The Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice was released on November 15. The task force hopes that every synod will have at least one hearing on the draft. Please find more information about hearings in the FAQ. A hearing for NT-NL has been scheduled for January 20 at 10am at Shepherd of Life, Arlington.

The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ is releasing the draft as a crucial step in the development of a social statement that will be considered by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Task force members hope the next 11 months of comment and conversation among people of faith will be a widespread and instructive discernment on the timely themes and commitments in the draft. Your participation is desired and encouraged.

ELCA social statements are teaching and policy documents that provide broad frameworks to assist us in thinking about and discussing social issues in the context of faith and life. They are meant to help communities and individuals with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful engagement with current social issues as we participate in God’s work in the world. Social statements also set policy for the ELCA and guide its advocacy and work as a publicly engaged church.

The issue of women and justice is a long-standing struggle that pervades our society, our history, and our faith tradition. Currently, there has been much discussion of a social tipping point, highlighted by the current environment of the #MeToo movement. The Public Witness committee, Bishop Gronberg, and the One in Christ Task Force all hope you will participate in the review and affirmation of this document. This is a huge opportunity to guide the future of our faith. Please read this document and come with recommendations. All are welcome!

The entire statement can be found in the first 2,750 words of the draft, what is called the Basic Statement. The FAQ about the process and the two-page overview of the content also attached are designed to help explain the draft and the process that has led to it. Questions can be directed to womenandjustice@elca.org.

Find out more here: elca.org/womenandjustice.