Conferences / Clusters

 

What are Conferences or Clusters?  The ELCA and Women of the ELCA use the term conferences and clusters interchangeably.  There is no difference at all between the two terms.  They both refer to geographic groupings of congregations relating to the churchwide organization (CWO), synod and congregation units (CU).  In SC the state synod has nine conferences; each conference is given a number and a name.

 

Why do we have Conference Gatherings (meetings)? We have them to communicate information from both national Women of the ELCA (CWO) and state organizations, to share ideas between churches, to enjoy fellowship and make friends in other churches, and to be of support to other women’s groups that are new or struggling.

 

When and where do conferences meet?  All nine conferences meet in the fall of the year and are encouraged to meet again in the spring.  These meetings are either Saturday or Sunday.  Meeting sites are rotated among the different churches.

 

What takes place at a Conference Gathering?  It’s up to the conference leaders to plan activities and/or agendas.  Typically Saturday meetings are planned around a luncheon.  Sunday meetings are usually early afternoon and include refreshments.  There is a devotion, singing, sometimes a speaker from a charity, organization, or a pastor.  SCWELCA board members visit to give updates from the board.  An offering is collected and donated wherever the conference chooses, usually a charity.  There is always time for sharing, fun and laughter!

 

 

Each women’s conference is assigned a SC WELCA Board Member, whose job is to serve as a contact and resource between the board and the congregation in that conference. 

The conference assignments for 2010-2011 are as follows:

 

CONFERENCE LIAISONS ARE 

 

Conference 1      Foothills              Jan Long

Conference 2      Upstate                Linda Wilkerson,

Conference 3      Epiphany              Bunny Wessinger

Conference 4      Amelia                 Martha Koeller

Conference 5      Heartland             Diane Trantham

Conference 6      Midlands              Christie Gardner

Conference 7      Trident                Sharon Ganis

Conference 8      Saxe Gotha          Brenda Deal

Conference 9      Western              Sandie Wanto

 

In addition, Diane Trantham serves as the coordinator for all of the conferences.  She is the board member that should receive reports from each of the conferences after their fall and spring meeting.  She in turn, shares the information with the board and the Ripple editor.  The president and the treasurer are not assigned to any one particular conference, because they serve as resources for all of the conferences.