in 2006. In that same period, regular offerings have declined 41%, to $740,190 in 2006.

The budget approved by the board anticipates a combined rise in Thankofferings and regular offerings of approximately $150,000.