If you are not familiar with all the words, initials or phrases in some of the articles at this web site perhaps this 'Glossary of Terms' will help. Copyright 1996 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Adopt
To choose or accept and put into effect (by
vote or consensus)
Agenda
Items to be discussed or acted upon, often listed in an order that
facilitates the work of a group or committee
Aims
Goals which direct the program activities of
Women of the ELCA in order to fulfill the purpose of the organization
Approve
To confirm or sanction formally; ratify
Biennial convention
A convention held every two years (see
convention)
Bylaw
A standing rule governing the regulation of
a corporation's or organization's internal affairs
Churchwide
Designated term for the whole organization;
an inclusive term that is used instead of "national" to
acknowledge that the church extends beyond any one nation's borders
Churchwide Women's Organization
The entire Women of the ELCA, which is
manifested in the Triennial Convention and the Executive Board; also used
to describe the staff and office that support the activities of the
organization
Circle
A grouping of women within a congregational
unit, usually for the purpose of Bible study, fellowship, personal growth
and program activity, that meets regularly and supports the purpose of the
organization
Cluster/Conference
A grouping of congregational and
intercongregational units within a synodical women's organization; called
conference in some synodical women's organizations
Committee
A group of persons, usually appointed by a
larger group or legislative body to define and/or carry out a purpose, aim
or respond to an issue
Conference
See "cluster" above
Congregational unit
A member of Women of the ELCA; a community
of women coming together for study, support and action in local and other
settings of Women of the ELCA (women of the ELCA Constitution and bylaws,
Article VII, Section 1); also referred to as "unit"
Consensus
General agreement or unanimity; group
solidarity in sentiment or belief; a non-formal approach to
decision-making
Constitution
A legal document that outlines the name,
purpose, authority, relationship and financial structure of an
organization
Convention
The Women of the ELCA term for a gathering
in which delegates make decisions or carry out legislative functions
CWO
See "churchwide women's
organization"above
CU
See "congregational unit" above
Delegate
A person designated to act for or represent
another or others
ELCA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Expression
Something that has distinct existence; Women
of the ELCA has three legislative expressions; congregational or
intercongregational units; synodical women's organizations; and the
churchwide women's organization
Fiduciary responsibility
The responsibility of a person or
organization to handle finances of and gifts to the organization in a
trustworthy manner
Honorarium
A payment in recognition of acts or
professional services
Intercongregational unit
A member of women of the ELCA; a community
of women from two or more congregations coming together for study, support
and action in local and other settings of Women of the ELCA (Women of the
ELCA Constitution and Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1); also referred to
as "unit"
Job description
An outline that includes title/role, function, term (length) of service,
specific responsibilities, budget and resources available (including
training, printed or audiovisual materials and/or mentoring relationship)
that guides and directs the ministry or work of an individual or group
Legislative
A constitutionally established policy-making
body chosen by an electorate for a fixed period of time with elected
officers and fiscal responsibility for the organization
Lutheran Woman Today (LWT)
The magazine of Women of the ELCA, published
ten times yearly and available by group or individual subscriptions
Member
A congregational or intercongregational unit
of Women of the ELCA (see "participant"
Memorial
A statement of facts presented to a
legislative body that is the basis for a petitioner request for action,
the way in which one organization formally makes a request of another,
brought to a synodical women's organization convention by a unit, or to a
triennial convention by a synodical women's organization
Network
An interconnected or interrelated group or
system, often with a common identify, cause or circumstance, that offers
support and facilitates communication and/or the work of the group
Parliamentary procedure
The manner in which legislative business is
conducted
Participant
A woman who subscribes to the purpose of
Women of the ELCA; takes part in carrying out its mission and/or supports
its ministries
Policy
A statement of principles for action; a
position that guides the decision-making and activities of the
organization
Procedure
A particular way or series of ways to
accomplish something (procedures are flexible within and limited by the
policies of an organization)
Region
One of nine geographic territories of the
ELCA, each comprised of a number of synods in the United States and the
Caribbean
Resolution
An item brought by a delegate (or delegates)
to the convention for action
Robert's Rules of Order
The standard form of parliamentary procedure
used in synodical and churchwide women's conventions; also used in
business meetings of many units
Special (ad hoc) committee
A committee appointed by the president or
board to bring recommendations on a particular issue, concern or subject
to the board or to carry out a particular project or task
Standing committee
A committee appointed by the president or
board to carry on a continuing function
Synodical women's organization (SWO)
A legislative and programmatic entity that
assists congregational and intercongregational units within the territory
of its synod to fulfill the purpose of Women of the ELCA; sometimes
referred to as SWO
Synodical convention
The convention of a synodical women's
organization (see convention)
Synod
One of 65 groupings of congregations of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Task force
A temporary grouping of individuals or
representatives of groups, usually with a specific deadline, which is
established for the purpose of accomplishing a definite objective and
which reports its findings to a larger group or legislative body
Thankoffering
A special offering given by women in
response to God's blessings; individual thankofferings and thankofferings
collected by units are sent directly to the churchwide office
Triennial convention
The convention of women of the ELCA; the
highest legislative authority of the organization (Women of the ELCA
Constitution and Bylaws, Article XI, Section); meets every three years
(see convention)
Triennium
A period of three years; in Women of the
ELCA, a triennium is the three-year period between churchwide conventions
Unit
See "congregational unit" or
intercongregational unit" above
Voting members
Delegates and others defined by the
constitution of the organization who may vote on legislative matters at a
convention
Women of the ELCA
The shortened form for "Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America," the legal name for the
women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America; a unit
of the ELCA
Women of the ELCA Interchange
The newsletter of Women of the ELCA mailed
to every congregation and also available by subscription
