On the last weekend in January, fourteen inspired, eager, and a bit uneasy women gathered around modest tables at the Madonna Retreat Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Some of us were strangers and others unfamiliar to the workings of the Synodical board. In September we were elected; now we were called together to consider and determine the emphasis and priorities for the next two years. We began the process by creatively thinking about how to finance our hope for the Rocky Mountain Synod Women of the ELCA and reviewing our vision statement:

Gather as Christian women
Reach out to one another
Offer support and hope in Jesus Christ and
Walk humbly with God.

Years ago our mothers and grandmothers saved and gave their bread, egg, and milk money to begin a ministry that would support women and children in the future. They banded together, helping women grow in their faith in Christ, strengthen their gifts, and promote health and wholeness in the world.

With our prayers and generosity this will continue. Our vision of ministry has grown out of the stories of these women. We were given an inheritance from our sisters in Christ, the previous board, whose vision included visiting every corner of our Synod, joining with women, and encouraging them to step out and act boldly upon their faith in Jesus Christ.

Now we want to continue that partnership and grow. Our synod is geographically very large. This is a challenging vision and yet a valuable one for both the board members and the individual women in every congregation and unit.

We have so much to give to and learn from each other. We need to hear and share our stories -- of women’s journeys.

Here is my vision of the story we will tell in the next two years:

• 140 Congregations give a “Buck a Babe” to support the Rocky Mt Synod Women of the ELCA and reduce the shortfall (Due in part to the convention costs). In other words put us in the black.
• 140 Women attend each of the two Fall Gatherings “ Growing the gardens of their hearts” That is a total of 280 women.
•  77 Congregations hold a Thank Offering service/offering to support the mission of the Women of the ELCA.
•  77 Women attend the Triennial Convention July 5-10, 2005 in San Antonio Texas
•  77 Women take part in Spiritual Gift Inventory.
•  21 Women give $1000 each to support Cristo Rey Lutherano Iglesia
•  21 Congregations award scholarships to send their woman pastor to the thirty-year anniversary celebration of women’s ordination at triennial convention in San Antonio
•  21 Women give $ 100 to Lutheran Campus Ministry.
•  14 Congregations hold Fair Trade Fair and support fair trade coffee.
•  14 Congregations hold a Rachel’s Day service. Offering to go to our Sister Synod in Madagascar.
•  14 Congregations start a Prison Ministry program
•   7 Congregations begin a Prayer Shawl Ministry
•   7 Conference/clusters make and send quilts to Lutheran World relief.
•   7 conference/clusters make and send health kits to Lutheran World relief.
•   7 cluster/conferences send representatives to cluster/conference communication training.

Can this be done? Is it really possible to grow this much? How can we measure or keep track?

It has been a difficult two years for the Rocky Mt Synod Women of the ELCA. We made some mistakes and were facing considerable a deficit. When I think things are bad in my own back yard, I look outside my self and find out that things are worse for others. “Women” do not like to give up, fail, or have someone tells us we can’t do it. My soul has been touched and I believe even though we might have a rocky garden we can together remove the stones and plant new seeds for a plentiful crop.

Once you see and hear what God is calling you to do you can’t forget. God makes a claim on you making a bold mark on our lives. The resolve and devotion of these 14 women was invigorating. Their wealth of knowledge called us to give our hearts, minds and spiritual gifts. How we as women of the Lutheran church handle situations of injustice in our world will reveal who we are, pure and simple. We give to programs dealing with fair trade and commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. Let us pray for discernment with issues of criminal justice and prison ministries.

I believe this is a task worth supporting with prayer, with finance and with energy. Women of the ELCA will continue through the grace of gifts received. Let us show honor, glory and praise to Jesus Christ by generously supporting these plans. Women, we are called by God to act boldly on our faith in Jesus Christ. Together, what will we do?