February Devotion: Giving Thanks for Bold Women

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1 1 Oregon Synodical Women of the ELCA Cathie M. Carlisle, editor February February Devotion: Giving Thanks for Bold Women Reading: 2 Timothy 1:2, 5 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.... I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. Who taught you to pray? Was it your mother or grandmother? Maybe a Sunday school teacher or youth pastor? Whoever it was, chances are that, just like the disciple Timothy, you were taught to pray by a woman a woman who handed on a living faith to you. This month we celebrate Bold Women s Day, a day when we give thanks for the bold and faithful women who have made us who we are today, and for the bold and faithful women who will lead us into who we will be tomorrow. Women of the ELCA throughout our church honor the memories of the women who formed us with Thankofferings, and brighten the futures of the women who will form us with gifts to Women of the ELCA Grants or Women of the ELCA Scholarships. How can we here today honor these bold and faithful women of many generations? Let us pray. Loving God, you have planted living faith in the hearts of women since the beginning, inspiring them to hand it on through the generations. Grant that their bold and living faith may flourish in the hearts of all generations, now and forever. This we ask through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. From INSIDE THIS ISSUE Treasruer...2 SWO Convention...2 Human Trafficking...3 Women and Justice...4 Polish Exchange...5 Board Members...5 SWO Convention...6 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST October SWO Convention

2 2 Treasurer Send your gifts and offerings to the Oregon Synodical Women s Treasurer Stephanie Kistler SE Blackstone Ave Happy Valley, OR smkistler@hotmail.com SWO CONVENTION OCTOBER 15-18, 2015 Location: Samaritan Center Lebanon, OR Nominations for Board Positions are being accepted. A nomination form is included. Please make copies. It is also available on our website. All positions are for a two-year term. Executive Board: President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Members-at-Large Position 1 Position 4 Position 2 Position 5 2 Position 3 Position 6

3 In Our Backyard 365 Human Trafficking in America and What You Can Do To Stop It 3 I am writing this from Phoenix Arizona where I am here with my team working to fight human trafficking in the activities surrounding Super Bowl. Already our team has been able to turn in solid leads for missing children in the area, as well as connect with some others who although they weren't trafficked, they were at high risk for trafficking. Each year we are able to help those at risk get off the street and assist law enforcement in the recovery of trafficked children and adults, as well and help facilitate the arrests of their traffickers. Our mission is to: 1. Distribute booklets that have photos of missing kids to convenience store and gas stations. We have already distributed more than a thousand booklets. 2. Educate about what human trafficking is and how it can be stopped. We have already trained hundreds 4. View the internet sites know for posting under aged victims for the purpose of prostitution and notify law enforcement. Our work here has just begun. 5. We are working with recovery centers so there can be a safe hand off of victims so they can begin their road to recovery. Already we have been on the streets and have helped those in need. How can you help? Even though you are not here in Phoenix do this work, there are things that you can do right from home Pray, pray, pray for us, that many will be found and that they will accept help. 2. Pray that those who would seek to buy sex, or traffick a victim would feel a heaviness in their hearts and would turn away from such actions. If they don't turn away, we pray they would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 3. If you are able to assist our work financially, it would be a blessing to us as we do this at our own expense. 4. If you watch the Super Bowl, it is a great opportunity to mention to those with whom you are watching the game, what human trafficking is and that it takes place around this event. This weekend as fans all across America prepare to watch Super Bowl XLIX and the commercials, you are a part of our work here to help those who so desperately need our help. Thank you and God bless you, Nita Belles - e-letter sent January 27, 2015 Free Anti-human trafficking literature Did you know that the Department of Social and Health Services will send you free information to pass out? DSHS will provide you with posters, cards, a DVD and many other items free of charge that you can use as you work to combat human trafficking. Follow this link for more information National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline

4 Calvary Lutheran, Hillsboro, hosted a Sunset Cluster Listening Post on Women and Justice, facilitated by Sonja Hoffman, ELCA Task Force Process Builder for the Oregon Synod As Sonja Hoffman shared the goals for the Task Force on Women and Justice, we pondered what we had to bring to the table. The first pondering was, literally, what to bring to the table as we choose our afternoon desserts provided by the women at Calvary Lutheran. The second pondering: where have we been affected by justice issues. On the November ballot was the issue of equal pay, but we did not share that concern. What experiences did we have concerning this issue of women and justice. We see bullying and grooming of victims. We see budget cuts that affect women and children who do not have medical insurance. We see young girls with low self-esteem We see women struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle to be thwarted by their significant other. We then pondered: what can we do about it? Confronting the bullying issue when we see it happening. We might have to have a learning event or two on how to do this. Supporting agencies that assist those in poverty. Advocating for the widow and the orphan. Mentoring. 4 Women and Justice: One in Christ A. Task Force-Led Process Responding to the call received from the 2009 Churchwide Assembly, a task force has been assembled to lead the process of social statement formation. The task force is composed of 19 ELCA members selected to represent diverse walks of life, perspectives, genders, geographic regions, ethnicities and skill sets. The task force studies relevant topics and discusses important issues that will allow them to draft a social statement that represented the hopes and concerns of the whole church. B.How to be Involved Listening Events A listening event is an opportunity to hear insights and concerns on issues of women and justice in church and society from ELCA members. Everyone in the ELCA is invited and encourage to say what matters to them about the issues at hand. Your input is essential in ensuring that the social statement addresses issues that members find most pressing. Study Resources The task force is currently providing brief study resources for your use. Miss Representation unpacks how the media objectifies women and examines the effect of this powerful medium on both men and women. A study and discussion guide can be found on-line. Half the Sky is an award winning book and movie presenting the realities of women s lives worldwide. A discussion guide can be found on-line. Human Trafficking is a curriculum series providing six onehour sessions that present the facts of human trafficking and discusses how we as Lutherans can respond to the call to affect change in the system that allow human trafficking to continue. C. Process Builders New to this social statement process are teams of Process Builders. These individuals in a synod are trained to strengthen communication and awareness. Process Builders act as a link between the task force and congregations and other ministries. They can lead listening events and educate about the social statement formation process. 4

5 5 POLISH EXCHANGE PROGRAM We needed to adjust our Polish Exchange Program so that our guest might attend the Triennial Convention / Gathering. The pattern has been that our Polish Guest attends our OR SWO Convention in the Fall (this was changed in 2013 to the Spring during the Region 1 Gathering in Vancouver, WA), and we would send someone from our Synod to Poland to attend their Women s Conference which is held in alternate years. The Board will be visiting the rotation schedule at their next meeting. If you are interested in either hosting our Guest or going as our representative please contact Board Member, Becky Smith. Application forms are available on our web site: Oregon Synodical Women s Organization Board President: Barbara Gordon th Street Columbia City, Oregon cell: bdbg@comcast.net Vice President: Sue Buck 1560 Maple Pl. Lebanon, Oregon sbuck1560@comcast.net Executive Board Secretary: Treasurer: Cathie Carlisle 1740 SW 208th Ave Aloha, Oregon cell: oregonwelca@yahoo.com Stephanie Kistler SE Blackstone Ave Happy Valley, OR smkistler@hotmail.com Members-at-Large Becky Smith 6904 N Mississippi Ave Portland, OR bsmith8816@yahoo.com

6 6 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. Mission Statement: To Mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Oregon Synod Women s Mission Statement: To promote spiritual growth through faith in Jesus Christ. OREGON SWO CONVENTION Date: October 15-18, 2015 Location: Samaritan Center in Lebanon, OR Guests from Poland and Churchwide Speakers Elections Hospitality Visit our website at for more information as it becomes available. Oregon Synodical Women of the ELCA Cathie M. Carlisle, editor 1740 SW 208th Ave - Aloha, OR oregonwelca@yahoo.com PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Mailing Address Line 1 Mailing Address Line 2 Mailing Address Line 3 Mailing Address Line 4 Mailing Address Line 5