OUR MISSION & PURPOSE
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.
Greetings to my Greater Milwaukee Synod sisters,
My name is Jennifer Hockenbery and I have been recently hired as the interim executive director of Women of the ELCA. Part of my job is assessing activity and learning about what is happening in each synod. With that learning in hand, I will help lead the Executive Board to create a sustainable budget and a future oriented strategic plan that remains Mission focused and serves all current members of Women of the ELCA well.
I lived for 23 years in the Greater Milwaukee Synod—attending Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on the Northside/Brown Deer and Lake Park Lutheran Church on the East side. I participated in events in these churches and in many others including many women's events. One of my favorite was a retreat at Kingo Lutheran where we concentrated on the Book of Esther and the masks we wear as women. We talked about Vel Phillips and one of my favorite stories of her—she was taking a cab to go and vote for the Milwaukee Common Council (she was running for election to the Council) when the cab driver asked if she was voting for Vel Phillips. She said she was, and he said he was too because "that Vel, he looks like a great candidate." Phillips' team had made literature with all of her accomplishments but did not include a photo, and this cab driver thought he was voting for a white man. She didn't say a word to correct him. Once elected, she was the first woman and first African American on the council. In 1971 she became the first female judge in Milwaukee County and the first African American judge in the state.
I took the lesson I learned there and used it with confirmation students, who to this day remember both Phillips' story and Esther's. And I also used it with my students at Mount Mary University as they thought about what it takes to be a woman leader.
I bring this up because what I learned at a woman's retreat affected my life and those I taught. I bet you have similar stories of experiences you have had at women's retreats, meetings, conventions, and Ladies Night Out events.
Beyond congregation specific women's ministies, working together with other congregations through Women of the ELCA allows more women to come together for bigger events—to hear amazing speakers (Jacqueline Busse is coming to Neenah to talk about Love without Limits for the Northeast Central Synod Organization retreat next year for example!) and to share their money to create amazing service projects (anti-racist workshops, projects assisting women who have loved ones in prison, donations for helping build schools and farms in sister synods around the world). Being part of the Church Wide Organization helps individual women tap into the national resources, Gather magazine, Bold Cafe dinners, Bold Women newsletters, and of course the Triennial Gathering (2026 will be in Des Moines!)
I know it has been a while since the last convention for the Greater Milwaukee Synod—so this fall we will have a re-building retreat and convention. Everyone is welcome. There will be worship, a wonderful speaker about healing from grief, a project, a lunch, and a convention meeting. We will need people who feel called to leadership to join the executive board. If you are interested in such a position you can email me to learn more. Check out our events page to register or the retreat and convention and to find out more details.
