Lutherans Celebrate 36 Years of Women's Ministry

Thousands of Lutheran leaders across the nation on Tuesday gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for the Sixth Triennial Women of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) meeting.

On the first few days of the weeklong event, women were urged to join with men in anointing others and to “Act Boldly” – the theme of this year’s gathering.

Rev. Susan L. Gamelin, co-pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in High Point, N.C., said in the opening sermon that just as Mary anointed the feet of Jesus Christ, women should anoint others by serving and praying.

"How I would have loved to have been there," Gamelin said, reflecting on Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet, according to ELCA News.

She told the women and men a the Triennial that they “can still anoint others” by simple acts such as serving soup to the sick, bringing lotion to those at nursing homes, or reaching out to the impoverished and standing up for refugees in Sudan.

"We can kneel until our knees are raw and pray for peace," she said, according to ELCA News. "In Jesus we are so deeply concerned about justice, about peace, that nothing can stop us."

In addition to Gamelin’s sermon, the Triennial featured several Bible study sessions, keynote presentations, workshops, business sessions and elections. More than 2,100 women from around the world are participating.

This year marks the 35th anniversary year of the ordination of the first female Lutheran pastor in North America.