The following resolutions were passed during the 2004 Fall Business Convention
of the Rocky Mountain Synodical Women's Organization, held Sept. 24 - 26, 2004
in Albuquerque, NM:
Immigration | Sudan
| Disabled Delegates | Study on Sexuality
|
| Resolution 1 - Immigration |
| Whereas |
thousands of immigrants are being imprisoned
indefinitely instead of being deported due to their inability to secure
travel documents; and this despite a Supreme Court decision to the
contrary; |
| Whereas |
approximately 80% of immigrants in
Department of Homeland Security detention are not being represented by
legal counsel; |
| Whereas |
detention splinters families, causing
needless suffering and trauma -- children separated from parents and
husbands from wives; |
| Whereas |
many legal and permanent residents face
mandatory detention and deportation; |
| Whereas |
women make up about 7% of the overall
detained population and are often detained with general criminal
populations and denied services like translation; |
| Whereas |
a mother may be placed in a county jail
while her child is shipped to a facility in another state; |
| Whereas |
immigration detainees often suffer hardships
such as over-crowding, poor medical care, lack of outdoor recreation,
inappropriate use of solitary confinement; verbal and physical abuse;
therefore, |
| Be it resolved that |
Women of the ELCA encourage partnership with
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and its affiliates (and any
other like agencies) - and seek greater opportunities to learn, serve, and
advocate for refugees and immigrants; and |
| Be it further resolved that |
Women of the ELCA in all its expressions
advocate that facilities used for detention including prisons, contract
facilities, government-operated (DHS) sites, and private facilities adhere
to the minimum detention standards that were previously established by the
INS with guidance from the American Bar Association. |
| Submitted by |
Carol Germ, Heather Whited, and Leslie
Whited-Vance |
|
| |
| Resolution 2 - Sudan |
| Whereas |
Women of the ELCA is committed to promoting
healing and wholeness in the world; |
| Whereas |
in the past twenty years more than two
million people have died as the result of war in Sudan; |
| Whereas |
there are still acute humanitarian crises in
Sudan; therefore, |
| Be it resolved that |
the Women of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Women's
Organization (RMSWO) will pray for
peace in Sudan; |
| Be it further resolved that |
the Women of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Women's
Organization (RMSWO) become more informed about Sudan, its history, our
Christian sisters and brothers who are suffering, and become "engaged
in ministry and action" as suggested by Lutheran World Relief, the
Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs, ELCA International Disaster
Response, and other agencies involved in providing advocacy and aid |
| Submitted by |
Judy Dunlavy |
|
| |
| Resolution 3 - Disabled Delegates |
| Whereas |
the Rocky Mountain Synodical Women's
Organization (RMSWO) was notified by the Assistant to the Director of the
Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Women of the ELCA)
that executive action has determined that disabled delegates may attend
the 2005 Triennial Convention funded by the Women of the ELCA but have
precluded companion assistance due to funding restraints; |
| Whereas |
this decision was made without consulting
past or present disabled individuals participating in the Women of the
ELCA and based on uninformed opinions of need or lifestyle; |
| Whereas |
synods have been informed that the
representation of a disabled delegate will be permanently withdrawn at
such time as a synod does not take advantage of sending a disabled
delegate to each Triennial; |
| Whereas |
the purpose of the Women of the ELCA and its
Mission Statement proclaim the intent to empower, support, and promote the
wholeness of all women of ability, color, ethnicity, and disability;
Therefore, |
| Be it resolved that |
the executive action by nullified as stated
and brought under review and reformulation so that disabled delegates by
virtue of their needs as disabled persons are not summarily removed from
voice or vote at Triennials; |
| Be it resolved that |
that disabled persons from ALL interested
disability groups be included in the reformulation process to define
commonalities and differences regarding meeting their needs while allowing
for effective and informed representation in meeting the promises and
goals of this women's organization; |
| Be it resolved that |
that creative but sound methods be explored,
devised and implemented to cope with budgetary restrictions, issues of
safety, personal welfare, and effective, efficient functioning as a
disabled representative; |
| Be it resolved that |
that ALL synods participating in the Women
of the ELCA as Synodical Women's Organizations be informed in writing of
the reformulated and revised policy and implementation plan approved by
the involved disabled support team and adopted by Women of the ELCA |
| Submitted by |
Anneta L. Pennington |
|
| |
| Resolution 4 - Study on Sexuality |
| Whereas |
"as a community of women," we have
committed ourselves to "grow in faith ... and promote healing and
wholeness in church, society, and the world;" |
| Whereas |
one of the functions and responsibilities of
the Women of the ELCA is to "equip participants and encourage all to
grow as whole persons, value themselves and others, articulate and act
upon their faith, and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ;"
Therefore, |
| Be it resolved that |
that all women of the ELCA be encouraged to
participate in the studies of "Journey Together Faithfully," to
prayerfully consider what God is calling us to do through this study and
to voice our comments by providing feedback through response forms to the
ELCA Study on Sexuality; (November 2004 deadline) |
| Be it further resolved that |
that the local, regional and churchwide
expressions of the Women of the ELCA
hold in prayer all persons involved in the study and the decision-making
throughout this coming year -- that regardless of decisions made we can be
witnesses to our unity through Christ Jesus by supporting the decisions
that may be made and not creating separation or division within the
ELCA |
| Submitted by |
Judy Dunlavy |
|
| |
