Council of Lutheran Women
President - Lucie Witte (wittedl50@yahoo.com)
Pastoral Counselor – Rev. Dan Howard
Membership Coordinator – Marlene Gunnell (marlene1@wowway.com)
Website: www.clwmichigan.com
Background & Purpose:
Founded in 1964 through the efforts of Rev. Kenneth Lindsay, the Council of Lutheran Women (CLW) is the official auxiliary of The Lutheran Center Association. Since 1965 the Council has hosted an annual luncheon to honor Lutheran Women of the Year chosen by member organizations. Proceeds from the luncheon held in March are directed to seminary and deaconess students and memorial scholarships to two women studying at Concordia University – Ann Arbor for a career in church work. In April the CLW conducts its annual meeting which includes election of officers and in September a general meeting where the scholarship recipients are announced. Both meetings have reports of officers and committee chairman and a guest speaker or program. These meetings are open to all who are interested.
The purpose of the council is to:
- Unite the efforts of affiliated women's organizations to exert a Christian witness in local communities and in the metro Detroit area.
- Help one another in carrying on significant activities and performing beneficial services.
- Encourage better understanding of the objectives of member organizations.
- Offer educational programs to women's organizations.
- Cooperate with CLW approved local, community and area groups and agencies.
The CLW cooperates with Operation Layette, Issues and Action, food banks run by Lutheran churches in Detroit and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.
Membership:
Membership in the Council of Lutheran Women is open to:
- all LCMS congregational women's groups;
- Lutheran inter-congregational organizations;
- individual members of LCMS congregations having no organization affiliated with the CLW (restriction: no more than two individual memberships from one congregation).
Annual membership dues are $30 for organizations and $25 for individuals.
CLW members currently include 60 congregations, 20 inter-congregational organizations, and 0 individual.