What does the acronym WELCA stand for? The answer is Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. If you are a female member of St. Mark’s congregation you became a member of WELCA when you joined the church. St. Mark’s WELCA helps sponsor stewardship, social ministry and fellowship events throughout the year. There are currently three “circles” – Ruth Circle, Deborah Circle and Martha Circle. Anyone can attend the circle meetings which include bible study, stewardship and fellowship. The WELCA board coordinates and disseminates information to circles about WELCA events at St. Mark’s and other ELCA congregations in Alabama and the Southeast Synod.
The upcoming WELCA cluster, which we are hosting on March 14, from 9:30am – 2:30pm, brings together ELCA women from all over Alabama. There will be a continental breakfast, worship service, lunch, fellowship program and an activity. Please sign up in Communication Central if you plan to attend. There is a WELCA Synod convention held each June which include SES WELCA churches. St. Mark’s hosted the convention in Huntsville two years ago. Information about the 2026 convention will be available soon.
St. Mark’s WELCA board is examining the possibility of holding evening meetings quarterly throughout the year (rather than every month during the day) making it more convenient for women who are mothers with young or school age children, or who may be working, to participate in service activities and the governance of WELCA. Evening meeting may include a short business meeting, fellowship time, prayer/meditation or perhaps a service project. Circles would continue meeting at their usual times and take turns hosting the quarterly meetings. Hopefully this would give women who cannot participate during the day and women who don’t like to drive at night, a chance to participate in WELCA sometime during the year. If new circles emerge, members will help with the evening events on a rotating basis. The timeline for this change is to begin in June 2026. The WELCA board would like your input. First, plan to attend the cluster meeting in March. An invitation with the specifics was recently sent via e-mail to all St. Mark’s women. Second, if you would like to start a circle but don’t know where to begin contact a board member. The WELCA board members are Kathleen Corpus (president), Kathy Sieja (vice-president), Terry Ganoe (treasurer) and Terry Deason (secretary). Gisela Rieger, Kathleen Corpus and Glenda Churchy head the three circles. Third, prayerfully consider becoming active in WELCA. Would you consider participating more with evening quarterly meetings? Finally, pray for WELCA and the organizations they help such as Lutheran World Relief, Not One More Alabama, and Free 2 Teach just to name a few.
Last modified: February 24, 2026