Covenant News

Covenant Women Ministries To Remain Self-Supporting

KEYSTONE, CO (June 26, 2002) - After discussion this weekend, Covenant Women Ministries (CWM) has resolved to continue to be a self-supporting entity under the authority of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

The CWM completed three days of board meetings in Keystone with a business meeting and worship service Tuesday night. Bonnie Thomas, a noted professor at Ravencrest Bible College in Estes Park, Colorado, was the guest speaker as more than 150 were in attendance.

In the past, there have been discussion whether it might be necessary for CWM to reorganize its mode of support. Options have included operating as a fully funded department, placing CWM within the auspices of another existing department, or remaining as a self-supporting department. Currently, CWM supports itself primarily through constituency giving, endowments and by sales of its magazine, inSpirit.

CWM's board stated that CWM needed to remain a self-supporting entity "in order to retain its vision of advancing God's kingdom through women and its mission of existing to advance God's kingdom through ministries that equip women to grow, serve, and reach out with the gospel of Jesus Christ." During a Sunday afternoon meeting, Evangelical Covenant Church President Glenn R. Palmberg affirmed CWM's resolve to stay a self-supporting entity.

Betty Howard was named to replace Karen Hearl as chair of the CWM board. Julie Rose was appointed the secretary of the executive board.

CWM also announced its 2003 project, a joint effort with Children's Hope Chest, an organization that provides education and training to orphans in three regions of Russia: Vladimir, Kostroma, and Ivanovo. Ruth Hill, CWM executive minister, stated that this partnership will focus on helping orphans in Russia become productive members of society. This project will continue the ministry begun through a 1995 CWM project entitled "My First Bible," an effort to send Bibles to various orphanages all over Russia.

Children's Hope Chest research indicates that 70 percent of orphans in Russia, after leaving an orphanage, turn to crime and prostitution in society. Children's Hope Chest research was done with help from Russia's educational system.

CWM has scheduled a short-term mission trip to Johanesburg, South Africa, January 3-15, 2003. They will partner with South Africa Chinese Covenant Church. For more information on CWM, its upcoming mission trip, and CWM's ministries, call Suzannah Worl, executive assistant of CWM, at 773-907-3332. She can be emailed at suzannah.worl@covchurch.org.

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