The Iowa "Ladies Aid" which was later on named The Women's Missionary Federation was founded in 1862. By 1865, organized Ladies Aid Societies spread through out the Lutheran Churches. (Reishus, 31-31) The Women's Missionary Federation was born after the merger in 1917 between the Hauge Synod, the Norwegian Synod and the United Church Synod. (Reishus, 43)
The Women's Missionary Federation was a mission organaization. The purpose of The Women's Missionary Federation was to arouse church women to "active consecrated service." (Ronning, 42) The Women's Missionary Federation sponsored home missions in Alaska and also Indian reservations. (Ronning, 42) The aims for the home mission was "To win the unchurched to Christ by witnessing with our life, by word of mouth and by printed word." (Kerr, 22) They were also acitve abroad , in countires such as China, South Afirca, and Madagascar. (Ronning, 42) The aims of the foreign missions were "To creat interest in and stimulate love for the great cause of mission. To pray that more young women and men may face the call to service in foreign missions. To pray for at least one missionary daily." (Soine, 26) According to the 1917 Mission constitution, the purpose of the Federation as a whole was,"To create interest in and stimulate love for the great casue of mission, to unite, if possible all women's societies within Norwegian Lutheran Church in harmonious co-operation for Missions; to promote the organization of separate mission societies and children societies where ever it is found practicable; to disseminate knowledge of missions in general and of the mission of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in particular" (Reishus 46-47)
The Women's Missionary Federation ceased to exist on January 1st, 1961. The ELCA, ALC and UELC women joined together; and as a result this merger , The Women's Missionary Federation was renamed ALCW. American Lutheran Church Women. (Bohn, 34-35) In 1988, the Lutheran church changed its name from ELC to ELCA. The Women's Missionary Federation became WELCA, Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In recent years this organization has put less emphasis on mission work. The organization has turned in ward, and it is focusing on women's issues. (Roger Peterson)
Bibliography
1. Bohn, Biola. "LDR House." Women's Missionary Messenger Dec. 1960.
2. Kerr, T. A. "Home Missions."Women's Missionary messenger Jan. 1960.
3. Peterson, Roger. Director of Church Relations, Interview: Luther College, 1997
4. Reishus, Martha. Hearts and Hands Uplifted: A History of the Women's Missionary Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1958.
5. Ronning, N. N. Our Church At Work. Vol. 2. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1935.
6. Soine, C. M. "Foreign Mission." Women's Missionary Messenger Feb. 1960.
Author: Pepetapwa Wonosikou, Selamawit Yohannes, Shan Thomas, 1997.
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