Dear Sisters in Christ,

 

Your Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Board are excited to invite you to our 38th Annual Convention to be held September 11, 12, and 13, 2026, at Embassy Suites at Hamilton Place located at 2321 Lifestyle Way, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421. 

Our theme is “Where God Meets Us: Mountain Top Moments” and Psalm 121:1-2 is our theme scripture: I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Convention Co-Chairs, Sissy Gifford and Bridget Radford, have been very busy planning a fun and exciting event for you. This year’s convention will start on Friday and end Sunday morning, so we aren’t going to be as rushed (hopefully) as last year. So please encourage the women in your unit to attend the convention and extend a personal invitation to the young women (ages 14-35). We want everyone to have the opportunity to join up for worship together, study God’s Word, attend workshops, have time for fellowship, and conduct the business of this star-filled community of women. 

This year’s business will include electing a vice-president, secretary and board members for the next two years. We will also approve the budget for fiscal year February 1, 2027, through January 31, 2028. If you have any other business to bring before the organization, please consider submitting a resolution. Please contact Phyllis Wade at wade.phyllis73@gmail.com for information on how to write a resolution. 

We will also be approving the Love Offering recipient for February 1, 2027, through January 31, 2028. We are asking our Congregational Units to think about organizations working with women and children that might be considered for our next Love Offering and complete the application form on our website before June 30. The Board will select an organization to recommend to the Voting Members at Convention.

Each congregational or special unit of the Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA is entitled to one voting member.  It is very important that all congregations be represented as we conduct the business of our organization because only voting members can vote on any business brought before the convention. Please prayerfully consider “leaving your own tracks” by sharing your gifts and talents with all your WELCA sisters in the Synod.

We have several general scholarships of $100 that may be used toward your registration fee.  There is also the Whitney Hill Memorial Fund which provides $100 for a young woman 35 or under, and the Caroline P. Gammell Memorial Fund for a woman over the age of 65. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is July 1, 2026. Please contact Phyllis Wade at wade.phyllis73@gmail.com  for an application. Names and information submitted for scholarships are kept strictly confidential.

Embassy Suites has given us the group rate from Thursday night through Sunday night. When you make your reservations those are default dates so if you are arriving on Friday and leaving on Sunday, be sure to change the dates.

Blessings on behalf of your SES WELCA Board who are hosting this year’s convention.

 

Phyllis Wade

President, Southeastern Synod WELCA